Daily GK Update- 17th July, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde inaugurates PM MITRA Park in Amravati: Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde inaugurated the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel  Park (PM MITRA Park) at Amravati. The event was also attended by Piyush Goyal (Union Textiles Minister) and Darshana Jardosh (Minister of State of Textiles). The Government of India aims to set up 7 PM MITRA Parks for the Textile industry. The PM MITRA Parks was inspired by the 5F (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision of PM Modi.

 

2. Annual Bonalu Festival celebrated in Hyderabad: Bonalu is celebrated in Hyderabad especially in parts of the Old city, usually during Ashada Masam which falls in July/August. Bonam literally means Meal in Telugu, which is an offering to the Mother Goddess. During the first and last day of this festival, special poojas are performed for goddess Yellamma. Bonalu involves worship of Kali in her various forms such as Mysamma, Pochamma, Dokkalamma, Pedamma, Poleramma, Ankalamma, Maremma etc.

 

3. Home Minister chairs Conference on Drugs Smuggling and National Security: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has chaired the Regional Conference on Drugs Smuggling and National Security in New Delhi. During the Conference, over 1,44,000 kilograms of drugs worth 2,416 rupees crore, were destroyed in various parts of the country by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in coordination with Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTFs) of all states. The Government has adopted a Zero Tolerance policy against narcotics to create a drugs-free India.

 

4. Centre allots additional 1.44 lakh houses under PMAY-Gramin to UP: Uttar Pradesh has been allotted an additional 1,44,220 houses under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna-Gramin’ (PMAY-G) scheme for the financial year 2023-24. Following this, the state’s total quota of houses completed will reach 21,68,574. It is also mentioned in the letter that in line with the scheme’s focus, the state is required to earmark at least 60% of the targets for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes subject to their availability in the housing database. It is also requested to finalise the District, Block, GP-wise and Category-wise targets in the State as per the User Manual on Housing issued by the Ministry. The letter also states that the Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the scheme till March 2024 to complete the remaining houses within the cumulative target of 2.95 crore houses.

 

5. Goa CM inaugurates Ayush Health Services and Research facility: The Ministry of Ayush has established Ayush services for healthcare and Ayush research facilities at Ribandar in Goa. The facility was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Goa Dr. Pramod Sawant. The facility aims to provide high-quality and affordable Ayush healthcare services to the local community and promote research in traditional medicine by developing a museum, library and a laboratory dedicated to conducting research on medicines of mineral and marine origin. The institutes will work to provide high-quality and affordable healthcare to every region of the state through Ayush systems of medicine. The vision is expansion of infrastructure and human resources, promotion of research in the traditional medical systems through effective collaborations with reputed like-minded organizations. It will also work towards mainstreaming and integration of Ayush services with modern medicines and encourage innovations.

 

5. Jyotiraditya Scindia unveils 4th Runway & Elevated Taxiway in Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has inaugurated dual elevated Eastern Cross Taxiways and the fourth runway at the Delhi airport. The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), the country’s largest airport, handles more than 1,500 aircraft movements daily. The Eastern Cross Taxiways (ECT), which is 2.1 kilometers long, will reduce passengers’ time on the tarmac after landing and before take-off of flights. With the ECT, the airport will also be the only one in the country to have an elevated taxiway with roads passing below it. The ECT will connect the northern and southern airfields on the eastern side of the airport and will reduce the taxiing distance for an aircraft by seven kilometres. It can handle wide-body aircraft, including A-380 and B-777 and B-747. The airport now has 4 runways & is the 1st airport in India to have an elevated taxiway. Now, the airport will have four runways — RW 09/27, RW 11R/29L, RW 10/28 and RW 11L/29R.

IGIA is operated by the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), a consortium led by GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd. The Eastern Cross Taxiway (ECT) will reduce CO2 emissions by 55000 tonnes annually. The dual-way elevated taxiway is 2.1 km long and 44m wide.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Joint military exercise between Indian and Mongolian armies begins: The 15th edition of the joint military exercise between India and Mongolia, 'Nomadic Elephant 2023', begins at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 17 to 31 July 2023. Indian Army soldiers from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment and Soldiers of the Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 participated in the exercise Aim: Counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under United Nations mandate The scope of this exercise involves a Platoon level Field Training Exercise

 

2. UK signs treaty to join Trans-Pacific free trade bloc: The United Kingdom formally signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade bloc. The UK also become the first European country to join the CPTPP. Aim: To grow the country's economy and provide access for British businesses to a market of over 500 million people CPTPP: It is a free trade agreement between 11 nations (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam).

