Current Affairs 15th July 2021| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Youth Skills Day – Observed on July 15

• On 15 July, World Youth Skills Day is celebrated to recognize the fact that if youth acquire skills, it will enhance their ability to make informed choices regarding employment.
• In addition to this, they can also gain access to changing labour markets.
• As a broader theme this year, the United Nations on World Youth Skills Day 2021 pays tribute to the resilience and creativity of youth through the crisis.
• World Youth Skills Day, join an online interactive panel discussion organized by the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka to the United Nations, together with UNESCO, ILO and the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth.
• In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.
• Since then, World Youth Skills Day events have provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers’ and workers’ organizations, policy makers and development partners.
• Participants have highlighted the ever-increasing significance of skills as the world is embarking on a transition towards a sustainable model of development.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

IIT Madras joined with Sony India to host national-level hackathon ‘SAMVEDAN 2021’

• The IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation (IITM-PTF) is collaborating with Sony India Software Centre Pvt. Ltd. to conduct a National hackathon called ‘SAMVEDAN 2021 – Sensing Solutions for Bharat’ to inspire citizens to solve India-specific problems of societal interest using IoT sensor board.
• Registration has already commenced on July 1, 2021 for this challenge, which is open to all Indian nationals residing in India.
• A team with a maximum of three members can register for the grand challenge.
• The challenge will be held in three stages: quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals.
• A total of 75 ideas will be selected for the quarter-finals, and among them, 25 best ideas will be selected for the semi-finals.
• There will be seven finalists with prizes for every finalist.
• Prizes worth 3 Lakhs will be awarded to the best teams.

Union Minister Amit Shah unveiled centre of excellence at National Forensic Science University

• Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Research and Analysis of Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances at National Forensic Science University at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
• He has stated that scientific and technological investigation will help in punishing the accused more easily.
• He mentioned that the Modi Government is dealing firmly against the drug smugglers.
• He noted that the collection of evidence and confession of accused become easier in the modern age with the help of forensic experts through scientific technology.
• Mr. Shah stated that the research based center of excellence at the National Forensic Science University in Gandhinagar will help our youths to become free from the addiction of drugs and narcotics.
• He mentioned that this centre will help in research and analysis of drugs and narcotics seized in the different parts of the country and its routes.

About National Forensic Science University:

• National Forensic Sciences University is a university in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 
• Erstwhile, known as Gujarat Forensic Science University’ it is solely dedicated to forensic and investigative science.
• It was created by Act 17 passed in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on 30 September 2008.

NICL introduces First Ever Insurance Policy for Himalayan Yaks

• In order to launch Insurance Policy for Himalayan Yaks, the National Research Centre on Yak (NRCY) at Dirang in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh has tied up with the National Insurance Company Ltd. (NICL).
• This is the first such instance in the country that an insurance policy for highly valuable Himalayan cattle/yak has been approved.
• The insurance policy provides the yak owners with risks posed by weather calamities, diseases, in-transit mishaps, surgical operations, strikes or riots, and permanent total disability for breeding or stud yaks.
• The policy will be useful for yak communities that belong to Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.

About NICL:

• National Insurance Company Limited is an Indian government owned general insurance company.
• It is under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• Its catch line is “Trusted Since 1906” in italic.

NTPC install India’s largest solar park at Rann of Kutch

• National Thermal Power Corporation, NTPC will set up India’s single largest solar park at Rann of Kutch in Khavada, Gujarat. 
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy stated, NTPC will set up a 4750 MegaWatt renewable energy park.
• As a part of its green energy portfolio augmentation, NTPC Limited, India’s largest energy integrated company aims to build 60 Giga Watt renewable energy capacity by 2032.
• Recently, NTPC has also commissioned India’s largest Floating Solar of 10 MegaWatt on the reservoir of Simhadri Thermal Power Plant, Andhra Pradesh.

About NTPC:

• NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, is an Indian government-owned electric utility company.
• It engaged in the business of generation of electricity and allied activities.
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Owner: Government of India

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra begins

• Jagannath Rath Yatra begins and has a lot of importance in Hinduism.
• This Rath Yatra is organized from the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Orissa. The festival is celebrated by worshipping Lord Jagannath (ruler of the world), his elder brother Balbhadra (Balaram) and sister Subhadra. 
• Three giant wooden chariots are made of a kind of Neem tree for the deities for the yatra.
• This Rath Yatra of Puri is a symbol of harmony, brotherhood and unity.
• According to religious beliefs, Lord Jagannath is taken out on a Rath Yatra and taken to the famous Gundicha Mata temple, where the Lord rests for 7 days. 
• After this, the return journey of Lord Jagannath begins.
• The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is celebrated like a festival all over India.

