NATIONAL:
1. Decline in Road Accidents Since 2018
Why in news - Minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari tabled figures in Lok Sabha about road accidents and the resultant deaths from 2018 to 2020.
Key Points –
• It declined from 4.5 lakh accidents (1.5 lakh deaths) in 2019 to 3.5 lakh accidents (1.3 lakh deaths) in 2020.
• Tamil Nadu (highest road accidents) - 45484 (2020).
• Uttar Pradesh (highest deaths) – 19149 (2020).
• Bihar ranked 9th in terms of road deaths – 6699 (2020).
2. Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022-27
Why in news - Gujarat has become the first state in the country to have a dedicated semiconductor policy.
Key Points –
• It proposes to develop a special “Semicon City” as a part of the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR).
• China (24%) is the largest producer of semiconductors followed by Taiwan (21%) and South Korea (19%).
India Semiconductor Mission (2021) –
• Total financial outlay – Rs 76,000 crores.
• Ministry - Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY)
INTERNATIONAL:
1. SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
Why in news - External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting at Tashkent in Uzbekistan.
Key Points –
• He highlighted the energy and food crisis due to disruptions from the Covid pandemic and Ukraine conflict.
• PM Narendra Modi will visit Samarkand (Uzbekistan) on September 15-16, 2022 to attend the SCO meet.
ECONOMY:
1. Core Sector Output
Why in news - The Office of Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has released the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI).
Key Points –
• The output of 8 core sectors expanded by 12.7% in June 2022 against 9.4% in the year-ago period.
• Crude oil production contracted by 1.7%.
• These comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• 8 core industries in decreasing order of their weightage - Refinery Products> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.
2. India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX)
Why in news - PM Narendra Modi launched India's first international bullion exchange in Gandhinagar on July 29, 2022.
Key Points –
• Qualified jewellers will be permitted to import gold through the IIBX.
• India is the 2nd highest consumer (imported 1,069 tonnes of gold in 2021) of Gold after China.
• He also laid the foundation stone of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) headquarters in Gandhinagar.
• IFSCA has been established under the IFSCA Act, 2019.
• GIFT city is the maiden international financial services centre in India.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Digital Payments Index
Why in news - Reserve Bank of India announced the Digital Payments Index for March 2022.
Key Points –
• The index for March 2022 stands at 349.30.
• It uses 5 broad parameters.
• RBI had developed the RBI – Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) with March 2018 as the base year to assess the extent of digitisation of payments in the country.
SECURITY:
1. Phasing Out of MiG 21
Why in news - The Indian Air Force has drawn up a timeline of three years to phase out MiG-21 squadrons by 2025.
Key Points –
• The IAF also plans to phase out 3 squadrons of MiG-29 in the next 5 years.
• It is part of the IAF’s modernization drive and it is not related to the accidents of MiG-21.
• Currently, the IAF has around 70 MiG-21 aircraft and 50 MiG-29 variants.
• The first fleet of the MiG variant was inducted into the IAF in 1963.
• To replace the, Defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for the procurement of 83 Tejas fighter aircraft.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Partha Pratim Mazumdar
Why in news - IAS Partha Pratim Mazumdar has been appointed the National Register of Citizens (NRC) Coordinator of Assam.
Key Points –
• He will replace Hitesh Dev Sharma.
• NRC for Assam was published in August 2019.
• It excluded 19,06,657 names out of 3,30,27,661 applicants.
FESTIVALS:
1. Bonalu Festival
Why in news - Bonalu or Mahakali Bonalu was celebrated in Telangana.
STATES/UTS:
1. Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme
Why in news - The Tamil Nadu government launched the first phase of the ‘Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme’ on July 27, 2022.
Key Points –
• It is first-of-its-kind in the country.
• It would provide free nutritious breakfast to students of Classes I to V.
2. Har Ghar Urja Utsav
Why in news - Maharashtra government is organizing 'Har Ghar Urja Utsav' in tribal areas to bring light to the lives of rural people.
BIHAR:
1. Bihar Start Up Policy-2022
Why in news - Industries Minister Shahnawaz Hussain launched the Bihar Start Up Policy-2022 and portal on July 29, 2022.
Key Points –
About the policy –
• Start up project would get Rs10 lakh interest free seed fund for 10 years.
• If a start-up company is started by a woman entrepreneur, then they will get 5% more facilities under the policy. For SCs, STs and Persons with Disabilities – 15% more facilities.
• Incubation Center to give Rs 2 lakh per start-up for hand-handling of start-ups.
• In case of angel investment, 2% of the total investment would be given by the government to them as a success fee.
2. Grand Finale of “Bijli Mahotsav”
Why in news - 5 districts of the state would be connected with PM Narendra Modi's address during the grand finale of “Bijli Mahotsav”.
Key Points –
• 5 districts - Patna, Bhojpur, Nalanda, Supaul and Muzaffarpur.
• Bijli Mahotsav was celebrated by Government of India from 25th to 30th July 2022 under “Ujwal Bharat, Ujwal Bhavisya - Power@2047”.
• It is being celebrated at 75 places in 38 districts of Bihar.
• NTPC as the nodal agency of Bihar is organizing the event in 25 districts and Power Grid remaining districts.
3. Naming of Cubs in Patna Zoo
Why in news – Hon’ CM Nitish Kumar has named four cubs of tigress Sangeeta born in Patna Zoo.
Key Points –
• Name of male cub - Kesari, Magadha, Vikram.
• Female cub – Rani.
• All of them were born on May 25, 2022.
• Now, the number of tigers and tigress in Patna Zoo has reached 9.
POINTERS:
• Bob Rafelson died at the age of 89. He was associated with which profession – Filmmaker.
• Indian Navy received two MH 60R helicopters from which country – USA.
• As per World Airport Traffic Dataset 2021, What is the rank of IGI airport, New Delhi - 13th.
• As per government records, how many tigers died in India in the last three years – 329.
• Who released World Economic Outlook report – IMF.
• Recently, which bank joined India-led Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure - European Investment Bank.
• Taiwan organized which military exercise amid Chinese threat - Han Kuang 2022.
• Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launched which edition of Agriculture Census in the country - 11th.
• Antarctic Ocean endemic species Albatross spotted in which Indian state - Tamil Nadu.
• Which indigenous aircraft carrier has been handed over to Indian Navy – Vikrant.