NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Cabinet approves continuation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U): The Union Cabinet,
chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved for the
continuation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) up to December 31,
2024. The continuation of the scheme based on the request of States/UTs, will
help in completion of already sanctioned 122.69 lakh houses till March 31,
2022. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) is a flagship Mission of
Government of India being implemented by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
(MoHUA). The mission was launched on June 25, 2015, to ensure a pucca house to
all eligible urban households by the year 2022.
2.
5th elephant reserve in Agasthyamalai landscape announced by Tamil Nadu: The proposal to
designate 1,197.48 sq.km in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli as the Agasthiyarmalai
Elephant Reserve was approved by the Union Environment Ministry. Tamil Nadu
will oversee this Agasthiyarmalai Elephant Reserve, which is the fifth elephant
reserve. The forest department may be eligible for additional financing through
the centrally sponsored Project Elephant after notifying the Agasthiyarmalai
Elephant Reserve.
Agasthiyarmalai Elephant Reserve:
a)
Agasthiyarmalai
Elephant Reserve status will put more of an emphasis on protecting and
conserving elephants as indicator animals that indicate a healthy ecosystem,
even when the area is already protected as a reserve forest or wildlife
sanctuary.
b)
Identification
of elephant corridors will allow for the adoption of improved management
techniques.
c)
Asian
elephant numbers in the Periyar-Agasthyamalai landscape are estimated to be
1,800 (Census 2010).
d)
About
300 of them are found alone on the southern side in the Agasthiyarmalai
Elephant Reserve and Mahendragiri hill ranges in the Neyyar, Shendurney, and
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuaries and Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, all
located in Thiruvananthapuram Forest Division.
3.
Ministry of Social Justice launches SMILE-75 initiative: The Ministry of
Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, has identified 75
Municipal Corporations to implement comprehensive rehabilitation of persons
engaged in the act of begging under “SMILE: Support for Marginalised
Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise” named as “SMILE-75 Initiative”.
The Government of India has recognised the
persisting problem of destitution and beggary and formulated a comprehensive
scheme of SMILE which includes a sub-scheme of comprehensive rehabilitation for
persons engaged in begging that covers identification, rehabilitation,
provision of medical facilities, counselling, and education, skill development
for a decent job and self-employment/entrepreneurship.
Under the SMILE-75 initiative:
a)
75
Municipal Corporations in collaboration with NGOs and other stakeholders will
cover several comprehensive welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the
act of begging with a focus extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical
facilities, counselling, awareness, education, skill development, economic
linkages and convergence with other Government welfare programmes etc.
b)
The
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has allocated a total budget of
Rs. 100 crore for the SMILE project for the coming years till 2025-26.
c)
Through
this project, the Ministry envisions developing a support mechanism for
holistic rehabilitation of those engaged in the act of begging and building an
India where no person is forced to beg in order to survive and fulfil their
basic needs.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Mexican President proposes peace commission led by 3 leaders including PM Modi: The Mexican
President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador has proposed that the top commission
should include Pope Francis, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and
Indian PM Narendra Modi. The aim of the commission would be to present a
proposal to stop the wars around the world and reach an agreement to seek a
truce for at least five years. The commission aims to stop wars across the
world and reach an agreement to seek a truce for at least five years.
Key Points:
a)
The
Mexican President is planning to submit a written proposal to the UN to create
the commission, made up of three world leaders, including PM Modi, to promote a
world truce for a period of five years.
b)
The
Mexican President has invited China, Russia, and the US to seek peace and to
end warlike actions.
c)
As
per the Obrador, the proposed truce will help in reaching an agreement in the
case of Taiwan, Israel and Palestine.
d)
Mr
Modi and other leaders of the Member States are expected to participate in the
session when the global body will discuss the crises in Ukraine, Gaza Strip and
the regional tension over Taiwan.
Note: Mexico President: Andrés Manuel López
Obrador; Mexico Capital: Mexico City; Mexico Currency: Mexican peso.
2.
World Sanskrit Diwas: 12th August: World Sanskrit Day or World Sanskrit Diwas
2022 is celebrated on the occasion of Shraavana Poornima. World Sanskrit Day
also coincides with the festival of Raksha Bandhan. In 2022, World Sanskrit Day
is celebrated on 12th August 2022. The main objective to celebrate the World
Sanskrit Diwas 2022 is to encourage and make the upcoming generation familiar
with the oldest language and the mother of all languages. Sanskrit is also
known as the ‘Language of the Gods’ and this day is celebrated across the
country to pay respect to this language.