 

3. World Day for International Justice 2023: 17th July: The Day of International Criminal Justice is celebrated every year on 17 July to commemorate the adoption of the Rome Statute on 17 July 1998, which established the International Criminal Court. The ICC is a permanent international court that prosecutes individuals responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. ICC cannot be a substitute for the national courts but is available when a country cannot perform investigations.

 

4. Australia names first woman to Lead Central Bank: Michele Bullock becomes the first woman to lead Australia's Central Bank since it was founded in 1960. She will succeed Philip Lowe, who is coming to the end of a seven-year term as governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Her appointment comes as the country has been battling rising prices and the RBA is facing a major shakeup. She is currently the RBA's deputy governor and is due to start her seven-year term as governor on Sept 18, 2023.

 

5. Sex education to be compulsory in Irish schools: Lessons in relationships and sex education (RSE) are to be compulsory for 15 to 18-year-olds at schools in the Republic of Ireland. The move is planned as part of changes to the social, personal and health education (SPHE) for senior pupils. Lessons will be “taught in a way that LGBTQ+ identities, relationships and families are fully integrated”, according to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).

A major review of RSE in schools in the Republic of Ireland was ordered by the government in 2018. That has already led to changes to the RSE curriculum in primary and post-primary schools. Under the planned changes in the Republic of Ireland, post-primaries will be expected to provide one hour a week of SPHE lessons to senior pupils. There will be lessons on health and well-being, relationships and sexuality, and into adulthood. The relationships and sexuality lessons will teach pupils about “nurturing respectful, caring and healthy relationships. Pupils will also be taught about safe sex, responses to unplanned pregnancy, and accessing sexual health services.

 

6. India & France sign MoU for construction of three Scorpene submarine: India and France have signed an MoU for the construction of three additional submarines under the P75 program. The MoU has been signed between Mazgon Dockyard Ltd and Naval Group for the construction of submarines under the P75 programme. The Scorpene Submarines have advanced stealth features and are equipped with long-range guided torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. These submarines have a state-of-the-art SONAR suite and sensor suite permitting outstanding operational capabilities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron adopted ‘Horizon 2047: 25th Anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, Towards A Century of India-France Relations’.

 

7. 17 July – World Emoji Day: World Emoji Day is observed every year on July 17. Emojis have significantly transformed the way internet users across the world communicate and express themselves in the digital world. The tiny pictures have become an integral part of text messages and regular communication through digital modes. Due to their ability to express thousands of words with just a tiny pictorial icon, emojis are being increasingly used in text messages and social media posts. Emojis were first created by an artist to make communication in a virtual world easier. In the late 1990s, a Japanese artist Shigetaka Kurita created a set of 176 emojis. Later in 2014, the founder of Emojipedia Jeremy Burge proposed to initiate a day of celebration for highlighting the increased use of emojis. Hence, World Emoji Day is observed on July 17 every year. The date was finalized as the ‘Calendar’ emoji shows the same date by default. Eventually, the use of emojis has become an essential part of all communications in the virtual world.

 

8. 17 July – International Justice Day: International Justice Day is celebrated every year on 17 July. The day is observed to commemorate the significant role played by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other organizations in providing justice to victims of injustice, including people affected by war crimes, genocide, terrorism, and more. World Day for International Justice is recognized to highlight the severe cases of human rights abuses and the role of ICC in eradicating them. It is an opportunity to promote the rule of law, observance of human rights, and opposition to impunity. It marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute on 17 July 1998, the founding treaty of the ICC, which seeks to protect people from genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon title in 2023: World number one tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz has won his first 2023 Wimbledon Men's Single title, held in All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London. In the final, he defeated Novak Djokovic.

