NATIONAL:
1. Brain Health Clinic
Why in news - India’s first brain health clinic was inaugurated on July 22 in Bengaluru.
Key Points –
• It was launched under Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (Ka-BHI) at Jayanagar General Hospital.
• Two more such centres will come up in Chikkaballapura and Kolar districts.
• Karnataka Brain Health Initiative ambassador - Robin Uthappa.
• The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences, Bengaluru (NIMHANS) is the apex centre for mental health and neuroscience education in the country.
2. Obscenity Law in India
Why in news - Mumbai Police registered an FIR against actor Ranveer Singh for sharing apparently nude photographs.
Key Points –
• Police have invoked Sections 292, 293 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with Section 67A of the IT Act.
• Ranveer Singh had done the photoshoot for Newyork-based “Paper” magazine.
3. Indian Aid to UNRWA
Why in news - India contributed USD 2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Russia Out of ISS by 2024
Why in news - Russia will opt out of the International Space Station after 2024 and focus on building its own orbiting outpost.
Key Points –
• ISS is a habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit.
• It circles the Earth in roughly 92 minutes and completes 15.5 orbits per day.
• ISS is a joint project of NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada)
• Roscosmos Chief - Yuri Borisov.
2. Bangladesh Requests Loan from IMF
Why in news - Bangladesh has requested for a USD 4.5 billion loan from International Monetary Fund (IMF) to combat financial crisis.
Key Points –
• Reason - Rapidly declining Forex reserves (fell below $40 billion).
• IMF Managing Director - Kristalina Georgieva.
3. Coin with Zodiac Sign
Why in news – Israel has discovered a rare 1,850-year-old bronze zodiac coin off the coastal city of Haifa.
Key Points –
• It has image of the zodiac sign Cancer behind a depiction of the moon goddess Luna.
• It was minted in Alexandria, Egypt under the rule of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. RAMP Scheme
Why in news – Union government has launched RAMP scheme to improve access of MSMEs to market and credit, technology up-gradation and addressing issues of delayed payments.
Key Points –
• Full form - Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance.
• It is a World Bank-supported central sector scheme with total outlay of Rs 6062.45 crore. (WB contribution - Rs. 3750 crores, Govt. contribution - Rs 2312.45 crore).
• It is consistent with the recommendations of the U K Sinha Committee on (Economic and financial sustainability of the MSME sector) and the KV Kamath Committee.
LEGISLATIONS:
1. Indian Antarctic Bill 2022
Why in news – The Lok Sabha has passed the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022 on July 22, 2022.
Key Points –
• It is mandatory for the 54 signatory countries to have specific laws governing territories on which their stations are located.
About Antarctic treaty (1959) –
• Antarctica is all of the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude.
• HQ - Buenos Aires (Argentina)
• Currently there are 54 members.
• India became a signatory in 1983.
India’s Antarctic Program –
• Dakshin Gangotri (1984) – India’s first scientific research base station.
• Maitri (1989) - 2nd research station.
• Bharati (2012) - 3rd research station.
• Sagar Nidhi (2008) - First Indian vessel to navigate Antarctic waters.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. 5 New Ramsar Sites
Why in news – 5 new Indian sites have been recognized as wetlands of international importance, as part of the Ramsar Convention.
Key Points –
• They are –
A. Karikili Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu)
B. Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest (TN)
C. Pichavaram Mangrove (TN)
D. Pala wetland (Mizoram)
E. Sakhya Sagar (Madhya Pradesh).
• Total Ramsar sites in the country increased to 54.
About Ramsar Sites -
• ‘Convention on Wetlands’ (Ramsar convention) is an inter-governmental environmental treaty established by UNESCO Feb 2, 1971.
• Sundarbans in West Bengal is the largest Ramsar site in India.
• World’s first Ramsar Site - Cobourg Peninsula (Australia), designated in 1974.
• Most number of Ramsar Sites - United Kingdom (175 sites).
• Bolivia has the largest area under Ramsar protection.
2. Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary
Why in news – Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi approved a proposal for the creation of Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) in Barak Valley.
