NATIONAL:
1. Namsai Declaration
Why in news - Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu signed an agreement on July 15 to end border issues between the two states.
Key Points –
• They met at Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Both decided to “restrict” the number of disputed villages to 86 instead of 123.
• Both states share an 804.1 km-long border.
2. Ripudaman Singh Malik
Why in news – The accused in the 1985 Air India bombing (acquitted in 2005) was shot dead in Surrey in Canada.
Key Points –
• A suitcase bomb was loaded into Air India Flight 182 which exploded off the coast of Ireland, killing 329 passengers and crew.
• Talwinder Singh Parmar was the alleged mastermind of the Air India bombing.
3. “Jagriti” Mascot
Why in news – The Department of Consumer Affairs has launched “Jagriti”, a mascot for empowering consumers and generating awareness towards their rights.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. CAATSA Sanctions Waiver
Why in news - The US House of Representatives has approved a waiver to India against the punitive CAATSA sanctions for its purchase of the S-400 (USD 5 billion) from Russia.
Key Points –
• The amendment was introduced by Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna.
About CAATSA –
• CAATSA - Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.
• It is a US federal law enacted in 2017.
• It is aimed at enforcing sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea.
• It contains 12 types of sanctions.
2. Croatia to Adopt Euro as Currency
Why in news - European Union has given Croatia the final approval to adopt the euro, replacing the Croatian kuna.
Key Points –
• Croatia became the 20th country to join the eurozone.
• It will be implemented from January 1, 2023.
3. USA Tested Hypersonic Missile
Why in news - The U.S. Air Force successfully tested a Lockheed Martin Corp hypersonic missile from Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Key Points –
• Name - Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) through B-52 bomber aircraft.
• Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds of more than five times the speed of sound or about 6,200 km (3,853 miles) per hour.
4. Gotabaya Rajapaksa Resigned
Why in news - Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed as acting President.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. NIRF India Rankings 2022
Why in news - Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released the 7th edition of the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings 2022.
Key Points –
• Top-ranked private institutions - Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (16), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (17), Vellore Institute of Technology (18).
• Top law institutions - The National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, National Law University, New Delhi and Symbiosis Law School, Pune.
• IISc topped the universities category for the seventh consecutive year.
• NIRF was launched by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in September 2015.
2. Time Out 2022 Index
Why in news - Time Out released the 5th edition of the World's Best Cities Index.
Key Points –
• Top 3 – Edinburgh (1st), Chicago (2nd) Medellin (3rd).
• From India - Mumbai (14th), Delhi (26th).
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. National Conference of State Agriculture & Horticulture Ministers
Why in news – The conference was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in Bengaluru on July 14-15, 2022.
Key Points –
• Technical sessions were held under nine thematic areas.
• Union Minister of Agriculture Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launched the Platform of Platforms (POPs) under the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM).
SECURITY:
1. Dunagiri
Why in news - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the second P17A stealth frigate ‘Dunagiri’ into the Hooghly river in Kolkata on July 15, 2022.
Key Points –
• It was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders Limited (GRSE).
• It is named after a mountain range in Uttarakhand.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. E-waste Eco Park
Why in news - India’s first e-waste eco park would be developed in Holambi Kalan in Delhi in an area of about 21 acres.
Key Points -
• Delhi is the 5th largest producer of e-waste in India, after Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
• Delhi produces over 2 lakh tonnes of e-waste every year (about 9.5% of total produced in India).
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. DRAM Chip
Why in news - Samsung created a new graphics dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chip with increased speed and power efficiency. The 24-gigabit Graphics Double Data Rate 6 (GDDR6) uses 3rd generation, 10-nanometer technology.
2. NMC 2170
Why in news - Ola Electric has unveiled the country’s first indigenously developed lithium-ion cell - NMC 2170. Its mass production would from its Chennai-based Gigafactory by 2023.
3. Agnikul Cosmos
Why in news - Space tech startup, Agnikul Cosmos has inaugurated India’s first-ever factory to manufacture 3D-printed rocket engines in Chennai.
Key Points –
• Factory can produce eight engines every month.
• Agnibaan is Agnikul’s two-stage launch vehicle.
• Agnibaan is an ultra-light launch vehicle that is even lighter than ISRO’s SSLV.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Mother Teresa Memorial Award
Why in news - Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari presented Mother Teresa memorial award to Dia Mirza & Afroz Shah.
Key Points -
• Dia Mirza is UNEP National goodwill ambassador.
• They were awarded for their notable achievements in Environmental Sustainability.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Youth Skills Day 2022
Why in news – It is celebrated every year on July 15 to mark the “strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment”.
Key Points –
• Theme for 2022 - Transforming youth skills for the future.
• Initiatives by Indian government - Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Advanced Vocational Training Scheme (AVTS), Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKK), Skill Strength for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE).
BIHAR:
1. NIRF Ranking 2022
Why in news - Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released the 7th edition of the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings 2022.
Key Points –
• IIT Patna is the only institute from Bihar on the overall list of NIRF 2022.
• Ranking -
2. Danapur-Bihta Elevated Road
Why in news - Road Construction Minister Nitin Naveen said that the way for road construction has been cleared.
Key Points –
• Length - 25.08 km, Cost - Rs.3737.51 crore.
• It is part of the Prime Minister's Package, 2015 announced for the state of Bihar.
POINTERS:
• Who has been appointed as the Ambassador of India to Bhutan – Sudhakar Dalela.
• Israel sold Haifa Port, a major trade center on its Mediterranean coast, to whom for $2 billion - Adani Ports.
• Who has been suspended for a period of ten months after being found guilty of violating Article 1 of the ICC Anti-Doping Code – Shahidul Islam.
• India's first e-waste eco-park is being developed in which city – Delhi.
• India and which other country have signed an MoU on tele-education & tele-medicine– Madagascar.
• The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) has hosted the meeting of the Expert Group on Cyber Security Cooperation of which grouping in July 2022 – BIMSTEC.
• The central government has extended the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme till - March 31, 2024.
• A committee to develop a framework for the right to repair is headed by whom - Nidhi Khare.
• Cabinet approves Taranga Hill-Ambaji-Abu Road new rail line to provide connectivity and improve movement in between which two states - Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• Who has been recently selected by PESB as the CMD of RailTel - Sanjay Kumar.