NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM
inaugurated Gujarat’s first Greenfield Airport: Prime
Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate Gujarat's first greenfield
airport, situated in Hirasar village near Rajkot city in july 2023. Aim: To
reduce the time and cost related to logistics for multiple industries in the
region.
The
Rajkot International Airport has been included under PM Gati Shakti
Project. During this event, he will dedicate packages 8 and 9 of the Saurashtra
Narmada Avtaran Irrigation (SAUNI) Yojana.
2. CRPF
celeberated 85th Raising Dayon 27 July 2023:
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), India’s largest Central Armed Police
Force, is observing its ‘84th Raising Day’ on 27 July 2023 CRPF is organizing
its Raising Day Parade for the first time in Chhattisgarh's
Bastar, the epicenter of Left Wing Extremism, and it is a matter of pride
for the entire nation. The day celebrates the immense and unparalleled
contribution of the force in upholding the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of
the nation.
3. MRPL
becomes largest single-location PSU refinery in India: The Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), a mini-Ratna
CPSE PSU refinery based in coastal Karnataka has become the single largest
PSU refinery in the country for the year 2022-23. It processed 17.14
million metric tonnes of crude oil during the past financial year. It
processes 10 per cent of the total crude oil refined by the PSU petroleum
refineries in the country. MRPL can process more than 250 different types of
crude from around the world.
4. Federal
Bank launches NR savings accounts for NRI women:
Federal Bank announced the introduction of a unique NR savings account
plan designed exclusively for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) women in July
2023 This scheme, known as NRE Eve+, has been designed to meet the
specific financial needs of NRI women by Objective: To provide a variety
of advantages that are geared at enhancing their financial journeys. With NRE
Eve+, account customers get free access to domestic and international airport
lounges.
5. Amit
Shah launches virtual platform, part of 'Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar' proj: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches a virtual platform,
part of the unique initiative of 'Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar' under the
'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' at Qutub Minar in New Delhi MGMD, a pan-India project
under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping in coordination with
the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) The main
objective of the project is to culturally map India's 6.5 lakh villages on a
comprehensive virtual platform
6. Over 123 lakh passengers travelled on UDAN flights
since its inception: Government: More
than 123 lakh domestic passengers have travelled on Ude Desh Ka Aam
Nagrik (UDAN) flights since the inception of the scheme, the Minister of
State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen V K Singh (Retd) said in a written
reply to a question in Rajya Sabha. The scheme was initiated in October 2016
with the objective of fulfilling the aspirations of the common citizen, with an
enhanced aviation infrastructure and air connectivity in tier II and tier III
cities. Under UDAN, 148 Airports, including nine heliports and two water
aerodromes, have been developed/operationalized till date. The govt has also
approved the ‘Revival of unserved and under-served airports’ scheme to develop
100 airports, and water aerodromes by 2024.
7. Centre grants in-principle approval to set up 21
greenfield airports: The government has approved the establishment of 21 new
Greenfield airports across the country. These airports will be set up in
different regions of the country to enhance connectivity and boost air travel
accessibility. 11 Greenfield airports have already been made operational. These
include Durgapur, Shirdi, Kannur, Pakyong, Kalaburagi, Orvakal (Kurnool),
Sindhudurg, Kushinagar, Itanagar, Mopa, and Shivamogga. Other approved airports
are in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Puducherry, Andhra
Pradesh, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. The state government of
Tamil Nadu has applied for the first stage clearance, known as
‘site-clearance,’ to develop a Greenfield airport at Parandur in Kancheepuram
District.
8. Punjab govt signs MoU with BCEIP to launch online
course ‘English for Work’: The Punjab government has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with British Council Education India Pvt Limited
(BCEIPL) to expand employment opportunities for the youth, reported Khalsa
Vox. The MoU was officially signed by the Director of Higher Education Amarpal
Singh on behalf of the Punjab Government, and Managing Director of BCEIPL
Duncan Wilson. Following that, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed his
optimism and highlighted the potential of MoU to open new directions for
employment and skills enhancement for the youth. Moreover, under the
partnership, they will launch a specialized training course “English for Work”
for students of government colleges under the Higher Education Department. The
training program aims to upskill the employability of young individuals, making
them more competitive in the job market. The “English for Work” course will be
offered online and will have a “flipped classroom” approach. It will further
aim to blend the flexibility of self-study with interactive live classes. In
the beginning of this course, around 5,000 students from government colleges
will be offered the opportunity to undergo comprehensive training starting from
this academic session.
