NATIONAL:
1. 100% Quota for Locals in Government Jobs
Why in news - The Supreme Court quashed the Jharkhand government’s 2016 decision to grant 100% reservation to locals of 13 scheduled areas in public jobs.
Key Points –
• It was declared unconstitutional and ultra vires Articles 14, 16(2), 16(3) and 35(ai) of the Constitution of India.
• Under Article 16(3), it is the Parliament alone, which is authorized to make any law regarding employment to an office in a State or UT.
2. Environmental Insights Explorer (EIE) Data
Why in news – Aurangabad became the first smart city in India to receive data from Google’s EIE.
Key Points –
• It is in line with "race to zero" and "race to resilience" UN programs that will contribute to the sustainability of the environment.
3. Nilekani Centre at AI4Bharat
Why in news - Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has launched the “Nilekani Centre at AI4Bharat” to promote Indian language technology.
Key Points –
• Aim - To build open-source language AI for Indian languages.
• It was inaugurated at the IIT Madras campus by Nandan Nilekani.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Ayman al-Zawahiri Killed
Why in news - The United States killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri ($25 million bounty on his head) in a strike in Kabul, Afghanistan on July 31.
Key Points –
• Missile used - Hellfire R9X missile (Ninja Missile).
• He helped coordinate the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
• Zawahiri succeeded Osama bin Laden as al Qaeda leader after his death.
2. Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan
Why in news - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, landed in Taiwan on August 2 ignoring Chinese threats.
Key Points –
• She is the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
• In 1997, then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich of the Republican Party visited Taiwan,
• In the China-US Joint Communique (1979), the USA recognized Taiwan as a part of China.
• In 2007, Pelosi presented Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal - a tribute to his leadership in the fight for freedom.
About Taiwan:
• The United Nations does not recognise Taiwan as a separate country.
• Only 13 countries around the world recognise Taiwan.
3. Ibrahim Solih Visit to India
Why in news - Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih arrives on an official four-day visit to India (August 1-4).
Key Points –
• India extended an additional $100 million line of credit to the Maldives.
• Both signed 6 pacts to facilitate cooperation in capacity building, cyber security, housing, disaster management and infrastructure.
SECURITY:
1. Hellfire R9X Missile
Why in news - The US military used its “secret weapon” — the Hellfire R9X missile – to kill Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Key Points –
About Hellfire Missile:
• Full form - Heliborne, Laser, Fire and Forget Missile.
• It is also known as the “Ninja Missile”.
• It does not carry a warhead. It deploys razor-sharp blades cut to down the target causing minimum collateral damage.
• It was developed by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
• Other variants - Longbow and Romeo.
2. Pacific Dragon Drill
Why in news - South Korea, the US and Japan will start a combined ballistic missile defence exercise in waters off Hawaii from August 14.
Key Points –
• Australia and Canada will join the exercise.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Distinguished Indologist Award
Why in news - Canadian scholar Jeffrey Armstrong has been awarded with the Distinguished Indologist for 2021.
Key Points –
• It was given by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
• Mr Armstrong becomes the seventh recipient of this award.
• First recipient (2015) - Heinrich Freiherr Von Stietencron (Germany).
• The award was instituted in 2015 during the First World Indology Conference.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Muslim Women Rights Day
Why in news – It is observed on August 1 across India.
Key Points –
• It marks the enactment of the law against Triple Talaq, which came into effect on August 1, 2019.
• In 2021, It was celebrated for the first time.
• On August 22, 2017, the Supreme Court set aside the practice of Talaq-e-Biddat as violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.
2. World Lung Cancer Day
Why in news – It is observed on August 1 to raise awareness about the causes and treatment of lung cancer.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Lockdown Lyrics
Why in news – Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has released a book titled Lockdown Lyrics.
Key Points –
• It is a collection of poems written by Sanjukta Dash.
• It is a narration of the author’s experiences during the pandemic.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Satyendra Prakash
Why in news – Satyendra Prakash has been appointed as the Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
2. Auguste Tano Kouamé
Why in news – The World Bank has appointed Auguste Tano Kouamé as country director for India.
Key Points –
• He replaced Junaid Kamal Ahmad.
• Auguste recently served as the World Bank’s country director for Turkey.
SPORTS:
1. India House
Why in news – Reliance and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have partnered to set up the first-ever India House at Paris Olympics 2024.
Key Points –
• India will host the 140th IOC Session in June 2023 at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.
• In May 2022, India’s first ‘Olympic Values Education Programme’ (OVEP) was launched in Odisha.
FESTIVALS:
1. Minjar Fair
Why in news – It has been given the status of international status by the Himachal Pradesh government.
Key Points –
• The fair was organized in Chamba (HP) from July 24 to July 31, 2022.
BIHAR:
1. GST Collection of Bihar
Why in news – Ministry of Finance has released state wise GST figures.
Key Points –
• Among the big states, Bihar is the only state where the GST collection has decreased instead of increase compared to last year.
• Bihar GST Collection – 1264 crores (July 2022), 1281 crores (July 2021).
• Bihar suffered a loss of 17 crores or 1%.
• Top 3 states (Rs in crores) – Maharashtra (22129) > Gujarat (9183) > W. Bengal (4441).
2. Garland Trench
Why in news – 40 garland trench to be built in plateau and hilly areas of South Bihar.
Key Points –
• Small Water Resources department has identified about 100 schemes for this.
• Fund allocated - Rs 32.54 crores.
• Garland Trench:
A. Water is prevented from being wasted by making trenches around the place of water coming out of the hilly area.
B. It is the most effective way of maintaining the ground water level along with water harvesting in the hilly area.
3. Retail Inflation
Why in news – Discussion on inflation dominated the Parliament for two days.
Key Points –
• Bihar's retail inflation rate was the lowest at 4.68% in June, 2022.
• High inflation (June) states - Telangana (10.05%), Andhra Pradesh (8.63%), Maharashtra (7.97%).
• India’s retail inflation rate was 7.04% (RBI limit – 6%) in the month of May.
POINTERS:
• Who has been given the prestigious Shiromani Award recently – Michelle Poonawalla.
• The first ship, since the war began, carrying 26,000 tons of Ukrainian grain leaves Odesa port for which country – Lebanon.
• The Election Commission of India has allowed citizens above which age to enroll in the voter list - 17 years.
• Who is the author of the book “The Light We Carry” - Michelle Obama.
• Which state has issued a notice to remove all floating houses and fishing-related structures from the Loktak Lake – Manipur.
• The Centre forms a task force in August 2022 to monitor which diseases in the nation – Monkeypox.
• Who has been given Ayurveda Ratna award by UK Parliament recently – Tanuja Nesari
• Recently which company has been given Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards 2022 – HCL Technology.
• Where has PM Modi recently inaugurated Akshaya Patra’s mid-day meal kitchen – Varanasi.
• Which state has tied up with Singapore-based M/s IGSS Ventures Pte Ltd to set up a semiconductor park – Tamil Nadu.