NATIONAL:
1. President Droupadi Murmu
Why in news - Droupadi Murmu has been sworn in as the 15th President of India.
Key Points –
• She is the first President who was born in independent India.
• CJI N V Ramana administered the oath to Droupadi Murmu.
• Former President Ram Nath Kovind completed his term on July 25, 2022.
2. “Har Ghar Jal” Certified District
Why in news - Burhanpur (MP) became the first “Har Ghar Jal” certified district in the country.
Key Points –
• Burhanpur is also known as the “Darwaza of Dakhin”.
• 3 states – Goa, Telangana and Haryana and 3 UTs – A&N Islands, D&N Haveli & Daman & Diu and Puducherry have provided 100% tap water coverage.
• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.
• JJM was launched on August 15, 2019.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Pope Apologized
Why in news - Pope Francis issues an apology for school abuses in Canada
Key Points –
• From the 1800s to the 1970s, Native children were forced to attend Christian schools where abuse was rampant.
• Even grave offenses like genocide, sex abuse, slavery and war took place.
• Pope Francis made a similar apology to Inuit and Metis communities in Rome in April 2022.
2. Monkeypox - A Global Health Emergency
Why in news - The WHO labelled Monkeypox a "public health emergency of international concern" due to its rapid spread.
Key Points –
• So far in 2022, more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox in more than 60 countries and five deaths in Africa have been reported.
• 3 criteria for declaring a public health emergency –
A. Extraordinary Event
B. Poses a public health risk to other States
C. Potentially requires a coordinated international response.
• Previous public health emergencies –
A. Covid-19 pandemic (2019)
B. West African Ebola outbreak (2014)
C. Zika virus in Latin America (2016)
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project
Why in news – The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had constituted a committee to make recommendations for translocation of the lion population in newly identified sites.
Key Points –
• Asiatic lion (IUCN) – Endangered.
• Kuno-Palpur Sanctuary (MP) will be declared India's first Cheetah Sanctuary.
About the Project -
• Aim - To protect Asiatic lions by relocating them to various parts of India. At present Asiatic lions are naturally found in India only in Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
• In 1957, one lion and two lionesses were relocated to Chandra Prabha Sanctuary close to Varanasi in UP.
• In 1993, following locations were identified for the reintroduction of Asiatic lions –
A. Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary (Selected)
B. Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary
C. Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
D. Darrah - Jawahar Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
E. Barda Wildlife Sanctuary.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Global Energy Prize 2022
Why in news – Global Energy Association has announced the name of three Global Energy Prize laureates for 2022.
Key Points –
• Indian American professor Kaushik Rajashekara is one of them.
• He has been given the award in the “New Ways of Energy Applications” category.
• He has contributed in the field of Transportation electrification and energy efficiency technologies while reducing power generation emissions.
2. Chandrashekhar Azad Statue
Why in news – A weekend Youth Panchayat was inaugurated in Bhopal to mark the 116th birth anniversary of Chandrashekhar Azad.
Key Points –
• CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced installing Chandrashekhar Azad's statue in Bhopal.
• Azad was born in Bhabhra area of the present Alirajpur district of MP.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. India Bio-Economy Report 2022
Why in news – Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has released its “India Bioeconomy Report 2022”.
Key Points –
• India’s bioeconomy is expected to reach USD 150 billion by 2025 and USD 300 billion by 2030. (2021 – USD 80 billion).
• India has approximately 3% share in the global biotechnology industry.
• India is among the top 3 destinations in South Asia and the top 12 destinations for biotechnology in the world.
• The target year for 20% ethanol blending has been advanced from 2025 to 2023.
• BT Cotton, Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Biofertilizers contributed to about $10.48 billion in 2021 for bioeconomy of the country.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. International Conference on Chemistry and Applications of Soft Materials (CASM 2022)
Why in news – CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) in Thiruvananthapuram will host the CASM 2022.