9. Phangnon Konyak became the first woman to chair the
Rajya Sabha from Nagaland: Phangnon Konyak, the first woman member from Nagaland in the Rajya
Sabha, presided over the House. Phangnon Konyak became the first woman member
to be appointed to the panel of Vice-Chairpersons. She is also the first woman
to be elected to Rajya Sabha from Nagaland (April 2022) and the second woman
from the state to be elected to either house of the Parliament or the state
assembly. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar nominated four women members
(50% of the total) to the panel of Vice-Chairpersons to promote gender
equality. All the nominated women members are first-time MPs The reconstituted
panel now comprises a total of eight members, half of whom are women, a first
in the history of the Upper House. The nominated women members are as follows –
PT Usha, S. Phangnon Konyak, Dr. Fauzia Khan, Sulta Dev
10. Tenzing Yangki becomes the 1st female IPS officer of Arunachal
Pradesh: Tenzing Yangki has
become the first female IPS officer of Arunachal Pradesh who cracked
the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination
2022. Tenzin Yangki achieved a rank of 545 and has become the first lady
IPS officer from Arunachal Pradesh. Yangki had earlier cleared the Arunachal
Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) exam in 2017. Robin Hibu was the
first IPS officer from Arunachal Pradesh. He joined as an IPS officer in 1993. The
state boasts of 11 later entry IPS officers, who have been promoted to the rank
of inspector general of police (IGP). After the elevation of 2004 batch AGMUT
cadre IPS officer C K Mein to IGP rank on 31.03.22 by the MoHA, Arunachal till
then had 11 IGPs, including Chukhu Apa, Tussar Taba, Apur Bitin, Kime Kaming,
PN Khirmey, Sang Norbu Mosovi, Nabam Gungte, Hibu Tamang, Isaac Pertin, Mari
Riba and C K Mein.
11. Air Force Day Parade and Flypast to be held at
Prayagraj: The Indian Air
Force will be celebrating its 91st anniversary on 08 October 2023. Keeping
with the new tradition of hosting the Air Force Day celebrations in different
parts of the country, this year’s Air Force Day parade and Air
Display will be held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The ceremonial
parade will be conducted at Air Force Station, Bamrauli, while the air display
will take place at the Sangam area, the picturesque confluence of the Ganga and
Yamuna rivers in Prayagraj. The Air Force Day celebrations will commence more
than a week before with an air display near Bhojtal Lake in Bhopal on September
30. The IAF was officially established on October 8, 1932. Its first aircraft
flight came into being on April 1, 1933, with six officers trained by the Royal
Air Force (RAF) and 19 “havai sepoys” (air soldiers)
12. 27 July 2023 – National Refreshment Day: National Refreshment Day is observed
every year on the fourth Thursday of July and this year
celebrated on July 27. The day draws our attention to the much-needed
destressing activities we need to do for peace of mind and a healthy body. National
Refreshment Day was first commemorated in 2015 by Traveler Beers. The
U.S.-based company was established in 2012. The founders wanted to integrate
European shandy flavors with American ones in order to bring a refreshing touch
and look to the beer scene in America.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. ETS
launches TOEFL Go app to facilitate test takers: The Educational
Testing Service (ETS) has launched an application for test takers to
prepare for the new and shorter version of the exam. ETS conducts the English
testing exam— Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) The app— TOEFL
Go, includes complete TOEFL iBT mock tests, additional practice
sets for all four sections, artificial intelligence (AI) powered
automated scoring, performance feedback for sections, personalized feedback.
2. Summit
on “Global Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs 2023: The Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers organized
the 3rd edition of the Summit on “Global Chemicals and
Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs in India” (GCPMH 2023) in New Delhi. Minister
of Finance Nirmala Sitaraman will inaugurate the two days Summit on
Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs 2023 Aim: To develop
possible strategies and address the challenges that will shape the Chemicals
and Petrochemicals Industry in India and across the world.
3. ‘India
AI’ and Meta, signed MoU to foster advancements in AI: Abhishek Singh, CEO of India AI, and Shivnath Thukral,
Director & Head of Public Policy, Meta have signed an MoU in
India. Objective: To establish a framework for collaboration and
cooperation between ‘India AI’ and Meta in the field of Artificial Intelligence
& Emerging Technologies. ‘India AI’ and Meta share a common goal of
raising awareness about AI's potential benefits and risks among various
stakeholders, including policymakers, businesses and civil society
4. India & Argentina signs MoU for bilateral exchange
of young researchers: India and Argentina have agreed
to a bilateral exchange of young researchers and Startups, particularly in
the field of Biotechnology and Agriculture. The two countries also decided to
hold comprehensive talks between delegations comprising academia, Research, and
Development Institutes, and Industry in the field of Science and Technology and
Biotechnology. India is the 4th largest trading partner of Argentina, with
bilateral trade touching a historic peak of 6.4 billion US dollar in the year
2022, recording a growth rate of 12 percent over 2021.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Tripura’s Asmita Dey wins gold at Junior Asian Judo
Championships 2023: Tripura’s sporting pride
20-year-old, Asmita Dey won the gold medal in the Junior Asia Cup
Judo Championship 2023 in Macau, China. She competed in the women’s 48 kg
category against opponents from 27 different countries. The Judo Asian
Championship is organized by the Judo Union of Asia. The men’s tournament began
in 1966 and was held approximately every four years, until 1991.