Other winners:

·         Women's Single: Markéta Vondroušová (Czech Republic)

·         Men's Doubles: Wesley Koolhof (Netherlands) and Neal Skupski ( United Kingdom)

·         Women's Doubles: Hsieh Su-wei (Chinese Taipei) and Barbora Strýcová (Czech Republic)

 

2. Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead India men’s squads for 19th Asian Games: The BCCI has confirmed that Ruturaj Gaikwad would lead India's men’s squads for the 19th Asian Games, held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 and October 8, 2023. While Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the women’s cricket competition, which will take place from September 19-28, 2023. Both competitions will be played in T20 formats. Team India (Senior Men) squad also include Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul Tripathi, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), and many more.

 

3. Indian team secures 2 Gold medals at 64th International Mathematical Olympiad: A six-member Indian team won six medals – two gold, two silver, and two bronze at the 64th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2023, which was held in Japan’s Chiba city. The team finished ninth out of the 112 countries that competed. This is the fourth time the Indian team has finished in the top 10. The gold medal was won by Atul Shatavart Nadig and Arjun Gupta, who both scored 37 points. Ananda Bhaduri and Siddharth Choppara grabbed silver with 29 points apiece, while Adhitya Mangudy and Archit Manas won bronze with 22 and 20 points, respectively. India has finished seventh in 1998, seventh again in 2001, and ninth in 2002. India has also won three gold medals for the fourth time since 1998. Furthermore, our country also received.

 

Mirabai to lead India’s contingent at World Weightlifting Championship: The Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medalist Mirabai Chanu will lead a five-member Indian contingent at the World Weightlifting Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh event will be a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics and will be held from September 4 to 17. Chanu will be competing in women’s 49 kg category. The two-time world championships medalist will be aiming for a gold. She won gold in 2017 meet at Anaheim while had to settle for silver last year in Bogota. BindyarDevi, the 2021 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships gold medal winner, will be taking part in women’s 55 kg event. The men’s team consists of 2022 Commonwealth Games champion Achinta Sheuli, who will be taking part in 73 kg category. The current national-level champion Narayana Ajith, Shubham Todkar, (who secured the gold medal in the 61kg category at the ongoing Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships) will also be competing.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Golden Peacock’ Environment Management Award 2023 to Adani Transmission Limited: Indian company Adani Transmission Limited (ATL) has been awarded the ‘Golden Peacock Environment Management Award’ by the ‘Institute of Directors’ in the ‘Power Transmission Sector’. In 2023, an assessment group comprising Environment, Health and safety, Energy and Climate Change experts assesses over 520 applications. These applications were approved by Justice M.N. The review was done by an eminent jury committee headed by Venkatachaliah.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Eminent mathematician Dr Mangala Narlikar passes away: An eminent mathematician, Dr Mangala Narlikar passed away at 80 due to cancer. She is the wife of Dr Jayant Narlikar, who is the founder and director of the Pune-based Inter-z Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). She initially worked at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai before joining as a lecturer at Bombay and Pune universities. Her core fields of interest were real and complex analysis, analytic geometry, and topology.

 

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Daily GK Update- 16th July, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Amit Shah addresses inaugural session of the G-20 Conference on Crime: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has addressed the inaugural session of the G20 conference on crime and security to be held in Gurugram. The conference is envisaged as an opportunity to forge a global partnership to build a safe cyberspace and to prioritize cybersecurity concerns. The proceedings focus around cyber security and measures to counter cybercrime in the context of new and emerging technologies like Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Metaverse. Cybersecurity has become an essential aspect of security-related affairs internationally, which requires adequate focus owing to its economic and geopolitical implications.

 

2. Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates DGNSS “SAGAR SAMPARK’: Union Minister of Ports Sarbananda Sonowal has inaugurated the indigenous Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) ‘SAGAR SAMPARK’ to strengthen the maritime sector in India. It helps mariners navigate safely and reduces the risk of collisions, groundings, and accidents in port and harbour areas. It would provide more accurate information to the ships for safe navigation. It will help mariners in safe navigation and will reduce the risk of collisions, and accidents.

