NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
GoI released commemorative postage stamp to honour Tricolour designer P
Venkayya:
The government of India released a special commemorative postage stamp to mark
the 146th birth anniversary of Pingali Venkayya, the designer of India’s
national flag. The stamp was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an
event “Tiranga Utsav” organised by the Ministry of Culture at Indira Gandhi
Stadium, in New Delhi.
The event will also display the original
design of the national flag made by Pingali Venkayya. The current flag is the
modified version of the first design of the flag. The Tiranga Utsav will also
witness the grand launch of the “Har Ghar Tiranga” anthem and video. Venkayya,
born on August 02, 1876, near Machilipatnam town in Andhra Pradesh, was a
freedom fighter and a follower of Gandhian principles.
2.
Tiranga bike rally organised by Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy: A Har Ghar
Tiranga Bike Rally by Members of Parliament was launched in Delhi from the
famed Red Fort by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu. The Tiranga Bike rally is
organised by Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy. In honour of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, a bike rally was held from Red Fort
to Vijay Chowk. Additionally present were Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and
Piyush Goyal. About Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign:
a)
Our
country is prepared for Har Ghar Tiranga, a nationwide movement to honour our
Tricolor, at the same time that we are commemorating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
b)
On
the anniversary of his birth, the prime minister paid tribute to Pingali
Venkayya, who had designed the flag.
c)
A
wide range of events are planned by the government in advance of Independence
Day.
d)
Between
August 11 and August 13, the BJP members will also perform “prabhat pheri” at
the booth level while playing Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, a favourite devotional
hymn of Mahatma Gandhi, or Vande Mataram, the national anthem of India.
e)
On
August 14, the gathering will also commemorate Partition Horrors Remembrance
Day.
3.
Sujoy Lal Thaosen gets the additional charge of DG of ITBP: Sashastra Seema
Bal’s director general in New Delhi, Dr. Sujoy Lal Thaosen assumed the
additional responsibility of Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border
Police. Dr. Thaosen is a Madhya Pradesh Cadre IPS Officer from the 1988 batch.
Dr. Thaosen received the charge and traditional baton from IPS Sanjay Arora.
The ITBP, established in 1962, patrols the Indo-Chinese border. Additionally,
it is used for a number of internal security tasks, such as anti-Naxal
operations in Chhattisgarh.
4. A
book titled “Lion of the Skies: Hardit Singh Malik” by Stephen Barker: A book titled
“Lion of the Skies: Hardit Singh Malik, the Royal Air Force and the First World
War” is all about an “India’s first fighter pilot” who participated in the
World War, long before the Indian Air Force was born. The book has been written
by author Stephen Barker.
During the First World War, Hardit Singh
Malik served as a fighter pilot for both Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal
Air Force (RAF) for fighting the Germans. He is also the first Indian
Ambassador to France.
The essence of the book: Author Stephen
Barker describes in great detail, how challenging it was for an Indian to serve
in the British armed forces, fighting racial discrimination – both
institutional and interpersonal. It is entirely to the credit of Hardit that he
surpassed every obstacle with hope, enthusiasm, and the highest level of
emotional maturity. As a young boy in school, he had to fight hard, just to
keep his turban and faith intact.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. UN
General Assembly deemed healthy environment a Human Right: The United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution that recognised everyone’s
right to a healthy environment. It was stated that the action is a crucial one
in halting the alarming decline of the natural environment. India supported the
resolution but abstained from one of the resolution’s key clauses. It expressed
dissatisfaction with the resolution’s methodology and content.
The UNGA recognises the right to a clean,
healthy, and sustainable environment as a human right, according to the
resolution’s operative paragraph 1. Ashish Sharma, a counsellor at India’s
Permanent Mission to the UN, asked that this comment be recorded in the
meeting’s official records. Resolution Adopted by UNGA:
a)
The
UN General Assembly passed a resolution designating access to a clean, healthy,
and sustainable environment as a fundamental human right with 161 votes in
favour and eight against.
b)
The
resolution, which is based on a text identical to one the Human Rights Council
endorsed last year, urges governments, non-governmental organisations, and
private companies to step up efforts to maintain a healthy environment for all
people.
c)
The
resolution that was adopted took fifty years to craft. The right was
established in the Stockholm Declaration of 1972 and has since been
incorporated into regional accords, national laws, and constitutions.
