NATIONAL:
1. Minerals Security Partnership (MSP)
Why in news - India is concerned over not finding a place in MSP.
Key Points –
• India had signed an agreement with an Argentinian firm in 2020 to jointly prospect lithium in Argentina.
• Highest lithium reserve – Chile > Australia > Argentina.
• Rare earth metals in India - Lanthanum, Cerium, Neodymium, Praseodymium and Samarium.
About MSP –
• MSP is an ambitious partnership to secure supply chains of critical minerals and aimed at reducing dependency on China.
• It is an 11-member group.
• Members – USA, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, United Kingdom and the European Commission.
• It focuses on the supply chains of Cobalt, Nickel, Lithium and also the 17 “rare earth” minerals.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. UNSC Special Meeting on Counter-Terrorism
Why in news - India will host diplomats of the 15-nation UN Security Council on October 29, 2022 for a special meeting on counter-terrorism.
Key Points –
• Theme of meeting - Mindful of the increasing threat posed by the misuse of new and emerging technologies.
• India is the chairman of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee for 2022.
• India’s tenure at the UNSC will end in December 2022.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Tourist Circuits in Corbett NP
Why in news - The Uttarakhand government is working on “Modi circuit” that will cover the places visited by PM Narendra Modi inside the Jim Corbett National Park.
Key Points –
• PM Modi visited Corbett NP in a “Man vs Wild” episode with Bear Grylls.
• Uttarakhand has already created several circuits, for Maa Bhagwati, Shiva, Vishnu, Nav-grah, Golju Maharaj, Nagdevta, Hanuman, and Vivekanand.
2. Stronger Climate Targets
Why in news - India enhanced its climate change targets for 2030.
Key Points –
• New Commitment –
A. At least 45% reduction in the emissions intensity of GDP (emissions per unit of GDP) from 2005 levels. (existing target - 33 to 35% reduction).
B. At least 50% of installed electricity generation capacity in 2030 would be based on non-fossil fuel-based sources. (existing target- 40%).
• Both these enhanced targets have been included in India’s updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
• India’s forestry target - Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
• India aims to achieve net zero status by 2070.
3. 10 New Ramsar Sites
Why in news - India has added 10 more Ramsar sites taking the number of such sites to 64.
Key Points –
• New addition - Tamil Nadu (6), Goa (1), Karnataka (1), Madhya Pradesh (1) and Odisha (1).
• 64 wetlands covering an area of 12,50,361 ha have been designated as Ramsar Sites of International Importance from India.
SECURITY:
1. “Pitch Black” Exercise
Why in news - India’s participation in the exercise “Pitch Black” has been confirmed by the Australian government.
Key Points –
• It is scheduled to take place from August 19 to September 6.
• 100 aircraft and 2,500 military personnel from from 17 countries would participate.
• In June 2020, India and Australia signed the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA).
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Financial Inclusion Index (FII)
Why in news - Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the Composite Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index).
Key Points –
• Annual FI-index - 56.4 (FY 21-2022), 53.9 (20-2021).
• It has been constructed without any “Base Year”.
• It comprises of three broad parameters (97 indicators) –
A. Access (35%)
B. Usage (45%)
C. Quality (20%)
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Commemorative Postal Stamp Pingali Venkayya
Why in news - The government of India released a special commemorative postage stamp to mark the 146th birth anniversary of Pingali Venkayya.
Key Points –
• The stamp was released by PM Narendra Modi during an event “Tiranga Utsav” in New Delhi.
• Pingali Venkayya designed India’s national flag.
• He became instantly famous as “Japan Venkayya”. He was fluent in Japanese.
• In 1916, he published a booklet titled “A National Flag for India”.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Lion of the Skies: Hardit Singh Malik, the Royal Air Force and the First World War
Why in news - The book written by Stephen Barker has been released recently.
2. Dangerous Earth
Why in news - Ellen Prager has written the book titled “Dangerous Earth: What we wish we knew about volcanoes, hurricanes, climate change, earthquakes and more”.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Suresh N Patel
Why in news - Suresh N Patel was sworn in as the Central Vigilance Commissioner on August 3, 2022.
FESTIVALS:
1. Aadi Pooram Festival
Why in news – The festival is celebrated on a wide scale in Srivilliputhur (TN).
Key Points –
• It is believed to be the birthplace of the Goddess Andal - an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.
• It is celebrated for 10 days in all Lord Vishnu temples in the state of Tamil Nadu.
STATES/UTs:
1. Kerala Savari
Why in news - Kerala to come up with an online cab service by launching its own e-taxi service from August.
Key Points –
• It is the first time that a government is launching an online taxi service in the country.
2. Swami Vivekananda Yuva shakti Yojana
Why in news - Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai has launched the scheme to empower 10 lakh people to self-employed them by including financial assistance and skill training.
3. Mission Bhumiputra
Why in news - Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launched “Mission Bhumiputra” to issue digitalised caste certificates to students.
BIHAR:
1. Berra (Patna) and Chiraya (Nalanda) Barrage
Why in news - Water Resources minister Sanjay Kumar Jha has directed the officials to complete the construction of these barrages at the earliest.
Key Points –
• Both will provide irrigation to about 5187 hectare area.
• Berra barrage is being constructed on the Dardha river.
2. GST Collection in Bihar
Why in news - Bihar Dy CM cum Finance Minister Tarkishore Prasad gave GST figures for the month of July, 2022.
Key Points –
• GST (July) - Rs 1931 crores. (SGST - Rs 584 crore and IGST - Rs 1347 crore).
• SGST and IGST have registered a growth rate of 34% in the current financial year till July.
• In M/O Finance figures, apart from SGST and CGST cash, only IGST cash and cess payment data are included. Due to this, a negative growth of 1% has been shown in the tax collection of the state.
3. Dry Horticulture Scheme (Shusk Bagwani Yojana)
Why in news - Agriculture Department is providing incentives to plant trees on the bunds of the fields under Saat Nishchay-2.
Key Points –
• About 3 crore rupees will be spent in the next 3 years on the scheme.
• Center of Excellence, Desri (Vaishali) would provide Amla, Plum, Jamun, Jackfruit, Bael, Pomegranate, Lemon and Sweet lime saplings to the farmers.
• Incentives –
A. Rs 60,000 per hectare in 3 annual installments.
B. To meet the cost of planting material, a maximum of Rs 30,000 per hectare or 50% of the cost would be given as a grant.
• In 2021, an area of 566 hectares was expanded under dry horticulture. Target (2022) 875-hectare expansion.
• Farmers can apply for a maximum 4 hectares and at least 0.1 hectares.
• To get benefits, farmers has to compulsorily do drip irrigation.
• Training would also be given to 2400 farmers.
POINTERS:
• Which country was the top beneficiary of trade aid from WTO in 2020 – India ($2.7 billion).
• Which IIT set up Center of Excellence for Biomedical Device and Diagnostic Innovation - IIT Guwahati.
• Who has authored a new book titled “The Journey of a Nation: 75 Years of Indian Economy” - Sanjay Baru.
• Who has inaugurated the 4th ONGC Para Games in New Delhi on August2, 2022 - Hardeep Singh Puri.
• Indian women's team won first gold medal in Commonwealth Games 2022 in which sports - Lawn bowls.
• NSE and BSE approved the merger of which two digital platforms - Zee and Sony Pictures.
• Who has developed world's most durable hydrogen fuel cell - Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
• Which became first city to get traffic data by Google – Aurangabad.
• Which company is the only company to buy 700 MHz band in 5G spectrum auction – Jio.
• In which state was the Operation Mukti Abhiyan resumed – Uttarakhand.