 

3. Harshvardhan Bansal appointed as President of NAREDCO Delhi Chapter: Director of Unity Group Harshvardhan Bansal has been appointed as the president of Delhi chapter of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO). The objective of the NAREDCO Delhi chapter is to establish a favorable atmosphere in the real estate sector that will foster sustainable growth and encourage investment by closely partnering with the government, industry professionals, and other key participants. Presently, NAREDCO already has state branches in Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan. NAREDCO is a leading national organization that represents the real estate sector, it works under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

 

4. Project Gajah Kotha launched in Assam: Assam has launched a campaign named Gajah Kotha to mitigate the escalating human-elephant conflict (HEC) issue. Focus: On HEC-affected villages in eastern Assam, where it aims to educate residents about the behavior, ecology, and cultural significance of elephants in the region, emphasizing the importance of conservation It is a joint initiative of Aaranyak (wildlife NGO), British Asian Trust, and the Assam Forest Department, supported by the Darwin Initiative.

 

5. Skill India project successfully revives J&K's Namda Art: Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Rajeev Chandrasekhar Flagged off the first batch of Namda Art products for export to the United Kingdom. The Namda craft of Kashmir has successfully been revived under Skill India’s Pilot Project as part of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). The project has successfully trained individuals across six districts of Kashmir - Srinagar, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Budgam, and Anantnag

 

6. Coal ministry considering coal gasification scheme: Coal Ministry has set a target to achieve coal gasification of 100 Million Tonnes of coal by FY 2030 to harness the power of coal gasification. The proposal incorporates comprehensive measures that capitalize on natural resources and demonstrate coal gasification's financial and technical feasibility. Adopting gasification technology in India will revolutionize the coal sector, reducing reliance on imports of Natural Gas, Methanol, and other products.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. China launches world’s first methane-fuelled space rocket: A private Chinese company has launched the world’s first methane-liquid oxygen space rocket into orbit. The Zhuque-2 carrier rocket was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The move helps China beat rivals like the US, India, and Europe in developing the next-generation launch vehicle that could carry payloads into orbit around Earth. The rocket successfully delivered a test payload into sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), the first in the world to make such an achievement. A methane-powered rocket, also known as Methalox, uses methane as the fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer. It operates based on the same principles as traditional launch vehicles but differs in terms of propellant choice and certain design considerations.

 

2. India, France sign MoU for construction of three Scorpene submarines: India and France signed an MoU to fabricate submarine and surface combatants and parts in Mumbai and Kolkata respectively for export, during the visit of PM Narendra Mod to France. Aim: To boost the Make in India initiative Mazagon Dockyards Limited will jointly develop and manufacture Scorpene class submarines with the French Naval Group for a third country. In addition, GRSE and Naval Group France also signed an MoU to collaborate in the field of the surface ship

 

3. India’s overall exports in June 2023 estimated at US$ 60.09 Billion: India’s overall exports (Merchandise and Services combined) in June 2023 are estimated to be USD 60.09 Billion, exhibiting a negative growth of (-)13.16% over June 2022. Overall imports are estimated to be USD 68.98 Billion. Merchandise Trade:

·         Merchandise exports: USD 32.97 Billion

·         Merchandise imports: USD 53.10 Billion

·         Service Trade:

·         Estimated value of export: USD 27.12 Billion

·         Estimated value of services: USD 15.88 Billion

 

4. Pakistan launches $3.5 billion Chinese-designed nuclear energy project: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif launched the 1200-megawatt nuclear power plant being built with China's assistance in Punjab province. Earlier, PM Sharif had inked an agreement with China worth a whopping USD 3.5 billion under which Beijing would build the Chashma-V nuclear plant at Chashma in the Mianwali district of Punjab. Two other nuclear power plants are also operational in Pakistan. Karachi Nuclear Power Plants (KANUPP 2 & 3) have a capacity of 2,290.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India’s Nishad Kumar wins silver at Para Athletics World Championships 2023: India’s Nishad Kumar clinches silver in the Men’s High Jump event at Para Athletics World Championships in Paris. Nishad bagged this medal in the High Jump T47 Event. With this win, Nishad has become the second athlete at this event to grab a medal. The top-four ranked athletes at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in each of the individual medal events qualify for the 2024 Paralympic Games, also to be held in Paris.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Max Life, DCB Bank join hands to offer insurance products: Max Life Insurance Company has partnered with DCB Bank to provide life insurance products to the bank’s customers, including term, savings, and retirement plans, allowing them to protect their financial future and expand their investment portfolio. The business tie-up will offer bank customers access to Max Life’s protection and long-term savings solutions, offering financial stability for themselves and their families. Max Life offers protection and long-term savings life insurance solutions, through its multi-channel distribution including agency and third-party distribution partners. DCB Bank, on the other hand, is a new-generation private sector bank with 427 branches (as on March 31, 2023) across India. It is a scheduled commercial bank regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.

