NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan launches Polyversity: Michigan, USA-based IT Services & IT Consulting Company
Information Data Systems (IDS) has unveiled the Bharat Blockchain Network (BBN)
(Academic Blockchain Consortium) & Polyversity (Educational Metaverse).
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of
India (GoI) launched the initiatives in the presence of officials from the All
India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) at an event held at the AICTE
Auditorium in New Delhi.
Key
points:
a) IDS is building Bharat Blockchain Network (BBN)- India’s Nationwide
hybrid blockchain Network visioned to enable blockchain projects of academic
interest around Governance, Issuance of verifiable credentials, Skill badges,
Student transfer & Audit Trail along the lines of NEP (National Education
Policy) 2020.
b) IDS is working with 100 plus academic partners. The Bharat Blockchain
Network (BBN), India’s first nationwide hybrid blockchain network, is built by
IDS.
About the
Polyversity: Polyversity is India’s Largest Educational
Metaverse, with over 100 Academic Partners establishing virtual campuses to
make education more accessible, immersive and meaningful. Land parcels will be
assigned to academic partners in Polyversity.
Note: All India
Council for Technical Education Founded: November 1945; All India Council for
Technical Education Headquarters: New Delhi; All India Council for Technical
Education Chairperson: Anil Sahasrabudhe.
2. Tamil
Nadu’s CM unveils the 44th Chess Olympiad’s logo, mascot: M.K. Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, unveiled the logo and
mascot for the 44th Chess Olympiad, which will take place in Mamallapuram next
month. Between July 28 and August 10, approximately 2,000 players from over 180
countries will compete in the international event. Mr. Stalin also unveiled a
countdown clock for the Olympiad at the Greater Chennai Corporation’s
headquarters, Ripon Buildings. The Chess Olympiad torch will be carried across
the country soon before being lit in the venue on the first day of the
competition. After the World Championship encounter between India’s Viswanathan
Anand and Magnus Carlsen in 2013, this is Chennai’s second big international
chess event. The international tournament preparations are moving at a
breakneck speed.
Note: All India
Chess Federation president: Sanjay Kapoor
3.
‘Gaganyaan’ India’s first human space mission scheduled to launch in 2023: India will attain the unique distinction of launching the first Human
Space Mission ‘Gaganyaan’ as well as the first Human Ocean Mission in 2023,
according to Space and Earth Sciences Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. Testing for
both the Space and Ocean manned missions have evolved to an advanced stage, and
that the remarkable accomplishment would be performed in the second half of
2023, while speaking at the World Oceans Day festivities in New Delhi. Key
Points:
a) According to the Minister, the government will shortly reveal the Blue
Economic Policy, and ocean-based sectors would employ roughly 40 million people
by 2030.
b) Major missions for Gaganyaan are planned for the second half of 2022,
including a test vehicle flight to validate the crew escape system’s
performance and the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, which will be followed by
a second uncrewed mission in late 2022 carrying “Vyommitra,” an Isro-developed
spacefaring human robot, and finally the first crewed Gaganyaan mission in
2023.
c) The natural riches buried beneath the sea would propel the country’s
growth to unprecedented heights.
d) India’s marine enterprises must realize their full potential since
oceans supply both live and non-living resources, ranging from fisheries to
marine biotechnology, minerals, and renewable energy.
4. Prasar
Bharati CEO Mayank Kumar Agrawal assigned additionally as DD Director: Mayank Kumar Agrawal, director general of Doordarshan and Doordarshan
News, has been assigned additional responsibility as Prasar Bharati’s chief
executive officer. Agrawal succeeds Shashi Shekhar Vempati, who served as CEO
of the state broadcaster for five years. Following permission from Information
and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, the decision was made to grant the
extra charge to the 1989-batch Indian Information Service official until
further orders or regular appointment to the post.
5. Union
Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan released books titled ‘Loktantra ke Swar’ &
‘The Republican Ethic’: Union Education and Skill
Development & Entrepreneurship Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan along with
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Sports Anurag Thakur released
books ‘Loktantra ke Swar’ and ‘The Republican Ethic’, having selected speeches
of the President of India Ram Nath Kovind. This is the fourth volume of the
series featuring the fourth year of the presidency of Ram Nath Kovind. The
compilation includes speeches on a wide range of subjects. E-books were also
released on the occasion.
