NATIONAL:
1. Global IIT
Why in news – IIT Delhi signed an MoU for the establishment of the IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Key Points –
• It is an addition to the ‘IITs go Global’ campaign.
• This would be the 2nd international IIT campus after IIT Madras Zanzibar.
2. Oommen Chandy
Why in news – Former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy passed away.
Key Points –
• He served as the state’s chief minister from 2011 to 2016, and from 2004 to 2006.
• He was the longest-serving legislator in the Kerala Assembly.
• He had represented the Puthuppally Assembly constituency from 1970. (2021 - 12th consecutive win).
3. Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA)
Why in news - IGIA became the first airport in the country to launch a 4th runway as well as an elevated taxiway.
Key Points –
• IGIA is India’s busiest and the world’s 7th busiest airport.
• The new runway is capable of handling wide-body jets such as Airbus 380, Boeing 777 and Boeing 747-8.
4. Kaas Plateau
Why in news - Sediments from a seasonal lake in the Kaas Plateau have indicated a major shift in the Indian Summer Monsoons.
Key Points –
• Sediment profile indicated a relatively reduced rainfall and weak southwest monsoon during the late Holocene (around 2827 years Before Present).
• Study conducted by - Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune and National Centre for Earth Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram.
About Kaas Plateau –
• Location - Western Ghats. about 140 km from Pune.
• Included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2012.
• Designated as a biodiversity hotspot.
• Often called Maharashtra's 'valley of flowers'.
• Name is derived from the Kaasa tree (rudraksha family).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)
Why in news - World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded alert about CCHF.
Key Points –
• Rising temperatures have raised fears of a spread of viruses generally not found in colder climates.
• Cases have so far been reported in Spain, Russia and Turkey, and the UK.
• In India, one person succumbed to CCHF in June in Gujarat.
About CCHF –
• Viral haemorrhagic fever.
• Spread through – ticks, viraemic animal tissues (animal blood).
• Endemic to Africa, the Balkan countries, Middle East, and parts of Asia.
• High case fatality ratio - 10–40%.
• First detection (1944) - Crimean Peninsula (near the Black Sea). Later (1969) - Congo Basin.
• No vaccine for the virus in either humans or animals.
2. Emergency in Nigeria
Why in news - Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency.
Key Points –
• Aim - to tackle rising food prices and shortages.
• 25 million Nigerians were at high risk of food insecurity in 2023.
• Nigeria is Africa's most-populous country.
3. Typhoon Talim
Why in news - Typhoon Talim hit Hong Kong.
Key Points –
• Typhoon Talim means “sharp” or “cutting edge” in Filipino.
• Tropical cyclone in the western Pacific Ocean is known as Typhoons.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. BHARAT
Why in news - Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched a new campaign for banks under Agri Infra Fund titled BHARAT.
Key Points –
• BHARAT - Banks Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation.
• Campaign duration - 1 month (from July 15, 2023 to August 15, 2023).
• It aims to raise Rs 7200 crore.
• Purpose - to unlock the immense potential of the agricultural sector and empower farmers with modern infrastructure and facilities.
ECONOMY:
1. Trade in Local Currency
Why in news - India and the UAE agreed to start trade settlement in their currencies.
Key Points –
• Both also agreed to link their fast payment systems to make international financial interactions simpler.
(a) India - Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
(b) UAE - Instant Payment Platform (IPP).
• Both aimed to achieve the target of USD 100 billion in trade. (Currently - USD 85 billion).
• Currency of the UAE - Emirati Dirham (AED).
Value Addition –
• Structured Financial Messaging System (SFMS) –
(a) It is a secure messaging standard developed to serve as a platform for intra-bank and inter-bank applications.
(b) It is an Indian standard similar to SWIFT.
(c) Hq – Hyderabad.
• India-UAE trade witnessed a 20% increase since the signing of CEPA.
• India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force on May 1, 2022.
• UNFCCC COP28 (November 30 - December 12, 2023) – Dubai, UAE.
SECURITY:
1. 15th Nomadic Elephant – 2023
Why in news - India-Mongolia joint military exercise “Nomadic Elephant – 2023” to commence at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Key Points –
• Last edition (2019) – Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.
• From India - Indian Army soldiers from the Jammu and Kashmir light infantry Regiment.
2. “Northern/Interaction-2023” Exercise
Why in news - China and Russia to hold a joint military drill in strategic waters in the Sea of Japan, or East Sea
Key Points –
• It is seen as a response to Washington’s attempts to work more closely with Tokyo and Seoul to prepare for possible Taiwan conflict.
• Strategic maritime corridors (as per China) –
(a) Tsushima Strait
(b) Soya Strait
(c) Tsugaru Strait
BIHAR:
1. "Bhoomi Samman" Award
Why in news - Nalanda district has been selected for the Platinum Award of "Bhoomi Samman".
Key Points –
• Reason - For the successful implementation of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Program (DILRMP).
• DILRMP is run by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development.
• Nalanda district has achieved 100% land records digitization.
• On July 18, District Magistrate Shashank Shubhankar received the Platinum Award from the President.
POINTERS:
• Which medal has been won by Ajit Singh in javelin throw at the Para Athletics Championship in Paris - Gold Medal.
• According to whose report more than 13 crore people have been freed from poverty in five years between 2015-16 to 2019-21 - NITI Aayog.
• Who has become the new Prime Minister of Uzbekistan - Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
• Who has released a new AI based notes app called NotebookLM – Google.
• Who has become the first Indian bowler to claim the wickets of a father and son duo in his glorious Test career - Ravichandran Ashwin.
• What is the position of India with 27 medals in the 25th Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok – Third.
• For the first time, Japan has offered medical scholarship for students from which country – Bhutan.
• Who has become the first Indian opener to score a Test century on overseas debut - Yashasvi Jaiswal.
• Razorpay has launched the first international payment gateway in which country – Malaysia.
• In which state India's first AI anchor Lisa has been launched – Odisha.