About Orissa:

• Governor:  Ganeshi Lal
• Capital: Bhubaneswar
• Chief minister: Naveen Patnaik

Ashadhi Bij: The Kutchi New Year

• The Prime Minister has greeted the people on the special occasion of Ashadhi Bij, the Kutchi New Year.
• Ashadhi Bij falls on the second day of Shukla paksha of Ashada month of Hindu calendar.
• The festival is associated with the beginning of rains in the Kutch region of Gujarat.
• During Ashadhi Bij, the moisture in the atmosphere is checked to predict which crop would do best in the coming monsoon.

Addl.Info:

• Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, Gudi Padwa and Ugadi, Navreh, Sajibu Cheiraoba, Cheti Chand, Bihu, Baisakhi, Losoong are some of the Traditional New Year celebrated in India.

EAM Dr S. Jaishankar speaks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides

• External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar had a telephonic conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides on recent developments in Cyprus.
• Dr. Jaishankar also discussed cooperation in the context of COVID including on travel.

About Cyprus:

• Capital: Nicosia
• Currency: Euro
• Continent: Europe

PM Modi, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih review bilateral cooperation

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih “took stock” of bilateral cooperation in a telephone conversation.
• Mr. Modi called the Indian Ocean island nation the “central pillar” of India’s ‘neighbourhood policy’, and maritime vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region or ‘SAGAR
• Both leaders reviewed the progress of the India-supported development projects in the Maldives and expressed satisfaction at the rapid pace of implementation despite the constraints of the pandemic.
• Mr. Modi also conveyed his congratulations to President Solih on the election of Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid as the President of the UN General Assembly

About Maldives:

• Capital: Male
• Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Denmark for cooperation in health and medicine

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Denmark in the field of health and Medicine.
• An official release stated that the bilateral MoU will encourage cooperation between India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Health Ministry of Denmark through joint initiatives and technology development in the health sector.
• The release stated that the MoU will strengthen bilateral ties between India and Denmark.
• It will facilitate in improving the public health status of the people of both countries.

About Denmark:

• Capital: Copenhagen
• Currency: Danish krone

North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM) at Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh renamed as North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR).

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for changing the nomenclature & mandate of North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM) as North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR).

Background:

• The NEIFM, Pasighat was established for systemic research, documentation and validation of traditional folk medicine and health practices of the region.
• The objectives for which the Institute was established include to function as an apex research centre for all aspects of Folk Medicine, to create an interface between traditional healers and scientific research, survey, documentation and validation of folk medicine practices, remedies and therapies for possible usage in public health care and future research etc.

Details:

• The proposal to change the nomenclature and mandate of North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM) to North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research (NEIARMR) for imparting quality Education and Research in Ayurveda & Folk Medicine at Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh.
• The consequential changes will also be carried out in the Memorandum of Association & Rules and Regulations.

Impact:

• The inclusion of Ayurveda within the mandate of the Institute will be highly beneficial for the people of North East region for imparting quality education and research in Ayurveda and Folk medicine. 
• The institute will also provide opportunities for students of Ayurveda and Folk medicine not only in India but also the neighbouring countries such as Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal, China and other Central Asian countries.

Cabinet approves continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary for further five years till March 2026

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary for further five years from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2026 at a total cost of Rs.9000 crore, out of which Central share will be Rs.5357 crore including Rs.50 crore for the Gram Nyayalayas Scheme and their implementation in a Mission Mode through National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms.
• This proposal will help in construction of 3800 court halls and 4000 residential units (both new and on-going projects) for judicial officers of District and Subordinate Courts, 1450 lawyer halls, 1450 toilets complexes and 3800 digital computer rooms. This will help in improving the functioning and performance of the Judiciary in the country and will be a new step towards building better courts for a new India.

Benefits from the Scheme:

• The CSS Scheme will increase the availability of well-equipped Court Halls and Residential Accommodations for Judges / Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts all over the country.
• The courts are also being provided with better amenities enabling win-win situations for both the judiciary and the lawyers and also to ease the living of common man.
• Setting up of digital computer rooms will also improve digital capabilities and give impetus to the digitization initiation being pursued as a part of India’s Digital India vision.
• This will help in improving the overall functioning and performance of the Judiciary. Continued assistance to the Gram Nyayalayas will also give impetus to providing speedy, substantial and affordable justice to the common man at his doorstep.

