NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Union Health Minister launches Plasma Donation Campaign at AIIMS Delhi: Union Health
Minister Harsh Vardhan has launched Plasma Donation Campaign at AIIMS Delhi.
The campaign is an initiative of Delhi Police where 26 police personnel who had
recovered from COVID volunteered to donate their blood plasma. It has the
objective to encourage people to come forward to donate plasma to be used for
the COVID-19 patients’ treatment. Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients
contains protective antibodies that can provide immunity to patients of
Covid-19
2. India Business
Council to host India Ideas Summit 2020: India Business Council will host the
45th India Ideas Summit 2020 on July 22nd. The Summit convenes business and
government leaders for discussions on the future of the U.S.-India Partnership
and the trends shaping globalization, trade and investment, and the future of
work in the COVID-era and beyond. This year’s focus is on “Building a Better
Future”. The Summit will feature a high-powered lineup of both public and
private sector speakers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo will deliver the keynote addresses. Among others, External
Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will address the summit.
3.
All capitals cities of North-Eastern states to be connected with rail network
by 2023: The
Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav has announced that Indian Railways has set the
target to connect the capital cities of all the North-Eastern states of India
to the rail network by 2023. In the present time, except Sikkim, all
North-Eastern states have connectivity to the rail network. The capitals of
Assam, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh are already connected to the railway
network. The capital connectivity work is in progress in Manipur, Mizoram,
Nagaland and Meghalaya. Manipur will be connected in March 2022, Mizoram in March
2023, Nagaland in March 2023, Meghalaya in March 2022 and Sikkim in December
2022. These rail connectivity projects have been railway’s top agenda during
the last five years.
4.
Andhra Pradesh Renewable Energy Export Policy, 2020: The Andhra Pradesh government
has announced Andhra Pradesh Renewable Energy Export Policy, 2020, for export
of energy to other states. Under this policy, the state government shall set up
Renewable Energy Power Projects of 120 gigawatts (GWs) in the state. The power
generated from these projects shall be exported outside the state. The Policy
will be applicable to solar, wind as well as wind-solar hybrid projects. The
Government will be leasing 5 lakh acres of potential land in Andhra Pradesh to
renewable energy export project developers for this purpose. The new policy
will help to attract private investments to the State and improve local
economy, by generating additional revenue to the State Government. The New and
Renewable Energy Development Corporation of A.P. Ltd (NREDCAP) shall act as a
Nodal Agency under this new policy. The policy shall come into operation with
effect from date of issuance and shall remain in force for five years.
5. UP
CM Yogi Adityanath launches employment scheme ‘Navin Rojgar Chhatri Yojana’ for
ST/SC: Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched a new employment scheme
called ‘Navin Rojgar Chhatri Yojana’ to provide employment to the Scheduled
Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribes (ST) families. This initiative is part of the
government to achieve economic equality and social equality of all the sections
of the society. The government has set the target of benefitting 7.5 lakh
families under the the Umbrella scheme in 2020-2021. So far funds have been
transferred to 1,77,491 beneficiaries.
Note: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh: Yogi
Aditya Nath; Governor: Anandiben Patel.
6.
IIM-K’s start-up develops a wearable device, Veli Band, to monitor social
distancing: With
the COVID-19 graph continuing its spike, a startup, incubated at the Indian
Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K), has developed a wearable hand band
that helps in maintaining social distancing by sending out alarm in case of
proximity with another person. Known as the Veli Band, the device has been
developed by Qual5 India Pvt.Ltd, a startup co-founded by a woman entrepreneur,
mentored and funded by IIMKs business incubator and entrepreneurship
development centre. The Veli band momentarily vibrates, plays a sound-alert,
and flashes LED simultaneously, to notify the wearers that another band is
within three feet, reminding them to maintain social distance.
7.
CSIR-CMERI rolls out COVID Protection System (COPS) for Workplace: Council of
Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Mechanical Engineering
Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur has unveiled COVID Protection System
(COPS) for Workplace. It has solar Based Intelligent Mask Automated Dispensing
Unit cum Thermal Scanner that identifies the body temperature, Face Mask;
Touchless Faucet (TouF); 360° Car Flusher. CSIR-CMERI will develop Digital
Entry Management Systems in which the workflow will be automated using AI and
IoT.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
United Arab Emirates launches “Hope” mission to Mars: A mission titled as
“Hope” has been launched to Mars by the United Arab Emirates. With this
mission, UAE aims to provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere for
the first time, studying daily and seasonal changes. An unmanned “Hope” Probe
blasted off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center at 1:58 a.m. (UAE time) for a
seven-month journey to the red planet and is expected to enter Mars orbit by
February 2021, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the unification of the
UAE, an alliance of seven emirates. The journey of “Hope” would be tracked by
the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai. The Hope probe
constitutes three different instruments namely an imager and two spectrometers.
The “Imager” will facilitate detailed images of the planet’s surface while all
three will provide data to the scientists in order to track what ingredients
are located where in the atmosphere of Mars. The probe will not land on the Red
Planet, but instead orbit it for a whole Martian year i.e. for 687 days. The
“Hope” mission to Mars, also called Emirates Mars Mission costed $200 million
and is UAE’s first foray into interplanetary exploration.
