NATIONAL:
1. Rudragiri Hillock
Why in news – A pre-historic rock paintings (Mesolithic period) and exquisite artwork from the Kakatiya dynasty were discovered in the Rudragiri hillock.
Key Points –
• Location - Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh (Eastern Ghats).
• They depict several pieces of evidence from the Ramayana –
(a) Battle between the Vanara brothers, Vali and Sugriva (mural painting).
(b) Hanuman lifting the Sanjeevani hill (fresco painting).
(c) Hanuman accompanied by conch (Sankha) and the fire altar (Yagna Vedi) (sketch).
• Ganapati Deva Maharaja (1199-1262 AD), the founder of the Muppavaram temple and greatest Kakatiya ruler, likely patronized the rich ancient mural heritage.
About Kakatiya Dynasty (1083-1323 CE) –
• Present-day Andhra-Telangana region.
• Ruled from Warangal (Telangana).
• Known for the construction of a network of tanks for irrigation and drinking water.
• Founder - Rudradeva I (Anumakonda inscription).
• Rudrama Devi was the ruler of the Kakatiya dynasty from 1263 until 1289.
• Alauddin Khilji invaded the Kakatiya region in 1303, which resulted in disaster for the Turks.
• Kakatiya temples - Thousand pillar temple at Hanamkonda and Ramappa temple at Palampet.
2. Gambusia Fish
Why in news - Andhra Pradesh has released approximately 10 million Gambusia fish into the state’s water bodies.
Key Points –
• Aim - to combat mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.
• It is also known as mosquitofish.
• It is widely used as a biological agent for controlling mosquito larvae.
• A single full-grown fish eats about 100 to 300 mosquito larvae per day.
About Gambusia –
• Native to the waters of the southeastern United States.
• Part of mosquito-control strategies for over a century in various parts of the world, including India.
• Part of various malaria control strategies in India since 1928, including the Urban Malaria Scheme.
• High adaptability - survive on 6 out of 7 continents.
• India has listed Gambusia as invasive alien species.
• As per IUCN. Gambusia is one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. AI for India 2.0 Course
Why in news - Dharmendra Pradhan launched AI for India 2.0 on July 15 (World Youth Skills).
Key Points –
• By - Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
• It is a free-of-cost online training program on Artificial Intelligence.
• Joint initiative of - Skill India and GUVI (Grab Your Vernacular Imprint).
• Accredited by - National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and IIT Madras.
• Aim - educating individuals rural youth in cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence.
About GUVI (Ed-Tech Company) –
• IIT Madras and IIM-Ahmedabad incubated startup.
• enables tech learning in vernacular languages.
• curated in 9 Indian languages.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. PPP-Model Atal Tinkering Lab
Why in news - OPPO India sets up India’s first PPP-model Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) in Thrissur, Kerala.
Key Points –
• Aim - to create an empowered future-ready workforce and nurture entrepreneurship and technological skills among the youth.
• Knowledge partner - Atal Innovation Mission (AIM, NITI Aayog).
• PPP - Public-Private Partnership model.
About ATL –
• Aim - to empower school children in grades 6th to 12th to develop innovative solutions.
• The students can harness cutting-edge technology tools such as 3D printing, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, miniaturized electronics, space technology, drone technology, and technology-inspired textiles.
• It works on ‘Hub n Spoke’ strategy –
(a) Hub - ATL in the nodal school.
(b) Spoke - Neighbouring government schools.
• Till 2022, 10,000 ATLs were established across 35 States and UTs in India through government grants.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Henley Passport Index
Why in news - The latest ranking of the Henley Passport Index was released recently.
Key Points –
• India’s rank - 80th (visa-free access - 57 countries).
• Top 3 –
• Bottom 3 –
SECURITY:
1. Operation Trinetra II
Why in news – It was launched by the security forces to neutralize terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch.
Key Points –
• Joint operation by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. International Moon Day 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated July 20.
Key Points –
• Reason - Humans first landed on the Moon as part of NASA’s Apollo 11 mission.
• Astronauts Neil Armstrong (1st person) and Buzz Aldrin (2nd) landed on the Moon.
• Landing site - Tranquility Base (July 20, 1969).
• Michael Collins was the pilot.
Colonizing the Moon –
• Exploration of the lunar surface by spacecraft began in 1959 with the Soviet Union’s Luna program.
• Luna 2 made a hard landing (impact) on its surface and became the first artificial object on the moon.
• To date, only 12 astronauts walked on the Moon’s surface.
• Chandrayaan-1 (India) in 2009 –
(a) Discovery of lunar water at the lunar poles renewed interest in the Moon.
(b) Lunar soil contains 0.1% water by weight
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Crossing North Channel
Why in news – Anshuman Jhingran became the youngest (18-year-old) person to cross the North Channel.
Key Points –
• This feat has earned him the Guinness World Record.
• Since 1947, he is the 114th person to cross the channel.
About North Channel –
• Between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Believed to be the toughest of the Ocean Seven Swims.
• Ocean Seven Swims (2008) –
(a) A marathon swimming challenge consisting of 7 open water channel swims.
(b) the North Channel, the Cook Strait, the Molokai Channel, the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, the Tsugaru Strait and the Strait of Gibraltar.
Value Addition –
• Mihir Sen was the 1st Indian to swim across the English Channel from Dover to Calais in 1958.
• Time taken by Mihir Sen - 14 hours and 45 minutes. 4th best timing.
• Mihir is the only man to have swum the oceans of the 5 continents in one year in 1966.
• Mihir has the Guinness Book of Records as the 'world's greatest long-distance swimmer'.
SPORTS:
1. Wimbledon Title
Why in news – Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) beats Novak Djokovic (Serbia) to win his 1st Wimbledon men's title.
Key Points –
• Alcaraz won his 1st Grand Slam title at the US Open 2022.
• Alcaraz (20 years) is the 3rd youngest man to win the Wimbledon title in the Open era (1st - Boris Becker in 1985, 2nd - Bjorn Borg in 1976).
• Djokovic has a tally of 22 major titles. (Only Margaret Court with 24 titles is ahead of him).
2. FIFA Ranking:
Why in news – Indian men’s football team rises to 99th spot in latest FIFA rankings.
Key Points –
• The Indian football team has won all the tournaments so far (July 21) in 2023.
• India won 3 trophies till July 2023 –
(a) Hero Tri-Nation Cup
(b) Hero Intercontinental Cup
(c) SAFF Championship.
• India achieved a sub-100 spot for the first time since 2018.
Value Addition –
• Captain - Sunil Chhetri.
• Coach - Igor Štimac (Croatia).
• India’s best-ever FIFA ranking – 94th (1996).
• Asian Football Confederation’s rankings – India (18th).
POINTERS:
• In which countries is the Women FIFA World Cup 2023 being organized - Australia and New Zealand.
• Which state's Gopalpur port has created a national record in cargo handling – Odisha.
• Which country has the most powerful passport in the world as per the Henley Passport Index 2023 – Singapore.
• ' Absolute Foods ' and who has signed an MoU to strengthen PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• In which country International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 will be organized - South Korea.
• From which city the Women's Tri-Services Motorcycle Rally has been flagged off to mark the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas - New Delhi.
• Who has been appointed as 25th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard - Rakesh Pal.
• Which state has introduced a bill to guarantee a minimum income to the entire adult population of the state – Rajasthan.
• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest badminton smash at - 565 kilometer per hour.
• Dr. Mangala Narlikar passed away at the age of 80. She was associated with which profession – Mathematician.