NATIONAL:
1. Amnesty UK Routed Rs 51 Crore to India
Why in news - The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has told that Amnesty International UK illegally directed over Rs 51 crore to its Indian unit in the guise of export of services.
Key Points –
• Aim – To fund projects like “Kashmir: Access to Justice” and “Justice for 1984 Sikh Massacre”.
• It violates Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) 2011-12
2. Flag Code of India 2002
Why in news - Ministry of Home Affairs amended the Flag Code of India 2002 to allow for the national flag to be flown even at night.
Key Points –
• Clause XI of the Flag Code was amended.
• Part I of the flag code allows for machine-made and polyester flags to be used.
• Central government would launch the “Har Ghar Tiranga campaign” on August 13 2022.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. China Launches First Lab Module
Why in news - China launched the first lab module of its space station named Wentian.
Key Points –
• Launched from the Long March-5B Y3 carrier rocket.
• China’s Tiangong space station is expected to be completed this year.
• Tiangong has three modules — the core module, Tianhe and two lab modules, Wentian and Mengtian.
2. Sakurajima Volcano
Why in news - The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said that the eruption expelled large volcanic rocks around a distance of 2.5 km.
Key Points –
Sakurajima Volcano –
• It is located on the western island of Kyushu near the city of Kagoshima.
• Fukutoku-Okanoba is a submarine volcano in Japan.
• Other active volcanoes in the world –
A. Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy),
B. Kīlauea (Hawaiian Islands, USA),
C. Mauna Loa (Hawaiian Islands, USA),
D. Mount Vesuvius (Campania, Italy),
E. Mount Merapi (Indonesia),
F. Mount Nyiragongo (DRC),
G. Mount Yasur (Vanuatu),
H. Pacaya Volcano (Guatemala),
I. Mount Erebus (Antarctica),
J. Eyjafjallajokull (Iceland).
3. Yosemite National Park, California
Why in news - A destructive wildfire near Yosemite National Park has grown into one of California's biggest blazes of the year.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Strengthening Pharmaceuticals Industry (SPI)
Why in news - Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launched three schemes to strengthen MSMEs in the pharmaceutical sector.
Key Points –
Three schemes launched by Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers are –
A. Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (PTUAS)
• To facilitate pharmaceutical MSMEs to upgrade their technology.
• Capital subsidy of 10%
• Interest subvention of up to 5%.
B. Assistance to Pharma Industries for Common Facilities Scheme (API-CF)
• To strengthen the existing pharmaceutical clusters’ capacity.
• Provides for an assistance of up to 70% of the approved project cost.
C. Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Promotion and Development Scheme (PMPDS)
• To create a database of pharma and medical device sectors.
SCIENCE - TECH:
1. GDERD (Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D)
Why in news - As per NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index 2021, GDERD in India is the lowest in the world.
Key Points –
• India’s GDERD - About 0.7% (or USD 43 per capita).
• Other BRICS countries – Brazil (1.2%), Russia (1.1%), China (2%), and South Africa (0.8%).
• India’s GDERD should touch at least 2% to achieve the goal of a $5 trillion economy.
• Only Mexico (0.31%) had a lower share of GERD than India.
AGREEMENTS:
1. ONGC and GAIL India & AGCL
Why in news - The ONGC has inked gas sale agreements with GAIL India and Assam Gas Company Ltd (AGCL) to monetize its upcoming field at Khubal in Tripura.
Key Points –
• GAIL and AGCL would receive 50,000 standard cubic metre of gas.
• Khubal would be the 10th producing field of ONGC in Tripura.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. UAE’s Golden Visa
Why in news - Kamal Haasan has been given the prestigious Golden Visa by the United Arab Emirates.
Key Points –
• Other recipients - Nasser, Mammootty, Mohanlal, Tovino Thomas, Parthiepan, Amala Paul, and Shah Rukh Khan.
SPORTS:
1. World Athletic Championship 2022
Why in news – The event was held in Eugene, Oregon (USA) from July 15 to 24, 2022.
Key Points –
• Neeraj Chopra bagged the silver medal at the event after throwing a javelin at a distance of 88.13m.
• Top 3 achievers (Javelin throw) - Anderson Peters (90.54m), Neeraj Chopra (88.13m), Jakub Vadlejch (88.09 m).
• Chopra became only the second Indian and first male track and field athlete to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships. Long jumper Anju Bobby George won bronze in 2003.
• Rohit Yadav finished 10th with a best throw of 78.72m.
BIHAR:
1. Presidential Polls
Why in news – At least 8 MLAs of opposition parties in Bihar cross-voted in favour of the NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu.
Key Points –
• There were 241 votes cast in the 243-member Assembly.
• M/s Murmu got 133 votes (value - 23009) while Yashwant Sinha got just 106 (value - 18338).
• Two votes (value -346) were declared invalid in Bihar.
• BJP’s Subhash Singh did not vote as he was admitted to a hospital.
• In Bihar assembly, the ruling coalition has 127 MLAs. The BJP has 77, JD(U) 45, HAM (S) four and one Independent.
• In the President’s election, no whip is issued and no EVM is used. It is a secret ballot.
2. Bijli Mahotsav
Why in news – Union ministry of power and Bihar government to organise Bijli Mahotsav from July 25 5 to 30, 2022 in all the 38 districts.
Key Points –
• It would be organised at two places in each district.
• Sital Kumar has been named the state nodal officer for Bihar.
• It is organised under the umbrella of Ujjwal Bharat Ujjwal Bhavishya – Power @2047.
3. Mansa Devi Temple
Why in news – The sanctum sanctorum of Mansa Devi temple at Haripur Bakshi toll of Madhubani district has been completed.
Key Points –
• It is being built on the lines of the Lingaraj temple of Bhubaneswar.
• Statue of Mansa Mata would be similar to the statue installed in the Mansa Devi temple of Haridwar.
• Swami Nischalanand Saraswati himself would inaugurate it.
POINTERS:
• Where will the first "Khelo India Fencing Women's League" be held from 25 to 29 July 2022 - New Delhi.
• Who has approved Open, Cashfree Payment, Nearbuy and Fairex for cross border payments under “Sandbox” - Reserve Bank of India.
• Mario Draghi was the Prime Minister of which country who has resigned recently - Italy.
• Which union minister has recently launched the e-FIR system in Gandhinagar - Amit Shah.
• Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's airline company Akasa Air will start operations from which date –August 7, 2022.
• Which country has recently recorded the first case of polio after a decade – USA.
• Which institute has developed indigenous technology to convert sea water into potable water - National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
• Which organization released a report on digital banks on July 20 - NITI Aayog.
• Which edition of the ASEAN-India Meeting of Senior Officials on International Crimes was held virtually on July 20, 2022 – 9th.
• Which union minister has launched the National Standard for Civil Services Training Institute (NSTI) in July 2022 – Jitendra Singh.
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