Cabinet approves continuation of centrally sponsored scheme National AYUSH Mission

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme from 01-04-2021 to 31-03-2026 with financial implication of Rs. 4607.30 crore (Rs 3,000 crore as Central Share and Rs. 1607.30 crore as State Share).
• The Mission was launched on 15-09-2014.
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission is being implemented by Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India With the objectives of providing cost effective AYUSH Services, with a universal access through upgrading AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries, co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), strengthening institutional capacity at the State level through upgrading AYUSH educational institutions, setting up of new upto 50 bedded integrated AYUSH Hospital,
• AYUSH Public Health programmes and operationalization of 12,500 AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres to provide services of a holistic wellness model based on AYUSH principles and practices so as to empower masses for “self-care” to reduce the disease burden, and out of pocket expenditure.
• The Mission is addressing the gaps in health services through supporting the efforts of State/UT Governments for providing AYUSH health services/education in the country, particularly in vulnerable and far-flung areas.
• Under NAM special focus is given for specific needs of such areas and for allocation of higher resources in their Annual Plans.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

EAM Jaishankar expose the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Georgia

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Georgia at a prominent park.
• During his two-day visit to Georgia, a strategically important country situated at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, Jaishankar held talks with the country’s top leadership and also handed over the relics of 17th century St. Queen Ketevan to the government and the people of Georgia at a ceremony in Tbilisi.
• “A fitting conclusion to a memorable visit Joined by VPM/FM @DZalkaliani in unveiling the Mahatma Gandhi statue in a prominent Tbilisi Park”.

About Georgia:

• Georgia, a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, is a former Soviet republic that’s home to Caucasus Mountain villages and Black Sea beaches.
• It’s famous for Vardzia, a sprawling cave monastery dating to the 12th century, and the ancient wine-growing region Kakheti.
• The capital, Tbilisi, is known for the diverse architecture and mazelike, cobblestone streets of its old town.
• Capital: Tbilisi
• Currency: Georgian lari
• President: Salome Zourabichvili

United Arab Emirates formally opens its embassy in Israel in Tel Aviv

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has inaugurated its embassy in Israel, less than a year after the two countries announced they would establish formal diplomatic relations.
• The embassy is situated in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange building
• The venue in the heart of Israel’s financial district highlighted the central role economic cooperation has played since the UAE became only the third majority-Arab country to recognise Israel.
• At the ceremony, attended by new Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Emirati Ambassador Mohamed al-Khaja called the embassy opening “an important milestone in the growing relationship between our two countries.

About Israel:

• President: Isaac Herzog
• Capital: Jerusalem
• Prime minister: Naftali Bennett

About UAE:

• Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham
• Capital: Abu Dhabi
• President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Karnataka CM unveiled Electric Bike Taxi scheme in Bengaluru

• In a bid to generate employment, bring down pollution and reduce dependence on private vehicles, chief minister BS Yediyurappa unveiled the Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi scheme-2021 in Bengaluru.
• The unveiling of the policy comes after several attempts were made to resist the granting of licences to initiate two-wheeler taxis in the city.
• Yediyurappa stated that the new policy will lead to self-employment, eco-friendly environment, fuel conservation and strengthening public transport.
• The chief minister added that the main objective is to reduce travel time for the public.
• “This scheme will give opportunities for individuals, partnership firms and companies to participate.
• The vehicles registered under this scheme will be in the transport category for which the government has given several exemptions like permit, tax and is also giving financial benefits for the electric vehicles manufacturers”.

About Karnataka:

• Karnataka is a state in southwest India with Arabian Sea coastlines.
• The capital, Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), is a high-tech hub known for its shopping and nightlife.
• To the southwest, Mysore is home to lavish temples including Mysore Palace, former seat of the region’s maharajas.
• Hampi, once the medieval Vijayanagara empire’s capital, contains ruins of Hindu temples, elephant stables and a stone chariot.
• Capital: Bengaluru
• Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot
• Chief minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
• National Parks: Bannerghatta National Park, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Kudremukh National Park, Anshi National Park.

Assam CM Declared the state govt adopted zero tolerance policy against drugs menace

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asked him to take tough action against drugs, human trafficking and cattle smuggling.
• Responding to questions during the ongoing budget session of the Assembly, the Chief Minister mentioned his government has adopted a zero tolerance policy towards drugs and that all the Northeastern states are trying to put up a united fight against the menace.
• “Home Minister Amit Shah has asked him to take stern measures against drugs, cow smuggling and human trafficking”.
• He promised to further intensify the war against drugs, the Chief Minister noted drugs are smuggled into the country from Myanmar through Assam.
• He stated the menace is ruining the lives of hundreds in Assam.

About Assam:

• Assam is a state in northeastern India known for its wildlife, archeological sites and tea plantations.
• In the west, Guwahati, Assam’s largest city features silk bazaars and the hilltop Kamakhya Temple.
• Umananda Temple sits on Peacock Island in the Brahmaputra river.
• The state capital, Dispur, is a suburb of Guwahati.
• The ancient pilgrimage site of Hajo and Madan Kamdev, the ruins of a temple complex, lie nearby.
• Capital: Dispur
• Chief minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
• National parks: Kaziranga National park , Manas National park, Dibru-Saikhowa National park, Nameri  National park and Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING NEWS

RBI Launches ‘Retail Direct Scheme’ To increase retail participation in government securities

• To increase retail participation in government securities, ‘the RBI Retail Direct’ facility was announced in the Statement of Developmental and Regulatory Policies dated February 05, 2021 for improving ease of access by retail investors through online access to the government securities market – both primary and secondary – along with the facility to open their gilt securities account (‘Retail Direct’) with the RBI.
• In pursuance of this announcement, the ‘RBI Retail Direct’ scheme,which is a one-stop solution to facilitate investment in government securities by individual investors is being issued.