World Sanskrit Day History: Sanskrit is
believed to be originated in India around 3500 years ago. The first World
Sanskrit Day was celebrated on 1969.
3.
International Lefthanders Day: 13th August: International Lefthanders Day is
observed on August 13 across the world. The day is observed to raise awareness
about the lefty people’s experience with living in a right-hand dominant world.
The day also spreads awareness on issues faced by left-handers, eg the
importance of the special needs for left-handed children and the likelihood for
left-handers to develop schizophrenia.
International Lefthanders Day
History:
International Lefthanders Day was launched by the Club as an annual event on
13th August 1992 when lefthanders everywhere can celebrate their uniqueness and
also increase awareness in the public about the advantages and disadvantages of
being left-handed. The event is now celebrated worldwide.
4.
World Organ Donation Day: 13th August: World Organ Donation Day is observed
globally on the 13th of August. This day is observed to spread awareness about
the importance of donating organs. It also plays a pivotal role in debunking
various misconceptions about donating organs. Donating organs of the deceased
like kidneys, heart, pancreas, eyes, lungs, etc can help save the lives of
those who are facing chronic illnesses. This year’s theme for World Organ
Donation Day 2022 is “let’s pledge to donate organs and save lives”. The Day is
celebrated to raise awareness of the need for donating organs and to thank donors
for their life-saving contributions.
World Organ Donation Day History: The first
successful organ transplant took place in 1954 in the United States. It was
done by Dr Joseph Murray who was also awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology and
Medicine in 1990 for successfully carrying out a kidney transplant between twin
brothers Ronald and Richard Herrick.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
1st Khelo India Women’s Hockey League (U-16) to be held at Major Dhyanchand
Stadium:
The first Khelo India Women’s Hockey League under-16 is scheduled to be held at
the Major Dhyanchand Stadium in New Delhi from August 16 to 23, 2022.
Khelo India Women’s Hockey League
under-16:
a)
Phase
1 of the 1st Khelo India Women’s Hockey League (U-16) is scheduled from August
16 to 23 where a total of 16 teams across the country are participating. A
total of 56 matches will be played in Phase 1 and over 300 players will
compete.
b)
The
Sports Authority of India has allocated a total of Rs 53.72 lakhs for 3 phases
of the competition, which includes Prize money of Rs 15.5 lakh.
c)
Phase
1 and 2 of the Khelo India Women’s Hockey League (U-16) will be in a
round-robin format.
d)
The
final ranking of teams will be determined after the completion of the first 2
phases.
e)
Phase
3 will consist of classification matches where each team will play a minimum of
3 matches.
2.
Former West Indies Skipper Kieron Pollard first cricketer to play 600 T20
matches:
Former West Indies all-rounder, Kieron Pollard became the first cricketer to
play 600 T20 matches. The hard-hitting batter achieved this landmark during his
side’s London Spirit’s match against Manchester Originals. Behind him are
players Dwayne Bravo (543 matches), Shoaib Malik (472), Chris Gayle (463) and
Ravi Bopara (426).
He has the best individual performance of
104. Pollard has scored one century and 56 half-centuries in the format. He has
also captured 309 wickets with the best bowling figures of 4/15. He has scored
11,723 runs across 600 games at an average of 31.34.
3.
Tamara Walcott lifts 737.5 kg to break powerlifting Guinness World Record: Tamara Walcott, a
female powerlifter from Maryland in the United States broke according to
sources in the investigating agency for the heaviest cumulative lift for
bench/squat and press in competition (female) after lifting a total of 737.5 kg
across three compound lifts – the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. She
was honoured at the 2022 World Raw Powerlifting Federation American Pro in
Manassas, Virginia last month. GWR compared the weight she lifted with a female
adult giraffe that weighs about 680.3 kg.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
HDFC Bank inks an agreement with TReDs platform M1xchange: M1xchange (TReDs
platform), a marketplace for discounting trade receivables, and HDFC Bank have
partnered to provide small businesses’ access to financing at competitive
interest rates. To debut on the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDs)
platform, HDFC Bank has joined forces with M1xchange, a project of Mynd
Solutions Pvt Ltd. This action is anticipated to provide corporate buyers and
MSMEs with high liquidity at competitive interest rates.