 

2. Tata AIG appointed lead insurer for Maharashtra: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has selected Tata AIG General Insurance as the lead non-life insurer for the State of Maharashtra. As lead insurer the company will collaborate with all non-life and health insurance companies in the state to increase insurance penetration. The concept of a lead insurer to increase insurance penetration in the states was developed by the regulator in line with its vision of "Insurance for all by 2047.

 

3. India, Indonesia working on payment mechanism, trading in local currencies: India and Indonesia are working on a real-time payment mechanism and trading in local currencies. Both countries have also discussed the possibility of cooperation in digital technology, payments systems under central banks, and using local currency. The two countries launched an Economic and Financial Dialogue that will focus on enhancing bilateral trade and investment, financial services, and infrastructure development, among others.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Adani Transmission wins Golden Peacock Environment Management Award 2023: Adani Transmission Limited has won the Golden Peacock Environment Management Award 2023 in the Power Transmission sector from the Institute of Directors. Recognition: Environmental management and serves as a testament to its leadership in the industry This award acknowledges ATL's steadfast dedication to minimizing its ecological footprint through programs like zero waste to landfill, single-use plastic free, etc. Adani Transmission MD & CEO: Anil Sardana

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran Marathi film actor Ravindra Mahajani passes away: Veteran Marathi film actor Ravindra Mahajani has passed away at the age of 74 in Pune. He has mainly acted in Marathi, Hindi, and Gujarati films. He made his film debut with a 1975 Marathi film Zunj, directed by veteran director V. Shantaram. His other popular films included Lakshmi, Duniya Kari Salaam, Gondhalat Gondhal, and Mumbaicha Faujdaar. Mahajani also Directed and produced the 1997 film Sattesathi kahihi.

Daily GK Update- 15th July, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ISRO has launched Chandrayaan-3 from Sathish Dhawan Space Centre: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched its third lunar mission ‘Chandrayaan-3’ on-board the heavy lift LVM3-M4 rocket in Sriharikota on July 14. It is planned to soft land on the surface of the South Pole region of the Moon on August 23. If this mission came out to be successful, India will enter an elite club of nations (US, Russia and China) achieving such a feat. It consists of an indigenous lander module (LM), propulsion module (PM), and a rover.

 

2. Ministry of education signs MoU with Abu Dhabi to 1st campus of IIT Delhi: Ministry of Education has signed MoU with Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) to establish 1st campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi. IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi will set a brand-new template for leveraging the power of knowledge for mutual prosperity and global good and unfolds a new chapter in internationalization of India’s education. It is expected to launch its academic programs in 2024.

 

3. Dharmendra Pradhan launches AI for India 2.0: Union Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan has launched AI for India 2.0, a free online training programme on Artificial Intelligence on World Youth Skills’ Day. It is a joint initiative of Skill India and GUVI, NCVET and IIT Madras accredited online programme will equip youth with frontier skills. GUVI, an IIT Madras incubated startup is a tech platform that enables tech learning in vernacular languages and has been curated in 9 Indian languages.

 

4. Rare Bird 'Jerdon's Babbler' spotted in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, UP: A rare and globally endangered bird species named 'Jerdon's Babbler' was spotted in the buffer zone of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR), in the grasslands of Uttar Pradesh. Jerdon's Babbler lives in small flocks in pairs in high/long grasslands and is a globally threatened bird It has been listed in the 'Vulnerable' category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1994.