The highlights of the ‘RBI Retail Direct’ scheme are:

• Retail investors (individuals) will have the facility to open and maintain the ‘Retail Direct Gilt Account’ (RDG Account) with RBI.
• RDG Account can be opened through an ‘Online portal’ provided for the purpose of the scheme.

The ‘Online portal’ will also give the registered users the following facilities:

• Access to primary issuance of Government securities
• Access to NDS-OM.

Kerala Bank launches new loan scheme to aid various sections of society

• The Kerala State Cooperative Bank (Kerala Bank) has announced Covid-19 relief schemes to aid various sections of society.
• The agriculture loan scheme named Kerala Bank Special Liquidity Facility will be available to individual farmers and societies engaged in group farming on 6.8 percent interest.
• Loans will be provided from the `300 crore sanctioned to Kerala Bank by NABARD.
• The KB Covid Helping Hand will aid neighbourhood groups (NHGs) of Kudumbashree.
• The KB Micro-finance scheme for self-help groups (SHGs) and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), KB Mithra scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and KB Kisan Mitra Gold Overdraft to finance agriculture and allied activities were also announced.
• The schemes are available at all 769 branches of Kerala Bank.

About Kerala Bank:

• Kerala State Co-operative Bank Limited, branded as Kerala Bank, is a Scheduled State Co-operative Bank in India, established by the Government of Kerala.
• The bank was formally launched by Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, in a function held in Thiruvananthapuram on 6 December 2019.

IFSCA made a framework for setting up and operating ITFS platform

• The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) issued a framework for setting up and operating the International Trade Finance Services platform (ITFS). 
• The platform will provide trade finance services at International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs).
• The complete text of the framework can be accessed on the IFSCA website.
• The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) was established through IFSCA Act, 2019, to develop and regulate financial products, financial services and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs).
• The IFSCA issued framework will enable exporters and importers to avail various types of trade finance facilities at competitive terms.
• They would be able to use these facilities for their international trade transactions through a dedicated electronic platform i.e the ITFS.

About IFSCA:

• International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) is a statutory unified regulatory body under the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India established by an Act of Parliament to develop and regulate the financial products, financial services and financial institutions located / performed in the International Financial Services Centres in India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENT AND RESIGNATION NEWS

Piyush Goyal appointed as Leader of House in Rajya Sabha

• Union minister Piyush Goyal was appointed as the leader of the house in Rajya Sabha.
• Goyal replaces Thawar Chand Gehlot, who moved to Karnataka as the governor of the state following the recent cabinet reshuffle.
• The appointment also takes significance as the monsoon session of Parliament is set to commence on July 19.
• It will conclude on August 13.

About Piyush Goyal :

• Goyal has been a member of the upper house of the parliament since 2010.
• Until now, he was the deputy leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Rajya Sabha.
• He holds key portfolios in the cabinet including commerce and industry, food and consumer affairs.
• After the recent reshuffle in the Union cabinet, Goyal was given additional charge of textiles.
• Prior to becoming a minister in 2014, Goyal was the treasurer of the party.
• He was also engaged by the BJP in poll management activities and logistics during the election.

Bandhan Bank appointed Kamal Batra as Head–Assets

• Bandhan Bank announced the appointment of Kamal Batra as Executive President and Head – Assets.
• He will be based out of the Bank’s headquarters in Kolkata and will report to the MD & CEO.
• This appointment is aimed at providing the necessary leadership direction and support towards the same.
• The four pillars of the Bank’s asset base would comprise Emerging Entrepreneurs Business (erstwhile known as microbanking), Housing Finance, Commercial Banking and other Retail Assets.
• Kamal will assume the responsibility for growing the Bank’s Commercial Banking (comprising SME lending and NBFC lending) business and Retail Assets (comprising Gold Loans, Personal Loans, Auto Loans, among others) portfolios.

About Bandhan Bank:

• Bandhan Bank Ltd. is an Indian banking and financial services company, headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Bandhan Bank is present in 34 out of 36 states and Union Territories of India.
• Presently Bandhan Bank has 5,371 banking outlets pan-India serving more than 2.30 crore customers.
• CEO: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh
• Headquarters: Kolkata
• Tagline: Aapka Bhala, Sabki Bhalai

Suman Mishra appointed as new CEO of Mahindra Electric Mobility

• Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd. (MEML) has just announced the appointment of Suman Mishra as its new Chief Executive as a Whole-time Director.
• Suman will join his new role starting 14th August, 2021.
• She will also be the Chief Executive Designate for the Last Mile Mobility business (LMM).
• Mishra moves from her current role of Senior Vice President – Business Transformation, Insights and Analytics (BIA) for the Automotive Sector and will be reporting to Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto and Farm Sectors, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd.
• In her new role, Suman Mishra replaces Mahesh Babu, MD & CEO, MEML, who has decided to pursue opportunities outside of the Mahindra Group.

