NATIONAL:
1. Chandrayaan-3
Why in news - ISRO would launch its 3rd moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, on July 13, 2023.
Key Points –
• Primary objective - precise landing on the moon.
• It consists of an indigenous lander module, a propulsion module and a rover.
• To be launched from - Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• Launch vehicle – GSLV-MkIII.
• Speed required for soft landing - 2 metres/second (7.2 km/hr).
• Chandrayaan-1, was launched in 2008, and was successfully inserted into lunar orbit.
Chandrayaan-2
• Launched on July 22, 2019.
• Aim - soft-land a lander and rover on the unexplored south pole of the Moon.
• Lunar lander Vikram crashed on the Moon.
• Pragyan - 6-wheeled robotic vehicle named as Pragyan.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV)
Why in news - France tested its home-grown hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) V-Max for the first time.
Key Points –
• V-Max is a type of warhead (nuclear or conventional) for ballistic missiles.
• Can exceed Mach 5, or 6,000 kilometers per hour (3,730 mph).
• Launch site - Biscarosse missile test site, Bay of Biscay, France
• Country with hypersonic technology - China, Russia, and the United States.
About HGV –
• Carry a nuclear or conventional warhead.
• Can change direction at high speed, zigzag past air defenses and take evasive action once targeted by anti-air missiles.
2. Virgin Galactic
Why in news - Virgin Galactic successfully completed its first manned mission to the edge of space.
Key Points –
• Virgin Galactic is a space venture established by British entrepreneur Richard Branson.
• VSS Unity (VSS Voyager) - Virgin Galactic's rocket-powered spaceplane.
• Blue Origin (by Jeff Bezos) - It is a rocket system meant to take tourists to space successfully.
ECONOMY:
1. HDFC Bank
Why in news - India’s HDFC Bank became 4th largest bank in the world in terms of market capitalization.
Key Points –
• Reason - HDFC Bank merged with Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC).
• Combined assets - $40 billion (over Rs 18 trillion).
• Largest merger in India's corporate history.
• It is now next only to JP Morgan Chase & Co, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Bank of America.
2. Centre's Fiscal Deficit
Why in news - The central government's fiscal deficit stood at Rs 2.1 lakh crore (11.8% of the full-year budget estimates) at May-end 2023.
Key Points –
• Actual deficit - Rs 2,10,287 crore.
• Government aim - to bring down the fiscal deficit to 5.9% of GDP in 2023-24.
• Data released by - Controller General of Accounts (CGA).
About CGA –
• Current CGA - S.S. Dubey (28th).
• Works in Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
• “Principal Advisor” on Accounting matters to the Union Government.
• Functions –
(a) establishing and managing a technically sound Management Accounting System
(b) preparation & submission of the accounts of the Union Government
(c) exchequer control and conduct of internal audits for the Central Government.
• Duties are outlined in the statutory mandate, which is incorporated in the Allocation of Business Rules 1961.
Value Addition -
• Fiscal deficit –
(a) difference between the total expenditure and revenue of the government.
(b) indication of the total borrowings that are needed by the government.
SECURITY:
1. Tarang Shakti
Why in news - The Indian Air Force to conduct a mega-multilateral exercise to bring together air forces of 12 nations.
Key Points –
• Biggest air exercise to be conducted in India.
• 6 air forces would participate. Rest would attend as observers.
• IAF’s participation in multilateral exercises abroad –
(a) Exercise Orion (France)
(b) INIOCHOS (Greece)
(c) Desert Warrior (Egypt)
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Global Indian Icon of the Year Award
Why in news - Mary Kom has been honored with the Global Indian Icon of the Year award at the annual UK-India Awards in Windsor, England.
Key Points –
• She is India’s first-ever Olympic medallist in women’s boxing.
• Lifetime Achievement Award - Shekhar Kapur.
• UK-India Award for Significant Contribution to UK-India Relations - Nehru Centre in London (cultural wing of Indian High Commission).
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. 134th International Day of Parliamentarism
Why in news – It is observed on June 30.
Key Points –
• Theme - Parliaments for the Planet.
• Aim – to commemorate the founding of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in 1889.
• First celebrated in 1899.
• The day was officially designated in 2018 through a UN General Assembly resolution.
2. International Plastic Bag Free Day 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated on July 3.
Key Points –
• Aim - to raise awareness about the harmful impacts of single-use plastic bags.
• Initiative of - Bag Free World campaign.
• The campaign was launched in 2008 Zero Waste Europe against single-use plastic bags.
Value Addition –
• India’s net generation of single-use plastic waste is 5.6 MMT. Per capita generation - 4 kg.
• Saahas is a waste management NGO.
• Single-use plastics –
(a) used only once before it is either thrown away or recycled, like plastic bags, water bottles etc.
(b) account for a third of all plastic produced globally, with 98% manufactured from fossil fuels.
• Microplastics - Small plastic pieces of less than five millimeters in size.
(a) Microbeads (solid plastic particles of <1mm) - used in cosmetics and personal care products, and industrial scrubbers. Harmful to marine ecosystems.
(b) Microfibers - used in textiles.
(c) Virgin resin pellets - used in plastic manufacturing processes.
SPORTS:
1. Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023
Why in news - India beat Iran in final to win the Championship.
Key Points –
• The Indian men’s kabaddi team defeated Iran 42-32 in the final.
• India was undefeated in the league phase.
• Venue - Busan, South Korea.
• It is India’s 8th title in the last nine editions.
2. FIFA World Rankings
Why in news - Indian men's national football team has climbed up to the 100th rank on FIFA's latest world rankings.
Key Points –
• Total points - 1204.90.
• 4th best ranking - 94th (1996), 99th (1993) and 96th (2018).
• Other South Asian football teams – Nepal (175th), Bangladesh (192nd), Pakistan (201st) and Sri Lanka (207th).
• Top 3 – Argentina (1st), France (2nd) and Brazil (3rd).
BIHAR:
1. Rakshak App
Why in news - 3 boys from Bihar together have created an app which will prove to be very useful for women.
Key Points –
• Jointly developed by (AN College, Patna) Adarsh Kumar, Avneesh Satyam and Rishav Anand.
• Features – information about laws related to women’s safety, training for self-defense, emergency call etc.
2. Best DRP Excellence Award
Why in news - Manas Kumar has been awarded the Best DRP Award.
Key Points –
• Reason - for doing commendable work under the Pradhan Mantri Micro Food Upgradation Scheme.
• It is given for the district coordination of Bihar government between the bank and the entrepreneurs, for providing loan to the entrepreneurs starting self-employment from the bank.
POINTERS:
• Who has become the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO)of State Bank Of India - Kameshwar Rao Kodavanti.
• Which company has become the main sponsor of BCCI cricket team for 3 years - Dream11.
• Which country has become the first country to ban thin plastic bags for carrying fresh produce from supermarkets - New Zealand.
• In which city India's first 'Police Drone Unit' has been launched – Chennai
• Who is the author of the book 'The New New-Delhi Book Club' - Radhika Swarup.
• This state government launched a unique initiative 'One-Tap-One-Tree' campaign with an aim to expand green cover along with provision of potable tap water in rural areas from 1st July 2023 - Uttar Pradesh.
• Where was the first of its kind unique exhibition titled “Banking on World Heritage” organized in 2023 - New Delhi.
• Which Indian-origin Sikh warrior was honored with UK Point of Light award 2023 - Rajinder Singh Dhatt.
• Which country is developing a scheme to attract digital nomads to the country – Canada.
• Who has addressed the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress in New Delhi - Narendra Modi.