2. A
book titled “Dangerous Earth” by Marine biologist Ellen Prager: Marine biologist
Ellen Prager has come up with a book titled “Dangerous Earth: What we wish we
knew about volcanoes, hurricanes, climate change, earthquakes and more”. In the
book, the author seeks to respond to the most compelling question: Why can’t we
better predict natural disasters?
About the book: In Dangerous Earth, marine
scientist Ellen Prager explores the science of investigating volcanoes,
earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, landslides, rip currents, and–maybe the most
perilous hazard of all–climate change. Each chapter considers a specific
hazard, begins with a game-changing historical event, and highlights what
remains unknown about these dynamic phenomena. Along the way, we hear from
scientists trying to read Earth’s warning signs, pass its messages along to the
rest of us, and prevent catastrophic loss.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Commonwealth Games 2022: Indian Team bags gold in Lawn Bowl: India’s lawn bowls
women’s fours team made history by winning the gold medal at the Commonwealth
Games 2022. This was the country’s first medal in the lawn bowls event and the
team, made of skipper Rupa Rani Tirkey, Lovely Choubey, Pinki and Nayanmoni
Saikia, ended up winning the title itself after beating 2018 silver medallists
South Africa. The Indian team won against South Africa with a 17-10 victory.
This was also the Indian team’s maiden appearance in the women’s fours format
of the finals of the tournament. India beat New Zealand in the semi-finals
16-13.
2.
Commonwealth Games 2022: India’s Paddler’s wins gold in Table Tennis: India’s paddlers
retained their men’s team championship title with a convincing 3-1 win over
Singapore in the Table-Tennis Final of the Commonwealth Games 2022. For India,
Harmeet Desai and G Sathiyan gave India a great start by registering a win in
the doubles match. However, Chew Zhe Yu Clarence won the next game to level
Singapore at 1-1. But G Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai ensured India’s gold by
winning their respective matches.
3.
Commonwealth Games 2022: Indian badminton team claimed the silver medal: Indian badminton
team claimed the silver medal in the mixed group match of the Commonwealth
Games 2022. Indian badminton mixed team suffered a 1-3 defeat against Malaysia
and had to settle for silver. Only PV Sindhu managed to earn a win in the
summit clash against Malaysia in the women’s singles match. All four matches
between:
a)
In
the first match of the tie, India’s Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
were locked in a tough first game against Malaysia’s Teng Fong Aaron Chia and
Wooi Yik.
b)
In
the second match of the tie, PV Sindhu took on Jin Wei Goh. The opening game of
the match saw the double Olympic medallist playing aggressively to take one
game lead over Malayasia’s Jin Wei Goh by 22-20.
c)
In
the third match of the tie, Kidambi Srikanth went down 19-21 against Malaysia’s
Ng Tze Yong in the opening game.
d)
After
the match, Malaysia took a 2-1 lead. In the fourth match of the fixture, Treesa
Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand went against Muralitharan Thinaah and Koong Le
Pearly Tan. Indian pair lost the first game 18-21. The Malaysian pair won the
second game 21-17 to clinch the gold medal in Games 2022.
4.
Commonwealth Games 2022: Lovepreet Singh clinches bronze medal in men’s
weightlifting: Lovepreet
Singh has won bronze in the men’s 109kg weightlifting final with a total lift
of 355kg, taking India’s medal tally in the Commonwealth Games 2022. Cameroon’s
Junior has taken the lead with a total lift of 361kg. Samoa’s Jack Opeloge is
second with a total lift of 358kg. Lovepreet Singh is third with a total lift
of 355kg. Australia’s Jackson is the last man standing, trying to win a bronze.
The Indian weightlifting contingent has now won a total of 9 medals.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
SIDBI and SVC bank collaborate to increase loans to MSMEs: To increase the
flow of loans to MSMEs, the SVC Co-operative Bank (SVC Bank) and the Small
Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) have reached an agreement. Ashish
Singhal, MD of SVC Bank, and Sanjeev Gupta, GM of SIDBI, inked the deal. For
more than 115 years, SVC Bank has acted as a reliable partner for MSMEs. About
the Agreement:
a)
According
to the agreement, SIDBI would grant a refinancing facility to SVC Bank in order
to promote loan flow, empower MSMEs, and strengthen economic ties.
