NATIONAL:
1. INDIA Coalition
Why in news - The Opposition alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls has been named INDIA.
Key Points –
• INDIA - Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.
• Top leaders of 26 Opposition parties from across the country met in Bengaluru.
• 26 Opposition parties won 134 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and secured a 35% vote share.
Value Addition –
Evolution of Political Parties in India –
• 1952-64 (Nehruvian era) –
(a) The Congress Party was the dominant party.
(b) India was essentially a one party system also termed as ‘Congress system’.
• 1964-77 (Uneasy Transition) –
(a) 1967 elections - Congress failed to secure majorities in eight states.
(b) Regional parties started growing all over the country.
• 1977-80 (Coalition politics) –
(a) First coalition at union kevel led by Janata Party in 1977 (PM - Morarji Desai).
(b) Emergence of a Multi-Party System in India.
• 1980-89 (Emergence of regional parties) –
(a) 8th Lok Sabha Elections (1984) - Telugu Desam, a regional party of Andhra Pradesh, emerged as the main opposition party.
• 1989-2014 (Multi-party system & Coalition politics) –
(a) Marred by compulsions of coalition.
(b) ‘Rainbow’ coalitions - Lasted only a short time (due to growth of regional parties).
(c) Empowerment for regional parties - electoral federalism.
• 2014-2024 – Full majority government.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. World's Largest Office
Why in news - India's Surat Diamond Bourse overtakes The Pentagon as world's largest office building.
Key Points –
• It is a15-storey building. (Floor space - 7.1 million square feet).
• Designed by – Morphogenesis (Delhi-based).
• It is based on the concept of Panchtatva (water, fire, air, earth and sky).
• Surat is known as the world’s diamond capital, where 90% of the precious stones are cut.
• The Pentagon, the US defense department's headquarters in Virginia, has 6.5 million sq ft area.
2. India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway
Why in news - Dr. S Jaishankar discussed IMT trilateral highway at the 12th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) in Bangkok.
Key Points –
• Around 70% of construction work on the ambitious IMT Trilateral Highway has been completed.
About IMT Trilateral Highway –
• Length - 1,360-km-long highway (land route).
• Connect - Moreh (Manipur, India) with Mae Sot (Thailand) via Myanmar.
• Proposal - extending the highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam called East-West Economic Corridor.
• Technical executing agency - National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
About Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) –
• Established - November 10, 2000, Vientiane, Laos.
• Members – India, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
• Ganga and the Mekong are two large rivers in the region.
• Mekong is the world’s 12th longest river and the 3rd longest in Asia.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. TCRM Matrix Framework
Why in news – NITI Aayog released the Techno-Commercial Readiness and Market Maturity Matrix (TCRM Matrix) Framework.
Key Points –
• Aim - to revolutionize technology evaluation, foster innovation, and fuel entrepreneurship in India.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 3rd Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS) 2023
Why in news – Sarbananda Sonowal launched the Curtain Raiser of Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 in Mumbai.
Key Points –
• To be organized by - Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
• Focus areas - Ports of the Future; Decarbonization; Coastal Shipping & Inland Waterways Transportation etc.
• The summit is slated for October 17-19, 2023, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
• Exclusive industry partner – FICCI.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Financing India’s Renewable Energy
Why in news – European Investment Bank (EIB) plans to invest about €1 billion in India’s renewable energy sector.
Key Points –
• Focus - Green hydrogen and solar panels.
• EIB is the lending arm of the European Union.
• So far EIB has made about €4 billion investment in India. (e.g., metro rail projects in Lucknow, Bengaluru, Pune etc).
• The EIB is also a part of the industry-led, Indian Hydrogen Alliance.
• India is the largest investment destination of EIB outside Europe.
Value Addition –
• India aims to achieve 8 million tonnes capacity of green hydrogen by 2030.
• The government is currently supporting two green hydrogen pilot projects i.e., Gurugram and Bengaluru.
