NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Government extends EMPS till September with more outlay of ₹778 crore: The government has extended the duration of Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024 by two months up to September 30, with enhancement of outlay to ₹778 crore. Earlier, the scheme was launched by Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) through a gazette notification on March 13, to boost the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across the country. The EMPS was originally set to run from April 1 to July 31, 2024, with a total outlay of ₹500 crore. So, the total outlay becomes ₹1,278 crore now for the same scheme. The eligible vehicles include electric two-wheelers (e-2W) and three-wheelers including registered e-rickshaws and e-carts and L5 (e-3W). The scheme now targets to support 5,60,789 EVs, comprising 5,00,080 e-2Ws and 60,709 units of e-3Ws, it said adding that this includes 13,590 rickshaws and e-carts, as well as 47,119 e-3Ws in the L5 category.
2. Amit Shah led High-level committee Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme (YAMS): Amit Shah led High-level committee approved a proposal of Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme (YAMS) at an outlay of Rs 470.50 crore from NDRF. It will be implemented in 315 most disaster-prone districts of the country for training of 1300 trained Aapda Mitra Volunteers as Master Trainers and 2.37 lakh volunteers exclusively from NCC, NSS, NYKS and BS&G (Bharat Scouts & Guides) in disaster preparedness and response. Earlier, the government implemented “Aapda Mitra” scheme under which around 1 lakh community volunteers have been trained for disaster response in 350 most disaster-prone districts of the country. These skilled and trained ‘Aapda Mitras’ and ‘Aapda Sakhis’ are playing an important role in assisting the local administration in responding to any disaster.
3. Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates India’s 500th Community Radio Station- Apna Radio 90.0 FM at IIMC Aizawl: Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the winners of 10th National Community Radio Awards. The Minister has also inaugurated India’s 500th Community Radio Station in presence of Union Minister of State for I&B Dr. L. Murugan and Chief Minister of Mizoram Shri Lalduhoma. The station ‘Apna Radio 90.0 FM’ is a station run by Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aizawl. This initiative will bring a substantive change in the lives of people in the coverage area of Apna Radio station. This launch is also a significant milestone in the Government’s policy of Act East. Winners of 10th National Community Radio Awards
4. DK Murali takes charge as CMD of BECIL: Cmde D.K. Murali has taken over as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL), a Mini Ratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
Cmde Murali, who served in the Indian Navy for nearly 35 years, expressed his enthusiasm about his new role. The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) has selected Brijesh Dixit for the position of Managing Director at Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL), a Schedule ‘C’ Central PSU. Dixit, currently the Executive Director (Depot & Machineries) in the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers, was chosen from 12 candidates. His appointment is subject to requisite clearances and ACC approval, with incumbent MD Rakesh Chopra set to retire on July 31, 2024.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India, US Sign Cultural Property Agreement to Repatriate Stolen Indian Artifacts: India and the United States of America have signed a Cultural Property Agreement to repatriate stolen Indian artifacts from the USA. Under the agreement, both countries will work together to also prevent and prohibit illicit trade, import, export and trafficking of archaeological and ethnological materials. This is India’s first-ever Cultural Property Agreement with the US.
2. 27 July – World Hepatitis Day: World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on July 28th. Objective – To raise awareness about viral hepatitis, a group of infectious diseases that cause inflammation of the liver and can lead to severe liver disease and cancer. Theme 2024 – It’s Time for Action Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, often caused by viral infections but also resulting from other factors such as alcohol consumption, certain medications, and autoimmune diseases. The liver, a vital organ responsible for numerous essential functions, becomes compromised when affected by hepatitis, leading to potentially severe health consequences.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Ajit Doval Represents India At 4th Annual BIMSTEC Security Chiefs Meeting In Naypyitaw: National Security Advisor NSA Ajit Doval led the Indian delegation at the 4th Annual Meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC Security Chiefs in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. He met with the Myanmar NSA Admiral Moe Aung and BIMSTEC Security Chiefs called on Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Delivering India’s national statement at the BIMSTEC meet, Mr Doval spoke on strengthening cooperation in counter-terrorism and combating drug trafficking, arms smuggling and organized crime. He also spoke about BIMSTEC connectivity, holding the 2nd Ports Conclave and water security of Himalayan River systems.