b)
The
MSME sector is the backbone of the Indian economy in terms of exports,
employment creation, and revenue to the exchequer.
c)
SIDBI
has now chosen to collaborate with several Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) and
Regional Rural Banks in order to create a robust environment for the
development of Indian MSMEs (RRBs).
d)
This
is the first such contract that has been signed with a UCB. SIDBI plans to sign
more of these agreements with UCBs and RRBs in different States.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Jio getting ready to launch World’s Most Advanced 5G Network across India: Reliance Jio,
owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, became the highest bidder for 5G spectrum,
paying Rs 88,078 crore to buy over half of the airwaves offered in the most
recent auction. The Adani group paid Rs 212 crore for 400 MHz, or less than 1%
of all spectrum sold, according to Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Jio has
also acquired the 700 MHz band.
Jio purchased spectrum across several
bands, including the coveted 700 MHz band, which can provide 6-10 km of signal
range and serves as a good foundation for
fifth generation (5G) in all 22 circles in the country. Adani Group
purchased spectrum in the 26 GHz band, which is not for public networks. If 700
Mhz is used, a single towner can cover a larger area.
More about Spectrum auction for 5G:
a)
Bharti
Airtel, owned by telecom mogul Sunil Bharti Mittal, paid Rs 43,084 crore for a
19,867 MHz airwave spread across multiple bands.
b)
Spectrum
was purchased by Vodafone Idea Ltd for Rs 18,784 crore. Vaishnaw said that a
total of 150,173 crore rupees in bids were received.
c)
51,236
MHz, or 71%, of the 72,098 MHz of spectrum offered over 10 bands, were
purchased.
d)
A
payment of Rs 13,365 crore will be made to the government for the spectrum in
the first year.
DEFENCE
1.
India Navy and France Navy conducted exercise in the Atlantic Ocean: The Indian Navy
guided-missile frigate INS Tarkash, while on her long-range overseas
deployment, conducted a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with French naval
ships in the North Atlantic Ocean on July 29 and 30. INS Tarkash and French
Fleet Tanker FNS Somme carried out a replenishment at sea, followed by
cooperative air operations with the maritime surveillance aircraft Falcon 50,
taking part in several mock missile engagements and air defence drills.
The successful conduct of these surface and
aerial exercises symbolise the high degree of professionalism and
interoperability that exists between the two navies. India and France are
maritime nations with dynamic maritime economy sectors like marine technology
and scientific research, fisheries, port and shipping, to name a few.
Possessing vast exclusive economic zones, their fate is closely linked to the
sea and the ocean.
2.
Indian Air Force will retire all squadrons of MiG-21 by 2025: The Indian Air
Force will retire one of its four remaining squadrons, MiG-21 (Russian combat
aircraft) fighter jets by 2022 September and the other three are scheduled to
be phased out by 2025. The old MiG-21s will be replaced with newer fighter
jets. Six MiG-21s have been lost in crashes in the last 20 months, killing five
pilots. The IAF also plans to start the phasing out of the three squadrons of
MiG-29 fighter jets in the next five years.
History of MiG-21s: The MiG-21s were
supposed to be retired a long time ago but delays in induction of the LCA Tejas
aircraft have forced the IAF to continue flying these planes. The air force
received its first single-engine MiG-21 in 1963. The fighter jet has
participated in many operations like Safed Sagar (Kargil, 1999), the operation
of India in Pakistan in February 2019. Currently, the IAF has around 70 Mig-21
aircraft and 50 Mig-29 variants.
3.
India to participate combat exercise drill “Pitch Black 2022” in Australia: India will be
part of the mega air combat exercise “Pitch Black 2022” among 17 nations, to be
held in the Northern Territory of Australia. India’s participation in the
exercise, “Pitch Black”, has been confirmed by the Australian government. Over
100 aircraft and 2,500 military personnel from 17 nations will be part of the
drill. The exercise is scheduled to take place from August 19 to September 6.
This year’s participants include Australia, Canada, India, France, Germany,
Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, the
Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the UAE, the UK and the US.
About the Ex Pitch Black: Ex Pitch Black is a biennial multi-national large force employment warfare exercise, hosted by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The objectives of the exercise is to foster a closer relationship between the participating forces and promote interoperability through the exchange of knowledge and experience. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) considers “Pitch Black” as its “capstone” international engagement activity with the air forces of strategic partners and allies.
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