 

5. Union Home Minister inaugurates National Mega Conclave on FPO: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has inaugurated the National Mega Conclave on Farmers Producer Organization, FPO in the cooperative sector and released the action plan for formation of 1,100 new FPOs by Primary Agricultural Credit Societies in New Delhi today. The move is taken in the backdrop of government’s announcement to set up ten thousand FPOs by 2027 and has allocated 6,900 crore rupees to achieve this goal.

 

6. Jammu and Kashmir launches Mobile-Dost-App: In Jammu and Kashmir, a path-breaking Mobile-Dost-App has been launched in sync with the vision of Apka-Mobile-Hamara-Daftar. It is a pioneering initiative for mobile-based delivery of citizen-centric services in the Union Territory. The administration is committed to providing seamless services to its residents, fostering ease in accessibility, mobility, transparency, and efficiency in governance. The administration aims to enhance accessibility and convenience ensuring that every individual of J&K will get benefited from government services at their fingertips. The Mobile-Dost-App aims at empowering the people of Jammu & Kashmir by providing a comprehensive platform to access all the Government to Citizen Services (G2C) directly from their mobile devices. With just a few taps, residents can now effortlessly avail a number of services, enhancing their daily lives and fostering an efficient, effective, and transparent governance system.

 

7. India Mobile Congress 2023 to be held in Pragati Maidan: The seventh edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC), co-hosted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) will be held from October 27 -29 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi this year. The event will be themed around “Global Digital Innovation” and will showcase 6G, advancements in 5G networks, the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in telecommunications, edge computing, and developments related to India Stack. IMC 2023 would also highlight related technology domains such as broadcast technology, satellite communication, manufacture of semiconductors. More than 100,000 plus participants, 5,000 plus CXO-level delegates, 350 plus speakers, and 400 exhibitors are expected to attend the event. IMC 2023 will launch a start-up event called Aspire, which will seek to encourage the growth of entrepreneurship among “young innovators and industry delegates in the telecom and digital domains”. The India Mobile Congress 2023 will signify the vision of our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to promote India’s pivotal role in the digital revolution impacting every sector globally. This includes pioneering breakthroughs in 5G, 6G, broadcasting, satellite, semiconductor, drone, devices, and green technologies.

 

8. Defence Acquisition Council approves proposals for buying 26 Rafale: The Defense Acquisition Council has approved the proposal to buy 26 Rafale-M fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy. These include 22 single-seated Rafale marine aircraft and four twin-seater trainer versions. Also, three additional Scopene class submarines will also be bought for the Indian Navy. The deals are expected to be worth around Rs 90,000 crore. These planes will be used by the Indian Navy on the INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, which currently employ the MiG-29. This will be the second such fighter jet purchase from the French aerospace major Dassault Aviation in recent years.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Youth Skills Day: 15th July: World Youth Skills Day is celebrated on July 15 every year to emphasize the need for imparting the right skills to youth for employment and entrepreneurship. Theme 2023: Skilling teachers, trainers, and youth for a transformative future United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day in 2014 to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

 

2. India and UAE signed historic Memorandum of Understanding on LCS system: India has signed MoU with United Arab Emirates have on the Local Currency Settlement (LCS) system to revolutionize cross-border transactions between the two nations. LCS system allows the use of the Indian Rupee and UAE Dirham in bilateral trade, marking India's first-ever LCS arrangement.

It will reduce dependence on international currencies and further strengthen economic cooperation between India and the UAE.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Parul Chaudhary Bags Gold in Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Event: Long-distance runner Parul Chaudhary (28 years) has won the fifth gold for India in the ongoing 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok. She has clinched the 3000m Steeplechase event in the women’s category and left behind her Chinese counterpart Xu Shuangshuang and finished the event in 9 minutes 38.76 seconds. Japan’s Yoshimura Reimi eclipsed her by 0.02 seconds, sealing the third place and completed her run in 9 minutes and 48.48 seconds.

 

2. India wins first test against West Indies by an innings & 141 runs: Indian cricket team defeated West Indies by an innings and 141 runs in the opening test in Dominica. Indian Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took 7 for 71 set up victory against an ill-equipped West Indies batting line-up. India declared their first innings at 421 for five and grabbed a massive lead of 271 runs before the West Indies came out to bat in their second innings. The second and final Test will begin on the 20th of July at Port of Spain in Trinidad.