About Mahindra Electric Mobility:

• Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited, formerly known as the Reva Electric Car Company, is an Indian company based in Bangalore, involved in designing and manufacturing of compact electric vehicles.
• Founder: Chetan Maini

Unibic Foods appointed Naveen Pandey as CEO

• Unibic Foods named Naveen Pandey as its chief executive officer.
• Pandey was formerly heading Marico India’s new foods’ business unit, where he led the start-up team to launch products such as Saffola mealmaker and honey.
• He has also worked with PepsiCo and Asian Paints earlier.

About Unibic:

• Unibic, which began its India business in collaboration with Unibic Australia in 2004, became a 100% independent Indian entity in 2012, backed by investments from Peepul Capital.
• The cookie maker, which competes with Britannia and Parle, was previously headed by Srini Vudayagiri, partner at Peepul Capital.

 Industrialist N.S.Srinivasa Murthy appointed as Honorary Consul General of Vietnam

• Vietnam has appointed Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in Bangalore to promote trade, economics, investment, tourism, educational and cultural cooperation between Vietnam and the State of Karnataka.
• Industrialist N.S. Srinivasa Murthy based in Bengaluru has been appointed as Honorary Consul General of Vietnam for Karnataka.
• He is the first honorary consul general of Vietnam from India.
• The appointment is for a period of three years.
• He will be the Vietnam embassy’s direct contact point in the state even as plans are afoot to increase direct connectivity between the state and the Southeast Asian country.

About Vietnam:

• Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist pagodas and bustling cities.
• Hanoi, the capital, pays homage to the nation’s iconic Communist-era leader, Ho Chi Minh, via a huge marble mausoleum.
• Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has French colonial landmarks, plus Vietnamese War history museums and the Củ Chi tunnels, used by Viet Cong soldiers.
• Capital: Hanoi
• Currency: Vietnamese dong
• President: Nguyen Xuan Phuc

 Coal India appointed Accenture for digitalization of mine process

• Coal India (CIL) has engaged Accenture Solutions as a consultant for digitalization of mine process in seven select opencast mines of the company for accelerated performance enhancement.
• A contract was signed to this effect earlier.
• In a first of its kind venture, the consultant would lead and support the implementation of digitalization and process excellence while assuring 100 million tonne (MT) increased coal output from the identified mines.
• The seven identified mines are: Kusmunda, Gevra, Dipka of South Eastern Coalfields (SECL) and Nigahi, Jayant, Dudhichua, Khadia of Northern Coalfields (NCL).

About Coal India:

• Coal India Limited is an Indian government-owned coal mining and refining corporation.
• It is under the ownership of the Ministry of Coal, Government of India headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
• It is the largest coal-producing company in the world and a Maharatna public sector undertaking.
• Headquarters: Kolkata
• CEO: Pramod Agrawal

About Accenture:

• Accenture plc is an Irish-domiciled multinational company that provides consulting and professional services.
• A Fortune Global 500 company, it reported revenues of $44.33 billion in 2020 and had 569,000 employees.
• CEO: Julie Sweet
• Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Telangana coop bank won Nabard award

• Telangana State Cooperative Apex Bank (TSCAB) has been chosen the best state cooperative bank (SCB) in the country by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard).
• The Karimnagar District Cooperative Credit Bank (DCCB), too, has been recognized as the best district cooperative credit bank (DCCB) in South India, as part of the awards announced by Nabard on its 49th foundation day celebrations.
• Of the 33 SCBs and 353 DCCBs in the country, Nabard had short-listed six SCBs and 45 DCCBs based on their performance for the last three years.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU’s AND AGREEMENTS

India and Bhutan diplomatic ties: Nirmala Sitharaman and Namgay Tshering jointly launch BHIM-UPI in Bhutan

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Finance Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Namgay Tshering jointly launched BHIM–UPI in Bhutan.
• The launch fulfils the commitment made by two countries during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Bhutan in 2019.
• Bhutan is the first country to adopt UPI standards for its QR deployment, and the first country in our immediate neighbourhood to accept mobile based payments through the BHIM App.
• With the launch of Bhim UPI services, there has been a new momentum in the 53 year old diplomatic ties between both the nations.
• And with this, a unique start to the journey of cashless transactions has begun between India and Bhutan and not just limited to Bhutan only.

