NATIONAL:
1. VLTD Vehicles with ERSS
Why in news - Himachal Pradesh has launched initiative through which vehicles can be tracked anywhere in the country through VLTD.
Key Points –
• It became the first state in the country to connect all registered commercial vehicles equipped with Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) with Emergency Response Support System (ERSS).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Ranil Wickremesinghe
Why in news - Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected President of Sri Lanka by Parliament on July 20, 2022.
Key Points –
• In the 225-member House, Wickremesinghe got 134 votes.
• He replaced Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
• He defeated Dullas Alahapperuma.
ECONOMY:
1. WhatsApp Banking
Why in news - The State Bank of India launched its WhatsApp Banking services on July 20, 2022 to make banking easier for its customers.
2. Recovery of NPAs
Why in news - Concrete steps taken by the government and RBI helped banks recover bad loans worth over Rs 8.6 lakh crore in the last eight financial years.
Key Points –
• It was said by Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
• Concrete steps - Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993, Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 and Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Omnivax Vaccine
Why in news - US scientists have developed a new COVID-19 vaccine – Omnivax - that offers superior immune protection against two viral subvariants of Omicron.
Key Points –
• It was developed in Chen’s lab by a team headed by Zhenhao Fang.
2. SPRINT Challenges
Why in news - PM Narendra Modi unveiled “SPRINT challenges” to boost usage of indigenous technology in the Indian Navy.
Key Points –
• SPRINT — Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence).
• Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) and Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), aims to induct at least 75 new indigenous technologies/products into the Indian Navy.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List
Why in news – The list was recently released by Forbes.
Key Points –
• Top 3 (net worth) - Elon Musk ($234.4 billion), Bernard Arnault ($154.9 billion), Jeff Bezos ($143.9 billion).
• Gautam Adani has now become the world’s fourth richest person. ($115.6 billion).
• Adani overtook Bill Gates ($104.2 billion) as Bill Gates donated $20 billion to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
• In June, Adani had pledged to donate Rs 60,000 crore to charity to mark his 60th birthday.
2. Henley Passport Index 2022
Why in news – Henley & Partners released Henley Passport Index 2022. It ranked world's 199 passports.
Key Points –
• Top 3 – Japan (1st), Singapore (2nd) and South Korea (3rd).
• Bottom 3 – Afghanistan (112th), Iraq (111th) and Syria (110th).
• India, Mauritius and Tajikistan have been ranked 87th with its passport providing access to 67 countries.
• China (69th), Bhutan (93rd), Myanmar (99th), Sri Lanka (103rd), Bangladesh (104th) and Pakistan (109th).
• The Japanese passport provides hassle-free entry to 193 countries.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. World’s Best SME Bank
Why in news – DBS has been recognized as the “world’s best SME bank” by Euromoney for the second time since 2018.
Key Points –
Other awards to DBS bank –
• World’s Best Financial Innovation of the year 2022.
• Asia’s Best Bank for Wealth Management 2022.
• Asia’s Best Bank for SME award 2022.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Blackbuck Survey
Why in news - Andhra Pradesh has begun the first-ever study of blackbucks along a length of islands in the Godavari between Dowleswaram and Yanam.
Key Points –
• Islands - Gowthami, Vasista, Vainteya, and Bobbarlanka.
About Blackbuck –
• Blackbuck or the Indian Antelope, is native to India and Nepal.
• It is considered as the epitome of grassland.
• It has been declared the State Animal of Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh.
Protection –
• Wildlife Protection Act 1972 - Schedule I
• IUCN Status - Least Concern
• CITES - Appendix III.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Vineet Saran
Why in news - Former Supreme Court judge Vineet Saran has taken over as the BCCI’s ethics officer and ombudsman. He succeeded Justice (Retd) D K Jain.
AGREEMENTS:
1. JSW Steel and BCG
Why in news - JSW Steel has collaborated with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for its decarbonisation and sustainability agenda.
Key Points –
• JSW Steel aims to reduce its carbon emission by 42% (versus base year 2005) by FY30.
WORD IN NEWS:
1. Aneurysm
Why in news - Actor Emilia Clarke has said she suffered the condition twice while filming for Game of Thrones (GoT).
Key Points –
About Aneurysm condition –
• It is a swelling of the arteries and veins in any part of the body.
• It occurs most commonly in the aorta, back of the knees, brain or intestines.
• If the aneurysm gets ruptured, it can even cause internal bleeding and stroke.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Book “Beyond the Misty Veil”
Why in news – Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami released the book “Beyond the Misty Veil” written by Ms Aradhana Johri (Senior IAS) on the temples of Uttarakhand.
STATES/UTs:
1. CM Udyman Khiladi Upgradation Scheme
Why in news – Uttarakhand Cm Pushkar Singh Dhami will launch the 'Mukhyamantri Udiyaman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana' on August 29, 2022.
Key Points –
• Under this, 150 boys from each district and an equal number of girls will get a scholarship of Rs 1500 per month.
BIHAR:
1. Historical Peepal Tree Burnt to Ashes
Why in news – Hundred years old historic Peepal tree was burnt to ashes in Bihar's Vaishali district.
Key Points –
• There was a figure like Lord Buddha on this tree. It is believed that this tree was the last rain abode of Buddha.
• In 2011, a large part of this tree was broken and a human figure emerged from the tree.
2. MoU for Research Work
Why in news – Trustee of Research for Resurgence Foundation (RFRF), Nagpur and Patliputa University signed an MoU for upgradation of research work.
3. Dr. Surendranath Sinha
Why in news – Dr. Surendranath Sinha has been appointed as the first Vice- Chancellor of Bihar Health Sciences (Medical University).
POINTERS:
• Which day is observed as International Moon Day – July 20.
• Who has taken over as the Managing Director of ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) – Rajarshi Gupta.
• India and which country have signed an MoU on Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Biodiversity use – Namibia.
• According to Ookla's Speedtest Global Index, what is the rank of India in Mobile Speed Index 2022 – 118th
• Which IIT has developed a bio-inspired artificial muscle for the next generation of space robots – IIT Kanpur.
• Which IIT institute has inaugurated the Census data workstation - IIT Delhi.
• NITI Aayog and World Food Program have launched “Mapping and Exchange of Good Practices” initiative in which two continents - Africa and Asia.
• Under which scheme the Chhattisgarh state government will buy cow urine at Rs 4 per liter from 28 July 2022 – “Godhan Nyay Yojana”.
• During which seminar India's first manned-carrying drone 'Varuna' has been unveiled - Swavalamban.
• Who has become a member of the Union Public Service Commission recently - Raj Shukla.