About the
Loktantra Ke Swar: This book captures President’s thoughts on varied topics
such as public service, ethics, education, aspirations of our youth,
contemporary global issues. The book will enrich public discourse and serve as
a guiding light towards taking India forward in the Amrit Kaal.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. European
Parliament votes to ban sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035: Members of the European Parliament have voted to ban the sale of new
petrol and diesel cars by 2035. The move aims to step up the fight against
climate change through the faster development of electric vehicles. The voting
was held on an amendment that would have allowed some auto emissions from new
vehicles after 2035, which was rejected by Members of Parliament.
Reason:
a) Europe’s shift to electric vehicles and embolden carmakers to invest
heavily in electrification, aided by another EU law that will require countries
to install millions of vehicle chargers.
b) The European Union assembly voted in Strasbourg, France to require
automakers to cut carbon-dioxide emissions by 100 percent by the middle of the
next decade.
c) The mandate would amount to a prohibition on the sale in the 27-nation
EU of new cars powered by gasoline or diesel.
d) The vote upholds a key pillar of the European Union’s plans to cut net
planet-warming emissions 55% by 2030, from 1990 levels – a target that requires
faster emissions reductions from industry, energy and transport.
Note: European
Parliament Headquarters: Strasbourg, France; European Parliament Founded: 19
March 1958.
2.
World’s First ‘Right To Repair’ Law For Digital Electronics Passed by New York
Legislature: New York state legislature is a world first, to
pass the law for Digital Electronics. The “right to repair” bill enacted by the
requiring digital electronics makers to make parts, tools, information, and
software available to customers and independent repair businesses. After
government pressure to safeguard customers’ rights to repair and refurbish
their purchased products, the “Fair Repair Act” was enacted. About the
Digital Electronics Law:
a) This is tremendous news for independent repair shops, since they will
now be allowed to compete with manufacturers, opposing the repair market
concentration that manufacturers have established by limiting access to parts
and tools.
b) Without the approval of the ‘Right to Repair,’ 59 percent of independent
repair firms claimed they could have to close their doors, according to a
recent poll.
c) This bill covers most electrical equipment, however there are a few
significant exceptions.
d) It excludes automobiles (which are currently covered by a nationwide
Right to Repair agreement between OEMs and aftermarket), household appliances,
medical gadgets, public safety communications equipment such as police radios,
agricultural equipment, and off-road equipment.
3. QS
World University Rankings 2023 released: Quacquarelli
Symonds (QS), London-based global higher education has released the 19th
edition of the world’s most consulted international university ranking. This is
the largest ever ranking with 1,418 institutions across one hundred locations
up from 1300 in the previous year. Key points:
a) The ranking was topped by the United States’s Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) followed by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom
(UK) and Stanford University (US).
b) Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, Karnataka, ranked 155
gaining 31 places since 2022 ranking and emerged as the fastest rising South
Asian University among the top 200 universities.
c) 41 Indian universities have been found place in the rankings. Among QS
World University Rankings top 200 varsities, The Indian Institute of Science
(IISc), Bengaluru (155th) topped among Indian universities, followed by IIT
Bombay (172nd) and IIT Delhi (174th).
QS World
University Rankings 2023: Globally
|
Rank |
University |
Overall Score |
|
1 |
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) |
100 |
|
2 |
University of
Cambridge |
98.8 |
|
3 |
Stanford University |
98.5 |
QS World
University Rankings 2023: List of top universities in India
|
National rank |
Name of universirty |
Global rank/bracket |
|
1 |
IISc Bangalore |
155 |
|
2 |
IIT Bombay |
172 |
|
3 |
IIT Delhi |
174 |
|
4 |
IIT Madras |
250 |
|
5 |
IIT Kanpur |
264 |
|
6 |
IIT Kharagpur |
270 |
|
7 |
IIT Roorkee |
369 |
|
8 |
IIT Guwahati |
384 |
|
9 |
IIT Indore |
396 |
|
10 |
University of Delhi |
521-30 |
3. World
Day against Child Labour: 12th June: 12 June marks
the World Day Against Child Labour under the theme “Universal Social Protection
to End Child Labour.” On this day, the ILO, together with its constituents and
partners, is calling for increased investment in social protection systems and
schemes to establish solid social protection floors and protect children from
child labour.