About Bhutan:

• Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, is known for its monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs) and dramatic landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys.
• In the High Himalayas, peaks such as 7,326m Jomolhari are popular trekking destinations.
• Paro Taktsang monastery (also known as Tiger’s Nest) clings to cliffs above the forested Paro Valley.
• Capital: Thimphu
• Currency: Bhutanese ngultrum
• President: Lotay Tshering

 NTPC signs MOU with Ladakh and LAHDC 

• State-owned NTPC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UT of Ladakh and LAHDC to set up the country’s first Green Hydrogen Mobility project, strengthening PM Narendra Modi’s vision to ensure a carbon-free economy based on renewable sources and green hydrogen.
• Union Cabinet Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, R.K . Singh congratulated the company.
• Singh said that it is a matter of pride for all of us that Leh is soon to become India’s first city to implement a green hydrogen-based mobility project with zero-emission.
• REL, a 100% subsidiary of NTPC, signed a MoU with the Union Territory of Ladakh, to set up the country’s first green Hydrogen Mobility project in the region.
• The signing of the MoU was also marked with the inauguration of NTPC’s first solar installations in Leh in the form of solar trees and a solar carport.

About Ladakh:

• Ladakh is a region administered by India as a union territory, and constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947.
• It was established on 31 October 2019, following the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.
• Capital: Leh, Kargil
• Lieutenant governor: Radha Krishna Mathur
• National park: Hemis National Park

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Cambridge University chemists Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman declared winners of 2020 Millennium Technology Prize for their development of revolutionary sequencing techniques

• Cambridge University chemists Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman were declared the winners of the 2020 Millennium Technology Prize, a prestigious global science and technology prize awarded for their development of revolutionary sequencing techniques which means DNA
• The prize, awarded by Technology Academy Finland (TAF) at two-year intervals since 2004
• Sir Balasubramanian, an India-born British professor of medicinal chemistry, and Sir Klenerman, a British biophysical chemist, co-invented the Solexa-Illumina Next Generation DNA Sequencing (NGS), technology enabling fast, accurate, low-cost and large-scale genome sequencing, the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism’s make-up, which is proving crucial in humanity’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The winning NGS technology has had, and continues to have, a huge transformative impact in the fields of genomics, medicine and biology.
• One measure of the scale of change is that it has allowed a million-fold improvement in speed and cost, when compared to the first sequencing of the human genome.

About Technology Academy Finland:

• Technology Academy Finland (TAF) is an independent foundation that promotes innovations improving the quality of people’s lives in a sustainable manner. 
• Participating in global networks within the scientific community, business and governmental organizations.

Virgin Galactic space tourism company founder Richard Branson conducts space flight along with four other crewmates including Indian-origin woman Sirisha Bandla

• The nearly 71-year-old Mr. Branson and five crewmates, including aeronautical engineer Sirisha Bandla, from his Virgin Galactic space tourism company reached an altitude of about 88 kilometres over the New Mexico desert  enough to experience three to four minutes of weightlessness and see the curvature of the Earth  and then safely gilded back home to a runway landing.

About Virgin Galactic space Tourism Company:

• Virgin Galactic (VG) is a spaceflight company that operates in, and is incorporated in, the United States.
• It was founded by Richard Branson and his British Virgin Group retains a 24% stake.
• It is developing commercial spacecraft and aims to provide suborbital space flights to space tourists.

WHO issues recommendations on Human Genome Editing

• Reports recommend governance and oversight of human genome editing across nine discrete areas such as human genome editing registries, international research & medical travel; education, engagement & empowerment; illegal, unregistered, unethical or unsafe research and intellectual property.
• It also focuses on systems-level improvement which is required to build capacity across India to ensure safety & efficacy of human genome editing.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released two new companion reports, providing first global recommendations that will help in establishing human genome editing as a tool for public health.
• Somatic gene therapies involve modification in a patient’s DNA to treat or cure any disease.
• This technique has been successfully used to cure HIV, sickle-cell disease and transthyretin amyloidosis.
• It could also improve treatment for cancers.

Potential benefits of human genome editing are:

• New strategies for diagnosis, treatment & prevention of genetic disorders
• New avenues of treating infertility
• New ways of promoting disease resistance
• Contribution towards development of vaccines and enhanced knowledge of human biology.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ENVIRONMENT 

Researchers found two spider species in Assam’s Chirang Reserve Forest 

• Recently Two new underground spider species named Gravelyia boro and Dexippus kleini have been discovered in the Jharbari range of western Assam’s Chirang Reserve Forest, Assam.

Research Team :

• Dulur Brahma (Assistant Professor) and Paris Basumatary (research scholar), from Bodoland University’s Department of Zoology, have authored the studies.
• Both species have been described in the Acta Arachnologica published by the Arachnological Society of Japan.

About Gravelyia boro :

• Gravelyia boro is the newly discovered burrow spider.
• It belongs to the Nemesiidae family comprising 184 species worldwide & It lives underground, about 10-15 cm below the sandy-loam surface.
• It has an opening up to 1 cm wide under the cover of some herbs and shrubs.

