NATIONAL:
1. FCRA Licence
Why in news - Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has canceled the Foreign Contribution Registration Act (FCRA) license of the NGO Sadbhavana Trust.
Key Points –
• FCRA violation – it failed to open an FCRA bank a/c in the designated State Bank of India in New Delhi.
• NGO had been working for Dalit and Muslim women.
• Now, it would be unable to receive or use foreign grants.
Value Addition –
• FCRA 1976 was enacted during the Emergency in 1976. Amended in 2010 and 2020.
• The FCRA requires every person or NGO seeking to receive foreign donations to be –
(a) Registered under the Act
(b) to open a bank account for the receipt of the foreign funds in State Bank of India, Delhi
(c) to utilize those funds only for the purpose for which they have been received and as stipulated in the Act.
2. Brain-Eating Amoeba
Why in news - A boy in Alappuzha (Kerala) has died due to infection caused by Naegleria fowleri or “brain-eating amoeba”.
Key Points –
• It survives on bacteria found in the sediment in lakes and rivers.
• It doesn’t survive in saline conditions and is hence not found in sea water.
About Naegleria Fowleri –
• Common name - Brain-eating amoeba.
• Single-cell organism.
• Found in - Warm freshwater environment such as lakes, hot springs and poorly maintained swimming pools.
• Only one species of Naegleria, Naegleria fowleri, infects people.
• Causes brain infection - Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
• Enters through the nasal passage and mouth.
• Does not spread from person to person.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. OpenKylin
Why in news - China has released its first homegrown open-source desktop operating system, named OpenKylin.
Key Points –
• It is based on the existing open-source Linux operating system.
• Aim – to replace Microsoft‘s Windows and Apple‘s MacOS operating systems.
• Chinese UnionTech Software Technology Co Ltd is developing a “Unity operating system”.
SECURITY:
1. UNICORN NORA-50
Why in news – Japan to export stealth naval antennas to India that will be installed on future destroyers of the Indian Navy.
Key Points –
• UNICORN - UNIted COnbined Radio aNtenna.
• NORA-50 integration mast is a horn-shaped structure.
• By covering the antennas in one structure, the system can reduce the radar cross section (RCS), which makes it stealthy.
• An agreement on transferring military technology and equipment was inked in 2015.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Population Day 2023
Why in news – It is observed around the globe on July 11.
Key Points –
• Theme - Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities.
• Started by - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989.
Value Addition –
• 1921 Census (year of Great Demographic Divide) – Indian population declined (-0.31%). Happened only once throughout the demographic history of India.
• Malthusian Theory of Population Growth (1798) –
(a) Food production increases in arithmetic progression while population increases in geometric progression.
(b) Therefore, Nature itself tries to establish equilibrium between population vs food supply, using ‘Positive Checks’ such as famine, epidemics, earthquakes.
(c) Malthus also advised humans to initiate ‘Preventative Checks to control population growth e.g., family planning, late marriages.
• As per the National Population Policy of India (2000), 2045 is the target year to achieve a stable population.
• National Commission on Population chairman - Prime Minister.
2. National Fish Farmer’s Day
Why in news – It is celebrated on July 10.
Key Points –
• It is celebrated to commemorate the contribution of Professor Dr. Hiralal Chaudhury and his colleague Dr. K. H. Alikunhi in the Indian fisheries sector.
• Both had guided the induced breeding and reproduction in Indian Major Carps by the Hypophysation technique.
• It has eventually led to a revolution in Inland Aquaculture.
Value Addition –
• Blue Revolution - enhancing the production and productivity of aquaculture and fisheries both from the inland and marine sources.
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY, 2020) –
(a) to bring Blue Revolution through sustainable development of the fisheries sector in India.
(b) Aim - to enhance fish production to 22 MMT by 2024–25.
• Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) - Projects under the FIDF are eligible for loans up to 80% of the estimated or actual project cost with an interest subvention.
• Sagar Mitras - Extension workers to advise fishermen with processing and marketing.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Govind Kottieth (GK) Satish
Why in news – GK Satish has been appointed to the board of Russian oil giant Rosneft.
Key Points –
• This makes him the first Indian to be appointed to the board of the Russian oil giant.
• He is a former Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) director.