Key Points –
• It will be spread over 320 sq km between the Barak river and the Sonai river.
• Important fauna - Slow loris, rhesus macaque, pig-tailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque, hoolock gibbon and king cobra.
• It was approved under Section 35 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• It will be Barak Valley’s second WLS. (1st - Borail WLS).
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Indermit Gill
Why in news – World Bank (WB) has appointed India’s Indermit Gill as its Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics.
Key Points –
• Appointment will be effective from September 1, 2022.
• Gill will be only the second Indian to serve as chief economist at WB after Kaushik Basu (2012-16).
• He will succeed Carmen Reinhart.
2. Bajram Begaj
Why in news – Bajram Begaj took oath as the President of the Republic of Albania.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. USISPF Public Service Award
Why in news – Former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has been honoured by the USISPF for his role in strengthening ties between India and US.
Key Points –
• Former US Defence Secretary General Jim Mattis has also been awarded.
• US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) President and CEO - Mukesh Aghi.
2. K2 Summit
Why in news – Wasifa Nazreen became the first person from Bangladesh to ascend the K2 mountain peak (2nd highest peak).
APPS & PORTAL:
1. E-AMRIT App
Why in news – NITI Aayog launched E-AMRIT app to increase awareness about electric vehicles.
Key Points –
• Full form - Accelerated e-Mobility Revolution for India's Transportation.
• It also released Report on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Reuse and Recycling Market in India.
• India has signed UK’s Glasgow Breakthrough on Road Transport (COP 26) to deliver clean and affordable technology everywhere by 2030.
SPORTS:
1. ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025
Why in news – ICC’s annual conference concluded in Birmingham, UK.
Key Points –
Decisions taken –
• India will host the Women's ODI World Cup for the fifth time in 2025.
• T20 World Cup 2024 – Bangladesh.
• T20 World Cup 2026 – England.
• Women's Champions Trophy 2027 - Sri Lanka.
BIHAR:
1. Automatic Rain Gauge
Why in news – Automatic rain gauges would be installed in all 152 panchayats.
Key Points –
• So far, it has been installed in 99 panchayats.
• Installation is being done by Omel Private Limited of Telangana.
• Sanctioned amount – Rs 144.34 crores.
• Planning and Development Department is monitoring the scheme.
2. Smart Sewerage Device
Why in news – Balraj Arpit, a resident of Bihar, has developed a solar powered Smart sewerage device.
Key Points –
• It will be installed if the sewerage system is jammed or toxic gas is formed.
• It has four sensors –
A. Temperature Sensor
B. Gas Sensor
C. Water Flow Sensor
D. Water Level Sensor.
• He hails from Gopalganj, Bihar.
3. Wetlands as Tourist Spots
Why in news – Wetlands larger than 100 hectares present in 11 districts would be developed as tourist places.
Key Points –
• 64 such wetlands are being identified.
• 11 districts - Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Katihar, Bhojpur and Buxar.
• Health card of 28 wetlands has been made as per Wetland Conservation and Management Rules 2017.
• Some examples of wetlands - Barila Lake (Vaishali), Mirzapur Bahiyar (Saran), Motijheel (East Champaran) etc.
POINTERS:
• Which idland has been handed over to the Andaman and Nicobar administration for the development of tourism and infrastructure - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose island.
• Who will be the new CEO of Vodafone Idea - Akshay Mundra.
• Which state has launched 'Family Doctor Project' - Andhra Pradesh.
• Who has developed indigenous technology to convert seawater into potable water - National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
• Which state has appointed Deloitte as consultant to make the state USD 1 trillion economy - Uttar Pradesh.
• Who has been appointed as India’s representative of International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) – Ennarasu Karunesan
• Who has been appointed as Managing Director of Tata Projects - Vinayak Pai.
• Centre has directed major ports to exempt passenger ferries from paying port, vessel charges for how many months - 6 months.
• Which state government has launched “e-FIR system” for crimes like mobile or two-wheeler theft – Gujarat.
• Where has India’s first open rock museum been inaugurated recently – Hyderabad.