About Dexippus kleini :

• Dexippus kleini is an oriental jumping spider.
• It is a member of Salticidae (largest family of all spiders on earth).
• It has been recorded for the first time after it was originally described 129 years ago by Swedish arachnologist, Tord Tamerlan Teodor Thorell.
• It is a slow mover but capable of jumping up to 25 mm in length to hunt its prey.

About Assam :

• Capital: Dispur
• Chief minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Governor : Jagdish Mukhi

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BOOKS & AUTHORS

A New book titled “The Great Big Lion” written by child prodigy Chryseis  Knight

• A New Book Titled “The Great Big Lion” drawn & written by child prodigy Chryseis Knight.
• The book was Published by Penguin Random House India’s Puffin’ imprint.

About the Book :

• The Book talks about the  friendship, inclusivity, wildlife conservation and the world of imagination between a lion and two children.

About Chryseis Knight :

• Knight is currently residing in Canada, and she learnt how to read at the age of one, started writing the story of “The Great Big Lion” in her notebook when she was three years old.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

Tokyo Olympics : Deepak Kabra becomes first Indian gymnastics judge 

• Deepak Kabra became the first Indian to be selected for judging the gymnastics competition of the Olympic Games. 
• The men’s artistic gymnastics will be officiated by Kabra at the Tokyo Games, which begins on July 23.

About Deepak Kabra :

• Kabra participated in national level events, in 2007 National Games in Guwahati.
• He was the Gujarat state champion from 2005 to 2009.
• He was the youngest judge at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
• Deepak Kabra became the first Indian judge to officiate in the 2014 Asian Games and Youth Olympics.
• He was also officiated as a judge in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in 2018, Youth Olympics in Argentina.
• In 2018, he was appointed as a member of the Asian Gymnastics Union’s technical committee.

Note :

• Pranati Nayak earned a bronze medal on vault at the 2019 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships

Anurag Thakur launches official song on Indian contingent at Tokyo Olympics

• On July 14, 2021, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur launched Team India’s official cheer song ‘Hindustani Way‘ for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
• The song has been composed by Grammy Award winner AR Rahman and sung by young singer Ananya Birla. 
• The launch of Team Indian official cheer song was a culmination of hard work by all the stakeholders in the last 18 months.

Key People :

• IOA President Narinder Batra, Rajeev Mehta (IOA secretary) and MoS for home, Youth affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik also present the event.
• The Tokyo Olympics will be held from July 23 to August 8.

Daily CA On July 14 :

• Ladakh has become the first Union Territory to vaccinate all residents and the ‘guest population’, consisting of migrant labourers, hotel workers and Nepalese citizens who are earning their livelihood there, with the first dose of Covid-19 jab.
• The Supreme Court of Nepal passed an order to appoint Sher Bahadur Deuba as New PM of Nepal as the PM K P Sharma Oli violated the constitutional Principles.
• Finance Ministers approved a tax reform for multinationals that aims to put an end to tax havens by introducing a global corporate tax rate of at 15 per cent.
• Square’s hardware head, Jesse Dorogusker, announced that the company is going to start building a hardware wallet and accompanying service for cryptocurrency, Bitcoin.
• The World Gold Council (WGC) and Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) sign an agreement to promote gold jewellery in India.
• MoU signed between ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) and Delhi University (DU) to set up Bangabandhu Chair at DU as a tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh
• On July 13, 2021, The Indian Navy received the 10th anti-submarine warfare aircraft P-8I from the US-based aerospace company Boeing.
• Cuba has developed the world’s first conjugate Covid-19 vaccine Soberana 2 (Sovereign 2).
• The Indian researchers have spotted an extremely luminous, powerful, hydrogen deficient, fast-evolving supernova that shines with the energy borrowed from an exotic type of neutron star with an ultra-powerful magnetic field.
• A New Book Titled The Struggle Within: A Memoir of the Emergency by Ashok Chakravarti Authored by Ashok Chakravarti. The book is published by HarperCollins India.
• On July 10, 2021, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, the first copy of the English translation of Thummeti Raghothama Reddy’s book- Terrace Garden: Midde Thota.
• On July 13, 2021, the sport’s global governing body, BWF, announced India will host the World Badminton Championships in 2026.
• West Indies Cricketer Chris Gayle becomes 1st batsman to score 14,000 runs in T20 cricket. He achieved the feat during the third T20I match between the West Indies and Australia in St Lucia.
• On July 13, 2021, Former Indian batsman Yashpal Sharma, who was also a member of the Kapil Dev-led World Cup-winning team, Passed away.
• On July 12, 2021, Former WWE Wrestler Paul Orndorff Passed Away.