Key Points –
• T Pradeep from IIT Madras will inaugurate the event.
• Department of Science and Technology (DST) will sponsor a session on soft materials for energy applications and presentations.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2022
Why in news – Kargil Vijay Diwas is the celebration of India’s historic win over Pakistan on July 26, 1999.
Key Points –
• The war was fought between May-July of 1999 in the Kargil district of J&K.
• Indian Army launched Operation Vijay to evict Pakistani invaders.
• Indian Air Force Operation “White Sea” during the Kargil war.
SECURITY:
1. Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX)
Why in news – MPX was conducted between Japanese and the Indian Navy in the Andaman Sea on July 23, 2022.
Key Points –
• INS Sukanya (India) and JS Samidare (Japan) participated in the exercise.
• Other Maritime Exercises between India & Japan –
A. Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX)
B. Malabar Exercise (India – US – Japan - Australia).
SCIENCE–TECH:
1. Joker Malware
Why in news – 50 apps have been deleted from the Google Play Store due to the attack of Joker malware.
Key Points –
• Joker Malware exploits Android devices.
• According to security firm Zscaler ThreatLabz team, Joker, Facestealer and Coper malware spread through apps.
APPS & PORTALS:
1. Bal Raksha Mobile App
Why in news – Union Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the app on July 23, 2022.
Key Points –
• Aim - To create awareness of paediatric preventive healthcare through Ayurveda.
• He also inaugurated a Vaccination Centre for children at the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. “Dilip Kumar: In the Shadow of a Legend”
Why in news – A book on the legendary actor Dilip Kumar has been released by author Faisal Farooqui.
Key Points –
• Dilip Kumar’s original name - Yusuf Khan.
SPORTS:
1. French Grand Prix 2022
Why in news – Max Verstappen of Red Bull won the title of 2022 French Grand Prix.
BIHAR:
1. Drought Crisis Deepens in Bihar
Why in news – Due to deficient rains, fear of drought in the state is deepening.
Key Points –
• Target of paddy sowing – 35,12,000 hectares. Only 11,31,000 (31.4%) hectares could be planted.
• Target of rice production - 24.90 quintal per hectare.
• Total production target of paddy - 86.09 lakh metric tonnes (2022-23).
• Numbers of farmers in the state – 44.40 lakh (marginal farmer), 13.06 lakh (small farmers), 6.15 lakh (big farmers).
• It shows that 91% are small and marginal farmers, while only 9% are farmers with an area of two hectares or more.
• Farmers might suffer a loss of Rs 81 billion 26 crores.
2. Balika Snatak Protsahan Yojana
Why in news – Changes have been made in the Mukhya Mantri Balika Snatak Protsahan Yojana from the current financial year.
Key Points –
• Now, Girls can apply online. To date, they used to apply through their respective colleges.
• Under it, the government gives Rs 50,000 to the graduate girl students.
3. Ethanol Plant in Bihar
Why in news – Oil marketing companies allowed only 17 projects in Bihar against 29 ethanol plants.
Key Points –
• Bihar's annual demand for 20% ethanol blending in petrol is 30.7 crore liters. (Only 12.2 crore liters is being received).
POINTERS:
• Which state has launched the new State Tourism Policy 2021 - Jharkhand.
• Sports Authority of India has launched which initiative to boost the enthusiasm of Team India - “Create for India” campaign.
• Who has refused to accept Banga Vibhushan award from the West Bengal government - Amartya Sen.
• Who has launched 'Nirman' accelerator program - IIT Kanpur’s Incubation Center.
• Union government’s "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign will run from - August 13 to 15, 2022.
• Who has been appointed as International Hockey Federation (FIH)’s acting president - Saif Ahmed (Egypt).
• Who became the first Indian to win silver medal at World Athletics Championships - Neeraj Chopra.
• What is the rank of India as per Ookla's Speedtest Global Index 2022 - 118th.