2. Max Verstappen clinches Hungarian GP: Red Bull’s driver Max Verstappen stormed
to victory over Lando Norris and Sergio Perez with another commanding
performance in the Hungarian Grand Prix. McLaren’s Lando Norris was
runner-up for the second straight race. With the victory the reigning double
world champion clinched his seventh straight victory and the Red Bull their
12th in a row beating McLaren’s long-standing record. Teammate Perez also
furthered his advantage over third-place man Fernando Alonso, who finished a
disappointing ninth in Hungary.
3. India ranked 2nd at ISSF World Championship in South
Korea 2023: India finished 2nd on the
medals tally at the recently concluded ISSF Junior Shooting World Championships
2023 in Changwon, South Korea. Indian shooters bagged 17 medals, which include
6 Gold, 6 Silver, and 5 Bronze. The championships saw 90 Indian shooters vie
for medals in pistol, rifle, and shotgun competitions in the under-21 age
category. The majority of the medalists were Khelo India athletes. Seven
Indians managed to bag more than one medal. Abhinav Shaw and Kamaljeet won two
golds each. Sainyam won three medals — gold in the 10m air pistol women, and a
bronze each in the 10m air pistol mixed team and women’s team events.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. HDFC
Bank partners Dvara KGFS for micro loans: Dvara
KGFS has entered into a co-lending partnership with HDFC Bank to
provide business capital to micro business units operating primarily in rural
areas and the unorganized sector across 10 States. Dvara KGFS unveiled the
enterprise loans vertical in 2020 with focus on three primary value chains –
grocery, dairy and agriculture This engagement will enhance
our capabilities in empowering micro businesses operating in rural
areas.
2. HDFC
Bank overtakes SBI in CRISIL's corporate banking ranking for 2023 : India’s largest private
lender HDFC Bank has overtaken State Bank of India (SBI) to earn top spot on
the list of 2023 CRISIL’s Greenwich market share Leaders in Large Corporate
Banking. According to Coalition Greenwich many of the gains for large private
sector and foreign banks came at the expense of the smaller banks. Indian
companies are joining forces with the country’s largest banks to help fuel
their drive to become bigger, more international and more efficient.
3. RBI
permits banks to open vostro accounts from 22 countries: The Reserve Bank has permitted 20 banks operating in the
country to open 92 Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) of partner
banks from 22 countries like Bangladesh, Belarus, Botswana, Fiji,
Germany, Guyana and Israel, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives. Aim: To
promote bilateral trade in local currencies. Minister of State for Commerce and
Industry Som Parkash informed that an MoU has been signed between the RBI
and the Central Bank of UAE in July 2023
4. Govt approves 8.15% interest rate on Employees
Provident Fund deposits: The government has
cleared the interest rate for Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) accounts for
the financial year 2022-23. The declared interest rate stands at 8.15
percent, as notified by the retirement body Employees Provident Fund
Organization (EPFO) in a circular. The EPFO has directed all filed offices to
credit the interest at a rate of 8.15 percent on EPF for the financial year
2022-23 into the respective accounts of its members. The Ministry of Labour and
Employment, Government of India, has conveyed the approval of the Central
Government under para 60(1) of Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 to credit
interest@ 8.15 % for the year 2022-23 to the account of each member of the EPF
Scheme as per the provisions under Para 60 of EPF Scheme, 1952. The EPFO has
directed its field offices to credit the interest into the accounts of over 6
crore active members as of March 2023.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Heritage Byculla Railway station received the UNESCO award 2023: The Byculla Railway station, a heritage site on the Central line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway, was awarded by UNESCO after its successful restoration to its original glory in July 2023. The project, launched in July 2019 by Shaina NC, Trustee of 'I Love Mumbai' and in memory of her father Nana Chudasama, aimed to revive the station's original architectural splendor. Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnav congratulated Central Railway.
No comments:
Post a Comment