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. Centre clears urban flood management projects worth ₹2,514.36 cr of 5 states: A high-level committee (HLC), chaired by the union home minister, approved six proposals of five states, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal and Maharashtra — for urban flood management at a total cost of ₹2,514.36 crore. The funds would be utilized for flood management in six metro cities of Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pune. Earlier in its meeting on November 27, 2023, the HLC approved the project proposal for integrated solutions for flood management in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, at a cost of ₹561.29 crore. The HLC, comprising of Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister and Vice Chairman NITI Aayog as members, overall considered nine proposals for funding from National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to combat urban flooding in six cities, to mitigate Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in 4 hill states and to strengthen fire services in 3 states.
3. 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. During the current financial year, the Centre has released Rs 6348 crore to 14 states under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Rs 672 crore to six states under State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF).
4. 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
5. 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. 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. Assam’s Charaideo Moidams Added to UNESCO World Heritage List: Moidams are tumuli, which are earth mounds built over the graves of Ahom kings. The moidams of the Ahom royal family are in Charaideo, but you can find other buildings like them all over eastern Assam. Each moidam usually has a vault with rooms inside, a hemispherical mound on top, and a tower called the chow chali that is surrounded by an eight-sided wall. The Ahoms, who were related to the Tai people, chose burial over burning, which is different from Hindu customs. Their unique burial rituals, which were based on old Egyptian practices, meant that these moidams often held more than just the dead. They also held things for the afterlife, servants, animals, and even wives.
3. UK and India Launch New Technology Security Initiative: The Governments of India and the UK just started the Technology Security Initiative (TSI). The goal is to improve their strategic relationship as technology becomes more important for national security and economic growth. This project shows that people are serious about working together more on important and new technologies.
OTHER UPDATES:
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. Manu Bhaker wins Bronze, becomes 1st Indian woman to clinch shooting medal: Manu Bhaker opened India’s accounts at Paris Olympics with a historic bronze in 10m air pistol event, becoming India’s first woman shooter to win Olympic medal. She became the first Indian woman to win a shooting medal at the Games, ending a 12-year wait for an overall Olympic medal in shooting. Manu became only the fifth shooter after Abhinav Bindra, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang to win an Olympic medal in shooting. The last time India won medals at the Olympics was at the London edition in 2012 when rapid-fire pistol shooter Vijay Kumar won silver and 10m air rifle marksman Gagan Narang clinched bronze. Manu, who became the third Indian woman to enter the final rounds of an individual shooting event at the Olympics by finishing third with 580 in the qualification rounds, shot 221.7 to finish third in the final to claim the bronze medal.
· Gold Medal – Ye Jin (South Korea) with 243.3 points
· Silver Medal – Kim Yeji (South Korea) with 241. Points
3. 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.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. OpenAI Launches SearchGPT: SearchGPT stands out because it gives you a summary of your search results along with links to the sources. Users can ask follow-up questions to get more contextual answers, which makes their search queries more engaging. SearchGPT is being tested right now with a small group of users and publishers to get their comments. People who want to try out the function can sign up for a waitlist at chatgpt.com/search.
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. The provisions of the PCA Framework will be effective from April 1, 2025.
2. IndusInd Bank collaborates with Inspire Institute of Sport to launch ‘Wrestle for Glory’: IndusInd Bank has launched the ‘Wrestle for Glory’ program, a CSR initiative of the Bank, continuing the longstanding collaboration with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), a high-performance Olympic training facility headquartered in Vijayanagar, Bellary. This program aims to empower 50 talented female wrestling athletes from across the country. And provide them with coaching at the esteemed IIS facility on fully-funded scholarships. Under the ‘Wrestle for Glory’ CSR program, female wrestlers will benefit with access to top-tier training facilities, expert coaching, comprehensive sports science resources, cutting-edge equipment, nutritional support, educational assistance, and a supportive ecosystem essential for nurturing their potential and propelling them towards success on the global stage. The ‘Wrestle for Glory’ program has been launched as a part of the ‘IndusInd For Sports’ initiative, a non-banking sports vertical of the Bank, established in 2016.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Sustainability Model Award: First prize: Radio Benziger run by Bishop Benziger Hospital Society, Kollam, Kerala Second Prize: Radio Namskar, Konark, Odisha run by Young India Third Prize: Radio Antarwani, Gulbarga, Karnataka run by Sharanbasbeswara Vidya Vardhak Sangh.
2. Promoting Local Culture Award: First prize: Radio Brahmaputra, Dibrugarh, Assam for programme: Igarekun Second Prize: Radio Kotagiri, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu for programme: En Makkaludan Oru Payanam Third Prize: Radio Active, Bhagalpur Bihar for programme: Ang Pradesh ki Adbut Dharohar Most Innovative Community Engagement Award: First prize: Yerlawani Sangli, Maharashtra for programme: Kahani sunandachi Second Prize: Vaylaga Vanoli, Madurai, Tamil Nadu for programme: Let’s Build a new Norm Third Prize: Salaam Namaste Noida, Uttar Pradesh for programme: Maid Didi
3. Rajbhasha Gaurav Samman 2023-24 Award
: The ‘Rajbhasha Gaurav Samman’ is an award initiated by the Indian government to promote Hindi and regional languages. Established in 1986, it recognizes outstanding contributions to the use of Hindi in various sectors including administration. The award is conferred annually on individuals and organizations. It aims to encourage the use of Hindi and improve linguistic diversity. The award features a citation and a cash prize. Recipients include institutions from both public and private sectors.
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