 

3. India wins first test against West Indies by an innings & 141 runs: Indian cricket team defeated West Indies by an innings and 141 runs in the opening test in Dominica. Indian Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took 7 for 71 set up victory against an ill-equipped West Indies batting line-up. India declared their first innings at 421 for five and grabbed a massive lead of 271 runs before the West Indies came out to bat in their second innings. The second and final Test will begin on the 20th of July at Port of Spain in Trinidad.

 

4. India’s top table tennis league UTT tournament is being organized in Pune: India’s top table tennis league Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) tournament is being organized at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune this year under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India after a gap of four years. The league round-robin will be held between the 13th and the 27th of July. The semifinals will be held on the 28 and the 29th of July and the final will be held on the 30th of July. The Ultimate Table Tennis league consists of six teams. There are 36 players in total with six from each team – four Indian players and two international players. Each team will play five matches. India’s ace table tennis player Sharath Kamal is participating in the UTT league. He will be leading the Indian team to the 26th Asian Championships to be held from the 3rd to the 10th of September this year in South Korea.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI raises Rs 3,101 crores via AT-1 bonds at coupon of 8.10%: State Bank of India has raised Rs 3,101 crore of funds via additional tier-1, or perpetual, bonds at a coupon of 8.10%. The AT-1 bonds had a base issue of ₹3,000 crore and received total bids worth ₹5,920 crore and also include a call option after 10 years. Perpetual bonds (AT-1 bonds) are considered riskier than other debt instruments, as they can be written down before equity, leading to losses for investors.

 

2. SBI raises Rs 3,101 crores via AT-1 bonds at coupon of 8.10%: State Bank of India has raised Rs 3,101 crore of funds via additional tier-1, or perpetual, bonds at a coupon of 8.10%. The AT-1 bonds had a base issue of ₹3,000 crore and received total bids worth ₹5,920 crore and also include a call option after 10 years. Perpetual bonds (AT-1 bonds) are considered riskier than other debt instruments, as they can be written down before equity, leading to losses for investors.

 

3. Bank of India inaugurates IFSC Banking Unit at GIFT City: Bank of India has inaugurated its IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) in the International Financial Services Centre at GIFT SEZ area in Gandhinagar. The BOI IBU has the twin advantage of being situated in India, providing the benefit of the time zone window for its counterparts located globally with competitive pricing & quick processing from an experienced team. The IBU will provide services, such as External Commercial Borrowing (ECBs), Trade Finance Facilities, Foreign Currency Loans, Syndication Loans (Origination, Underwriting and Distribution), Foreign Currency deposit account -Current and Term Deposits, besides offering digital banking facilities through transaction-based Internet Banking facility, to various clients allowed as per IFSCA guidelines. Bank of India looks at achieving $1 billion in business by March 2024. The bank’s overseas branches contribute around 15% mix business to its Global Deposits and 16% to its Global Advances.

 

4. Razorpay launches first international payment gateway in Malaysia: Fintech firm Razorpay has launched its first international payment gateway for the Malaysian market with Curlec. The new Curlec Payment Gateway will serve more than 5,000 businesses with a target of RM (Malaysian Ringgit) 10 billion in annualized Gross Transaction Value (GTV) by 2025. The service simplifies payment collection, automates payouts, and helps businesses of all sizes to control cash flows. In February 2022, Razorpay acquired a majority stake in the Malaysia-based startup which is now known as Curlec by Razorpay As per the report, digital trade in Malaysia contributes 22.6% to the country’s GDP and is expected to rise to 25.5% by 2025.

 

 

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. PM Modi awarded France’s highest award Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the highest French award ‘Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour’ by the President of the Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron. It is the highest French honour in military or civilian orders. With this, PM Modi becomes the first Indian PM to receive this honour. PM Modi is the Chief Guest at the Bastille Day Parade on 14 July 2023, in which a contingent of the Indian Armed Forces from the three Services is also participating. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership and the Prime Minister’s visit will provide an opportunity to chart out a roadmap for the future of the partnership in various areas such as strategic, cultural, scientific, educational and economic cooperation.