Note: President of UAE: Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan; Capital of UAE: Abu Dhabi; Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham.
2.
3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meet held: The 3rd G20 Finance
Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting was held under the Saudi
Arabian Presidency. India was represented by Union Minister for Finance &
Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman in the meeting. During the meet, the
participants deliberated on the global economic outlook amid evolving COVID-19
pandemic crisis along with other G20 Finance Track priorities for the year
2020. During the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meet, Nirmala
Sitharaman highlighted the measures taken by India to fight the COVID-19
pandemic such as direct benefit transfers, special support to agriculture and
MSME sectors, rural employment guarantee measures etc. G20 is the premier forum
of 19 countries and European Union for economic cooperation.
3.
International Chess Day: 20th July: The International Chess Day is celebrated
annually on July 20, since 1966, to celebrate one of the most ancient and most
popular games in history that promotes fairness, equality, mutual respect and
understanding among nations. It was on this day that the International Chess
Federation (FIDE) was founded, in 1924. The idea to celebrate the day as the
international chess day was proposed by UNESCO. FIDE’s motto for 2020
celebrations is, “Teach someone how to play chess.” The International Chess
Federation and the United Nations will be organizing online event this year
called ‘Chess for Recovering Better’ due to the pandemic. The online event will
be participated by, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, GM Viswanathan Anand, GM
Vladimir Kramnik, GM Levon Aronian, and GM Hou Yifan.
Note: President of International Chess
Federation (FIDE): Arkady Dvorkovich.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Germany footballer Andre Schurrle announces retirement: Germany forward
player Andre Schurrle (29 years) has announced retirement from football. He
helped Germany to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Andre Schurrle represented
Germany in 57 matches and scored around 22 goals. He began his career at Mainz
05 in 2009. He also played for Chelsea from 2013 to 2015 and won Premier League
winners medal in 2015. During extra-time in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final he
provided assist for Mario Götze's winning goal against Argentina.
BANKING AND FINANCE
11.
Shyam Srinivasan re-appointed as MD & CEO of Federal Bank: Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) has approved the reappointment of Shyam Srinivasan as the Chief
Executive Officer and Managing Director of Federal Bank. His term is extended
till September 22, 2021 which was about to end in September 2020. He took
charges of MD and CEO of the bank in 2010. He has more than 30 years expertise
in retail lending, wealth management and SME banking.
2.
PSBs buy NBFC Bonds/CPs worth Rs 14,667 cr under extended PCGS: Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme, PCGS was
revamped under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package to support the liability side of
Non Banking Financial Companies, NBFCs. It provides a 20 per cent portfolio
guarantee to Public Sector Banks for the purchase of Bonds or Commercial Papers
rated AA and below which are issued by NBFCs. Under the extended PCGS, Public
Sector Banks have approved the purchase Bonds or Commercial Papers issued by 67
NBFCs amounting to 14 thousand 6 hundred 67 crore rupees. Of these 6 thousand 8
hundred 45 crore rupees is for Bonds or Commercial Papers rated below AA,
providing liquidity support to NBFCs with lower rated Bonds or Commercial
Papers.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
SAP appoints Kulmeet Bawa as new India MD: German software company SAP has
appointed Kulmeet Bawa as president and managing director for its Indian
operations from this month. He replaces
the incumbent Deb Deep Sengupta who will take up a new assignment within the
organization. Bawa will also guide businesses in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka apart
from India to adopt a digital-first mindset and will report to Scott Russell,
President of SAP Asia Pacific Japan (APJ).
DEFENSE
1. Indian Navy
conducted Passex exercise with US: Indian Navy has conducted passing exercises
‘Passex' with US Navy in the Indian Ocean region. It was conducted by Indian
Navy ships Rana, Sahyadri, Shivalik and Kamorta together with USS Nimitz (CVN
68), USS Princeton (CG 59), USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Ralph Johnson (DDG
114). USS Nimitz is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It will be deployed in
Gulf region from South China Sea. Indian Navy had also conducted similar joint
exercises with Japan and France recently.
OBITUARIES
1.
Filmmaker Rajat Mukherjee passes away: Bollywood director Rajat Mukherjee passes
away in Jaipur due to kidney-related issues. He is known for directing films
like Urmila Matondkar, Fardeen Khan and Sonali Kulkarni-starrer Pyaar Tune Kya
Kiya (2001), Love in Nepal (2004), Vivek Oberoi and Antara Mali starrer Road
(2002), etc. Rajat Mukherjee also directed a crime drama TV series called Ishq
Kills. His last directed movie was Umeed (2017).
2. Veteran Odia
Actor Bijay Mohanty passes away: Odia actor Bijay Mohanty (70 years) passes
away. He started his career in Oriya film industry with Chilika Tire which won
the National Award in 1977. He is most famous for negative roles in films
including Samay Bada Balaban, Naga Phasa, Sahari Bagha, Danda Balunga and Chaka
Bhaunri. He also directed the movie
Bhuli Huena. He also worked in TV serials of Doordarshan. He also contested for
the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat in 2014 general election.
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