Key Points:
a)
The
Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) can auction their trade
receivables online through the TReDS (M1xchange) system, which is governed by
the RBI, and borrow money from the financial institution offering the lowest
interest rate.
b)
The
partnership between HDFC Bank and M1xchange represents yet another important
advance in the financing of MSME and micro category firms.
c)
Shorter
turn-around times and lower administrative expenses will enable HDFC Bank to
book more new-to-bank (NTB) corporate buyer partnerships, according to him.
d)
This
agreement is anticipated to increase TReDS (M1xchange) adoption among more
corporate customers and MSMEs, as well as bring in more liquidity.
Note: Senior Executive Vice President, HDFC
Bank: Vijay Mulbagal
MD & CEO, M1xchnage: Sundeep Mohindru
2.
SBI to run Indian Visa Centres (IVAC) in Bangladesh: The State Bank of
India (SBI) will manage the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Bangladesh
for two more years. The agreement to extend the operations for two more years
was signed between the officials of the SBI and the High Commission of India in
Dhaka. The IVAC will also be starting a few additional services soon which
include facilitation for online form filling and submission of forms, slot
booking and launching of a mobile app. A priority lounge was also inaugurated
at the IVAC centre in Dhaka. Key
Points:
a)
Currently,
SBI runs a total of 15 IVACs across Bangladesh. The IVAC centre at the Jamuna
Future Park in Dhaka was opened in 2018. It is the largest Indian visa
application centre. The first IVAC was started by SBI in 2005 in Dhaka.
b)
On
average, the IVAC manages more than 5.5 thousand visa applications on a daily
basis. In 2019, the Indian High Commission issued over 16 lakh visas in
Bangladesh.
c)
After
interruptions due to Covid 19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, Visa operations of the
High Commission of India have been running at full capacity catering to the
various categories of visa applicants including those in emergency situations
on a priority basis.
Note: State Bank of India (SBI) chairman:
Dinesh Kumar Khara; State Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai; State Bank of
India Founded: 1 July 1955.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Retail Inflation Eases To 6.71% In July: Retail inflation softened to 6.71 per
cent in July due to moderation in food prices but remained above the Reserve
Bank’s comfort level of 6 per cent for the seventh consecutive month. With
retail inflation continuing to remain high despite a fall in prices of
vegetables and edible oils, among other commodities in July, the Reserve Bank
of India (RBI) might go for another rate hike in September.
RBI’s Tolerance Level: The Consumer
Price Index (CPI) based retail inflation was at 7.01 per cent in June and 5.59
per cent in July 2021. It was above 7 per cent from April to June this fiscal.
According to the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), food
inflation in July moderated to 6.75 per cent as against 7.75 per cent in June.
The retail inflation is above RBI’s upper tolerance level of 6 per cent and has
remained at that level for the past seven months.
Other Indicators: Meanwhile,
India’s factory output, measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP),
came in at 12.3% for the month of June, compared with 19.6% reported in May,
the government data has showed. The coronavirus pandemic had weighed on
Industrial production since March 2020, when it had contracted 18.7%. The
manufacturing sector’s output grew 12.5% in June 2022. The mining output
climbed 7.5%, and power generation increased 16.4% in June this year.
DEFENCE
1.
IAF to Participate in Military Drills ‘Udarashakti’ with Malaysia: Indian Air Force
(IAF) contingent left for Malaysia to participate in a four-day bilateral
exercise ‘Udarashakti’ with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The exercise
will give an opportunity to the IAF contingent members to share and learn best
practices with some of the best professionals from the RMAF, while also
discussing mutual combat capabilities.
The exercise will witness various aerial
combat drills between the two Air Forces, the IAF said, adding that it would
fortify the long-standing bond of friendship and enhance the avenues of defence
cooperation between the two Air Forces, thereby augmenting security in the
region. From the Indian Air Force Su-30, MKI and C-17 aircraft will be
participating while the RMAF will be flying Su-30 MKM aircraft.
Note: Indian Airforce founded: 08th October 1932; Indian Airforce Headquarters: New Delhi; Indian Airforce Chief of Air Staff: Vivek Ram Chaudhari.
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