NATIONAL:
1. Ashadha Purnima
Why in news – International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) celebrated Ashadha Purnima on July 3, 2023.
Key Points –
• Under - Ministry of Culture.
• Celebrated as the Dharma Chakra Pravartana Divas in New Delhi.
• 2nd most sacred day for Buddhists after the Buddha Purnima (Vaishakha Purnima).
• Dharma Chakra Pravartana - At Sarnath that Buddha gave his first sermon and set the wheel of dharma in motion.
• It marks Buddha's first teaching after attaining Enlightenment to the first 5 ascetic disciples (pañcavargiya) at ‘Deer Park' Ṛiṣipatana Mrigadaya.
• Varsha Vassa - Rainy season retreat for the Monks and Nuns also starts with this day lasting for 3 lunar months from July to October.
• Also known as Esala Poya in Sri Lanka and Asanha Bucha in Thailand.
• Also observed as Guru Purnima by both Buddhists and Hindus.
2. Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP)
Why in news – India's first indigenously developed nuclear power reactor at KAPP in Gujarat started commercial operations on June 30, 2023.
Key Points –
• Capacity - 700 MW.
• Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is building two 700 MW pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) at Kakrapar.
• The NPCIL plans to build sixteen 700 MW PHWRs across the country.
• 4 locations - Gorakhpur (Haryana), Chutka (Madhya Pradesh), Mahi Banswara (Rajasthan) and Kaiga (Karnataka).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Aspartame
Why in news – International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is set to declare the artificial sweetener aspartame as a possible carcinogen.
Key Points –
• Carcinogen – cancer-causing agent.
• Aspartame – a common artificial sweetener often used in soft drinks and chewing gums.
• IARC is the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO).
About Aspartame –
• Non-nutritive sweeteners
• Used in - soft drinks, jams, dairy products, canned food, ice creams, fruit juices, sugar-free energy bars.
• Usually found in products labelled as sugar-free, zero sugar, or diet.
• Include aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Both are naturally occurring amino acids ('building blocks' of proteins).
• Broke down into methanol in human body.
2. Digital Nomad Strategy
Why in news – Canada announced to launch its "digital nomad strategy."
Key Points –
• Aim - provide a temporary arrangement (upto 6 months) for foreigners to look for jobs in the country.
• Other initiatives - "tech talent strategy" and "innovation stream."
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi launched the mission from Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh on July 1, 2023.
Key Points –
• Aim - to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047.
• Target - screening approximately 7 crore people between 0-40 years of age in the next 3 years
• It prioritizes the health of tribal communities in India.
• Prevention - Match Sickle Cell Genetic Status Cards before marriage, to ensure that the disease is not transferred to the next generation.
• To be implemented in 17 high-focus states.
• To be executed in a mission mode as part of the National Health Mission (NHM).
• Developed by - M/o Health and Family Welfare and M/o Tribal Affairs.
• Announced in the Union Budget 2023.
About Sickle Cell Anaemia –
• Chronic single-gene disorder.
• Inherited (genetic) red blood cell disorder.
• Caused by - Mutation in the hemoglobin-Beta gene found on chromosome 11.
• Normal hemoglobin (hemoglobin-A) are smooth and round and glide through blood vessels.
• Abnormal hemoglobin molecules - hemoglobin S - stick to one another and form long, rod-like structures. It causes red blood cells to become stiff causing blockages and damaging vital organs.
• Sickle cells are destroyed rapidly in the bodies of people with the disease, causing anemia.
Value Addition –
• Govt achievement – bringing down numbers of -
(a) Kala-azar from 11,000 (2013) to under 1000.
(b) Malaria cases from 10 lahks (2013) to under 2 lahks.
(c) Leprosy cases from 1.25 lakh to 70-75 thousand.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. ‘Certified’ Electric Flying Car
Why in news - In a first, the United States government has given the official nod for a car to fly above traffic.
Key Points –
• Company - Alef Aeronautics.
• ‘Model A’ received a Special Airworthiness Certification
• It has a flight range of 110 miles or 177 km on a single charge.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. 17th Global Peace Index 2023
Why in news - Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) released the index.
Key Points –
• India’s Rank – 126th (score – 2.314)
• Top 5 –
• Bottom 5 –
• Russia – 158th. Ukraine – 157th.
• Largest improvements in peacefulness - North America and the Middle East and North Africa region.
• Most peaceful region - Western Europe.
• Least peaceful region - Middle East and North Africa region.
• Overall, the level of global peacefulness decreased this year by 0.42%.
• Coverage - 163 countries (99.7% of the world’s population). Use 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 64th Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Meeting
Why in news – The 64th meeting of the GEF council took place from June 26-30, 2023 in Brasilia, Brazil.
Key Points –
• Approved plans to establish a new fund to finance the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
• GBF includes 4 goals and 23 targets to put nature on a recovery path by the end of 2030.
• Fund name - Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.
• 50% of its funds are to be used for biodiversity-related work in the coming years during the GEF-8 period.
• Indigenous peoples and local communities to get 20% of the funds.
About GEF –
• Established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit of UNFCCC.
• 185 member countries including India.
• Secretariat - Washington, D.C
• GEF Council - GEF’s main governing body (32 members) (14 - developed countries, 16 - developing countries, and 2 - economies in transition).
• Meets twice annually.
SECURITY:
1. IN – FN Exercise
Why in news – India and France undertook IN – FN Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) in Visakhapatnam, Bay of Bengal.
Key Points –
• INS Rana and INS Sumedha participated.
• Activities - tactical maneuvers, replenishment at sea (RAS), cross deck helicopter operations etc.
POINTERS:
• In 2022, India added a total of how many animal species to its faunal database – 664.
• What is India's external debt by the end of March 2023 - USD 624.7 billion.
• Union Minister for Environment & Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the 3-day celebration program of the 108th Zoological Survey of India day in which city – Kolkota.
• Which ministry has organized a one day Regional Symposium on Child Protection, Safety and Child Welfare in New Delhi – M/o Women and Child Development (MWCD).
• Which team emerged victorious in the historic Dubai Women's Kabaddi Final – Kolkata.
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted the institution a non-banking institution license after revoking the banking permit - Mahalaxmi Cooperative Bank Ltd (Dharwad, Karnataka).
• King Willem-Alexander of which country apologized for his country's role in slavery - the Netherlands.
• Who has virtually launched the 'Akshar River Cruise' on Sabarmati Riverfront - Amit Shah.
• Where will the International Conference on Green Hydrogen be held - New Delhi.
• Who is the author of the book 'RAW Hitman' - Hussain Zaidi.