World Day
against Child Labour History: The
International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day against Child Labour
in 2002 to focus attention on the worldwide extent of kid labour and therefore
the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Each year on 12 June, this Day
brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil
society, also as many people from around the world to spotlight the plight of
kid labourers and what are often done to assist them.
Note:
Headquarters of International Labour Organization: Geneva, Switzerland;
President of International Labour Organization: Guy Ryder; International Labour
Organization Founded: 1919.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Shreyas G Hosur became 1st Indian Railways officer to complete gruelling
‘Ironman’ Triathlon:
Creating a history of sorts, Shreyas G. Hosur, became the first officer from
the Indian Railways to complete the gruelling ‘Ironman’ Triathlon, considered
to be the toughest single-day sports event in the world. This event includes
3.8 km of swimming, 180 km of cycling and 42.2 km of running. He completed the
event in 13 hours and 26 minutes in Hamburg, Germany.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Over
1.18 billion payment devices been deployed in India as of April: The Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) scheme had deployed
more than 4.11 lakh PoS, mobile PoS, and other physical devices across the
country as of April 30, 2022, according to the RBI. The scheme also had
deployed 1,14,05,116 digital devices, including interoperable QR code-based
payments such as UPI QR and Bharat QR. Key Points:
a) The Reserve Bank’s PIDF programme, which will be operative from January
2021, subsidises the implementation of Points of Sale (PoS) infrastructure
(physical and digital modes) in tier 3 to tier 6 cities and the country’s
northeastern states.
b) Beneficiaries of the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi
Scheme) in tier-1 and tier-2 centres were also covered as of August 26, 2021.
c) The Reserve Bank, licenced card networks, and card producing banks all
contribute to the PIDF, which now has a corpus of Rs 811.4 crore.
d) PIDF-registered acquiring institutions (banks and non-banks) pledge
region-specific deployment targets, report deployment statistics, and claim
subsidies for devices that meet the criteria.
e) The PIDF plan is being amended by increasing the subsidy amount and
streamlining the subsidy claim process, according to the RBI, in order to boost
the deployment of payment acceptance touchpoints.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
WhatsApp launched SMBSaathi Utsav to support small businesses: Whatsapp launched
SMBSaathi Utsav initiative which aims to support small businesses by helping
them to adopt digital mediums like Whatsapp Business App. Utsav has started the
initiative with a pilot in Jaipur’s Johri Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar where over 500
small businesses are being trained. The initiative was launched in the
collaboration with Josh Talks. The SMBSaathi Utsav is the second phase of the
SMBSaathi campaign. Key points:
a)
To
help these businesses revive from this downturn, WhatsApp launched the
SMBSaathi initiative earlier this year, which showcased inspiring stories of
business owners across India who pivoted to digital ways of doing business
during the pandemic.
b)
For
many of these businesses WhatsApp was their first digital gateway and an easier
and more effective alternative to building and maintaining a website. The
SMBSaathi Utsav is the second phase of the SMBSaathi campaign.
c)
As
part of the SMBSaathi Utsav, trained volunteers are providing one-on-one
digital training to businesses in Johri Bazar and Bapu Bazaar in Jaipur.
d)
These
trainings involve educating the business owners about building a digital
presence on the WhatsApp Business App to help them better manage incoming leads
and queries, build a product/services showcase and market to key audiences
using online tools.
Note: WhatsApp Founded: 2009; WhatsApp CEO: Will Cathcart; WhatsApp Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States; WhatsApp Acquisition date: 19 February 2014; WhatsApp Founders: Jan Koum, Brian Acton; WhatsApp Parent organization: Facebook.