2. 27 July – CRPF Raising Day: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is observing its Raising Day on 27 July 2024. It was on this day the central government’s largest paramilitary force, CRPF was raised as Crown Representative Police in 1939 by the British rulers of India. CRPF is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of the government of India, the others being the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Police Force (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). CRPF is the largest CAPF and is dedicated to the task of internal security.
SPORTS
1. 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Parade held on River Seine, Paris: The 33rd Summer Olympics opened with a first-of-its-kind opening ceremony in the French capital city of Paris on 26 July 2024. For the first time in the Summer Olympics’ history, the traditional opening ceremony was not held in a stadium but in the open on the Seine. Out of the 117-strong Indian side, 78 participated in the opening ceremony. The Indian contingent was led by four-time Olympian table tennis player Sharath Kamal and two-time Olympian badminton player P.V. Sindhu. Paris will host the 33rd Summer Olympics from 26 July to 11 August and Paralympics for the physically challenged athletes from 28 August to 8 September 2024. It is the third time Paris is hosting the Summer Olympics, having hosted in 1900,1924 and now in 2024.
2. Mascot and Motto of the 2024 Paris Olympics: The 2024 Paris Olympics Mascot is Olympic Phryge. It is designed on the traditional French Phyrigian hat that represents the symbols of freedom and the French Republic. It is coloured in blue, white and red, representing the flag of France with the golden Paris 2024 logo emblazoned across its chest. Alone we go faster, but together we go further,” is the motto of the Paris Olympics and the Paralympic Games.
3. India to participate in 16 events: Out of the 32 sporting disciplines in the Paris Olympics, India will participate in 16: Men’s Hockey, archery, badminton, boxing, wrestling, equestrian, golf, athletics, tennis, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and weightlifting. Maximum 29 athletes will participate in athletics, while 21 will participate in the various shooting events. Breaking, Surfing, sports climbing, and Skateboarding are the four new sports to be included in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. The United States, with 640 athletes, has the maximum number of athletes competing in the Paris Olympics, followed by host France, which has 608 athletes.
4. Sri Lanka clinch maiden Women’s Asia Cup title with comprehensive win over India: Sri Lanka secured their first-ever Women’s Asia Cup title, defeating the defending champions India in front of an ecstatic home crowd. In the final of the 9th Women’s Cricket Asia Cup played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla, Sri Lanka the host beat India by 8 wickets with 8 balls to spare. This was also just the second time in their nine final appearances that India failed to win the Women’s Asia Cup. The previous such instance was in 2018, when Bangladesh beat India by three wickets. Samarawickrama was the Player of the Match in the Final, while Chamari Athapaththu was the Player of the Tournament for her 304 runs and three wickets in the event.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI introduces PCA framework to improve financial health of UCBs: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has prescribed a Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework for relatively weak urban co-operative banks (UCBs), with deposits above ₹100 crore (upper tier category), to nurse them back to health. As per the framework, a financially unsound and ill-managed UCB can be brought under PCA if it breaches the risk thresholds of identified indicators pertaining to capital and profitability (net profit). Currently, there are around 1,500 UCBs in the country. RBI classifies UCBs as Tier-I (deposits up to ₹100 crore); Tier-2 (more than ₹100 crore and up to ₹1,000 crore); Tier-3 (deposits more than ₹1,000 crore and up to ₹10,000 crore); and Tier-4 (above ₹10,000 crore). Tiers 2 to 4 come under the upper Tier. The objective of the PCA Framework is to enable supervisory intervention at an appropriate time and require the UCBs to initiate and implement remedial measures in a timely manner, to restore their financial health.
ADB Approves Support to Improve Urban Mobility in India: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $200 million loan to expand metro rail corridors and improve transport connectivity in Nagpur, India. The Nagpur Metro Urban Mobility Project will improve transport connectivity within and to Nagpur’s new and growing urban areas. The project will finance the extension of four metro rail corridors in Nagpur. These are from Automotive Square to Kanhan, Prajapati Nagar to Transport Nagar, Khapri to Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation ESR, and Lokmanya Nagar to Hingna. The project will construct 43.8 kilometers of elevated metro rail corridors with 32 stations. The project will help the Maha Metro develop a 5-year institutional action plan, including a gender equality and social inclusion-responsive workplace strategy; improve its digital project management platform; and train staff on metro planning and management.
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