Daily CA On July 15 :

• On 15 July, World Youth Skills Dayis celebrated to recognize the fact that if youth acquire skills, it will enhance their ability to make informed choices regarding employment with the theme of pays tribute to the resilience and creativity of youth through the crisis.
• The IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation (IITM-PTF) is collaborating with Sony India Software Centre Pvt. Ltd. to conduct a National hackathon called ‘SAMVEDAN 2021 – Sensing Solutions for Bharat’ to inspire citizens to solve India-specific problems of societal interest using IoT sensor board.
• Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Research and Analysis of Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances at National Forensic Science University at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
• In order to launch Insurance Policy for Himalayan Yaks, the National Research Centre on Yak (NRCY) at Dirang in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh has tied up with the National Insurance Company Ltd. (NICL).
• National Thermal Power Corporation, NTPC will set up India’s single largest solar park at Rann of Kutch in Khavada, Gujarat. 
• Jagannath Rath Yatra begins and has a lot of importance in Hinduism. This Rath Yatra is organized from the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Orissa. The festival is celebrated by worshipping Lord Jagannath (ruler of the world), his elder brother Balbhadra (Balaram) and sister Subhadra. 
• The special occasion of Ashadhi Bij, the Kutchi New Year Celebrated, & the festival is associated with the beginning of rains in the Kutch region of Gujarat.
• External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar had a telephonic conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides on recent developments in Cyprus.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih “took stock” of bilateral cooperation in a telephone conversation.
• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Denmark in the field of health and Medicine.
• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for changing the nomenclature & mandate of North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM) as North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR).
• Cabinet approves continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary for further five years till March 2026
• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Georgia at a prominent park.
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has inaugurated its embassy in Israel, less than a year after the two countries announced they would establish formal diplomatic relations & the embassy is situated in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange building
• Chief minister BS Yediyurappa unveiled the Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi scheme-2021 in Bengaluru for the Purpose of generate employment, bring down pollution and reduce dependence on private vehicles,
• Assam CM Declared the state govt adopted zero tolerance policy against drugs menace
• To increase retail participation in government securities, ‘the RBI Retail Direct’ facility was announced in the Statement of Developmental and Regulatory Policies dated February 05, 2021for improving ease of access by retail investors through online access to the government securities market – both primary and secondary – along with the facility to open their gilt securities account (‘Retail Direct’) with the RBI.
• The Kerala State Cooperative Bank (Kerala Bank) has announced Covid-19 relief schemes like Kerala Bank Special Liquidity Facility, KB Covid Helping Hand, KB Micro- Finance Scheme to aid various sections of society.
• The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) issued a framework for setting up and operating the International Trade Finance Services platform (ITFS). 
• Union minister Piyush Goyal was appointed as the leader of the house in Rajya Sabha.
• Bandhan Bank announced the appointment of Kamal Batraas Executive President and Head – Assets.
• Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd. (MEML) has just announced the appointment of Suman Mishra as its new Chief Executive as a Whole-time Director.
• Unibic Foods named Naveen Pandey as its chief executive officer.
• Vietnam has appointed Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in Bangalore to promote trade, economics, investment, tourism, educational and cultural cooperation between Vietnam and the State of Karnataka.
• Coal India(CIL) has engaged Accenture Solutions as a consultant for digitalization of mine process in seven select opencast mines of the company for accelerated performance enhancement.
• Telangana State Cooperative Apex Bank (TSCAB) has been chosen the best state cooperative bank (SCB) in the country by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard).
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Finance Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Namgay Tshering jointly launched BHIM–UPI in Bhutan.
• State-owned NTPCsigned a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UT of Ladakh and LAHDC to set up the country’s first Green Hydrogen Mobility project, strengthening PM Narendra Modi’s vision to ensure a carbon-free economy based on renewable sources and green hydrogen.
• Cambridge University chemists Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman were declared the winners of the 2020 Millennium Technology Prize, a prestigious global science and technology prize awarded for their development of revolutionary sequencing techniques which means DNA
• Virgin Galactic space tourism company founder Richard Branson conducts space flight along with four other crewmates including Indian-origin woman Sirisha Bandla
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released two new companion reports, providing first global recommendations that will help in establishing human genome editing as a tool for public health.
• Recently Two new underground spider species named Gravelyia boro and Dexippus kleini have been discovered in the Jharbari range of western Assam’s Chirang Reserve Forest, Assam.
• A New Book Titled “The Great Big Lion” drawn & written by child prodigy Chryseis Knight & the book was Published by Penguin Random House India’s Puffin’ imprint.
• Deepak Kabra became the first Indian to be selected for judging the gymnastics competition of the Olympic Games. 
• On July 14, 2021, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur launched Team India’s official cheer song ‘Hindustani Way‘ for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics & the song has been composed by Grammy Award winner AR Rahman and sung by young singer Ananya Birla. 

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