• Other green hydrogen projects not funded by the government – Jorhat (AS), Kawas (GJ), Bikaner (RJ).
ECONOMY:
1. CRCS-Sahara India Refund Portal
Why in news – Amit Shah launched the portal to refund the money to the depositors of the Sahara Group's cooperative societies in 45 days.
Key Points –
• On March 29, 2023, the Supreme court directed the transfer of Rs 5,000 crores from the Sahara-SEBI Refund A/c to the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) for disbursing them to the genuine depositors.
• Between 2008 and 2011, Sahara group collected around Rs. 24,000 crore (approximately US$ 3.2 billion) from over 30 million investors through optionally fully convertible debentures (OFCDs), which were not subject to regulatory oversight.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Llama 2
Why in news – Meta and Microsoft have extended their partnership with the announcement of Llama 2.
Key Points –
• Llama 2 is an open-source AI language model.
• Microsoft’s Azure cloud service will be used to deploy the AI model.
• It may substitute costly proprietary models like ChatGPT and Google Bard.
FESTIVALS:
1. Chachin Grazing Festival
Why in news – It celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh.
Key Points –
• It celebrated by the local graziers of Tawang region near Bumla Pass.
• Chachin and other grazing areas serve as the backbone of the local Monpa (tribe) lifestyle.
• Bum La Pass connects Tibet and India's Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh.
Value Addition –
• Passes in Arunachal Pradesh – Bumla, Bom Di La, Dihang Pass, Yonggyap Pass, Dipher Pass, Kumjawng Pass, Hpungan Pass, Chankan Pass.
STATES/UTs:
1. Gruha Lakshmi Scheme
Why in news - Karnataka started the registration process for the Gruha Lakshmi scheme.
Key Points –
• Aim - to provide financial assistance of Rs 2,000 to women heads of households.
• Women or their husbands who pay income tax or GST are not eligible under the scheme.
• Only one woman in a family will be the beneficiary of this scheme.
BIHAR:
1. Bhoomi Samman 2023
Why in news - On July 18, 2023, President Draupadi Murmu presented 'Bhoomi Samman 2023'.
Key Points –
• Presented to –
(a) Brajesh Mehrotra, Additional Chief Secretary, Land Records Department, Bihar
(b) Collectors of 5 districts with platinum certificates for the Platinum Category (>99% work efficiency).
• Reason - for their outstanding performance in the field of land management and administration.
• 5 districts - Nalanda, Jehanabad, Lakhisarai, Bhojpur and Kishanganj.
• The Digital India Land Records Management Programme has been run by the Department of Land Resources since 2008-09.
• Under - Union Ministry of Rural Development.
2. Ramsar Sites
Why in news - State govt to pitch for inclusion of 4 wetlands as coveted Ramsar sites.
Key Points –
• 4 wetlands –
(a) Udaipur lake (West Champaran).
(b) Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary (Bhagalpur).
(c) Gogabeel lake (Katihar).
(d) Gokul reservoir (Buxar).
• Currently, Bihar has only one Ramsar site, Kabar Jheel in Begusarai.
• Wetlands are now part of the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Mission and 4th agriculture road map.
POINTERS:
• ISRO has tied up with whom to develop nuclear-powered engines for rockets - Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC).
• Which country has blocked the Black Sea grain deal – Russia.
• Which player has won his first Wimbledon title - Carlos Alcaraz.
• Which State/UT has topped the Geo Tagging of Cluster Development Projects in the country – Jammu & Kashmir.
• Who has inaugurated the new Integrated Terminal Building of Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair - Narendra Modi.
• Which state government has relaunched the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) – Telangana.
• The Ministry of Coal has set a target to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by which year – 2030.
• Which IIT has announced the research awards for 2022 - IIT Roorkee.
• Which country hosted the ASEAN Countries Conference on Traditional Medicines – India.
• Where has the 36th Flying Training Organization of India started - Tamil Nadu.