Value Addition –
• 4 public sector oil and gas companies –ONGC Videsh, Oil India, Indian Oil Corporation, and Bharat PetroResources — have stakes in various oil and gas projects in Russia.
• These projects include Sakhalin-1, Vankor, and Taas-Yuryakh.
2. Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al-Sabah
Why in news – The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) elected Sheikh Talal as the new President.
Key Points –
• Pakistan’s Arif Hasan was re-elected as the OCA Vice President for South Asia (2023-2027).
• The 42nd OCA General Assembly held in Bangkok, Thailand.
STATES/UTs:
1. Ama Pokhari
Why in news – Odisha CM launched ‘Ama Pokhari’ Yojana.
Key Points –
• Aim - to rejuvenate around 2,000 large water bodies in all 115 urban local bodies of Odisha.
• “Lake man” of India - Anand Malligavad (a techie-turned lake conservationist).
2. Doubling Insurance Cover
Why in news – Gujarat has doubled the insurance cover under PM Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY) from July 11, 2023.
Key Points –
• New insurance amount - Rs 10 lakhs (earlier - Rs 5 lakhs).
• Gujarat achievements under PM-JAY –
(a) 5th in terms of number of claims.
(b) 2nd position in terms of the amount of claims cleared.
BIHAR:
1. Heritage Trees
Why in news – In search for heritage trees, a 300-year-old banyan found.
Key Points –
• The Botanical Survey of India has identified two heritage trees in Bihar.
• They are –
(a) Banyan tree (300 years old) - ITC Munger campus, Munger.
(b) Pakad tree (200 years old) - Bathnaha village, Sitamarhi.
• Carbon dating is used to date trees, plants, and animal remains.
Value Addition –
• On World Biodiversity Day (May 22), Bihar State Biodiversity Board (BSBB) launched an app to collect details of such trees that are more than 50 years old and hold special socio-cultural and religious importance, besides ecological significance.
• As of date, 15,153 trees have been listed on the app for classification under heritage tree category.
• Trees with religious significance in Bihar –
(a) Charitra Van area (Buxar) - Site of the Aashram of Sage Vishwamitra, the guru of Lord Ram.
(b) Koteshwar temple (Gaya) - Uniquely shaped Peepal tree.
(c) Panthpankar (Sitamarhi) - Uniquely shaped Paankar tree. (a part of the Ramayan circuit)
2. Bhikhari Thakur
Why in news – 52nd death anniversary of Bhikhari Thakur was commemorated.
Key Points –
• He is often hailed as the ‘Shakespeare of Bhojpuri’.
• A cultural program was organised at Premchand rangshala jointly organised by the department of art, culture and youth, and Bihar Sangeet Natak Akademi.
• His literary masterpiece – Bidesiya.
• Bidesiya explores the emotional turmoil and struggles faced by individuals and their loved ones when compelled to leave their homeland in search of employment.
• He was born on December 18, 1887, in Saran (Chhapra) district of Bihar.
3. Microfinance (MFI) Borrowings
Why in news – Bihar become the state with the highest microlending borrowings in India as of March 2023.
Key Points –
• Report was released by credit information company Crif High Mark.
• As of March 2023, Bihar’s MFI borrowings amounted to Rs 48,900 crore (14.5% of the overall portfolio).
• Bihar has overtaken Tamil Nadu.
• Top 3 – Bihar (1st), Uttar Pradesh (2nd), Karnataka (3rd).
POINTERS:
• Who has recently won the men's singles title of Canada Open Badminton - Lakshya Sen.
• Edgars Rinkevics of which country has become the first openly gay head of state in the European Union – Latvia.
• Who has been appointed as the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) by BharatPe - Pankaj Goyal.
• Which state government has announced an insurance cover of up to Rs 4 lakh to gig workers – Karnataka.
• Which has become the first bank to launch Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Scheme - Bank of India.
• Which IIT has developed some methods to check the alertness of loco pilots - IIT Kharagpur.
• Which state government has allowed foreign nationals prisoners to make video calls – Maharashtra.
• Which state government has announced a monthly pension of Rs 2,750 per month for low-income unmarried and widowed residents in the age group of 45-60 - Haryana.
• Who has been appointed by Google as the new head of policy for India - Srinivasa Reddy.
• Bureau of Water Use Efficiency and who has signed an MoU - Indian Plumbing Association.