ATIONAL:
1. Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Why in news - Lok Sabha gave its approval to a Bill to amend some provisions of the Biological Diversity Act of 2002.
Key Points –
• Provisions –
(a) encourage Indian systems of medicine like Ayurveda
(b) attract more foreign investment
(c) streamline processes to comply with its provisions.
• Biological diversity refers to all kinds of life forms — animals, plants and microorganisms — their gene pools, and the ecosystems that they inhabit.
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992) – to stop indiscriminate use of biological resources and sustainable use for their medicinal properties.
About Biological Diversity Act 2002 –
• To fulfill requirements under CBD, the Act was passed.
• It envisages a 3-tier structure to regulate access to biological resources –
(a) The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA, statutory body, Hq – Chennai. Setup - 2003)
(b) The State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs)
(c) The Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) (at local level).
• Nagoya Protocol (2010) - On Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. International Committee on Credit Reporting (ICCR)
Why in news - The World Bank has officially approved the Bank of Israel’s membership in ICCR.
Key Points –
• Chairman of ICCR - Jean Pesme.
About ICCR –
• Established in 2009 with the backing of the World Bank.
• Plays a pivotal role in creating international credit reporting standards.
• Includes representatives from central banks and private financial regulators worldwide.
2. Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs)
Why in news - Former US intelligence officer David Grusch testified to a subcommittee of the US Congress on UFOs.
Key Points –
• He claimed that the government is attempting to cover up evidence of “non-human” Unidentified Flying Objects or UFOs.
• Project Blue Book - Code name for the study of UFOs by US Air Force from March 1952 to December 17, 1969.
• Flying saucer - Kenneth Arnold (1947) saw 9 flying craft having a disc-shaped body in a V-formation near Mount Rainier in Washington.
• Roswell incident - A rancher saw some wreckage of a flying saucer in the state of New Mexico.
• UFOs - Any apparent aerial phenomenon whose cause cannot be easily or immediately identified.
• UAP - Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon.
• Area 51 (highly classified US Air Force facility in Nevada) is synonymous with tales of UFOs, government cover-ups and potentially testing alien technology.
3. Coup in Niger
Why in news - Soldiers in Niger claim to have overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum.
Key Points –
• A series of coups held in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso since 2020.
ECONOMY:
1. 3rd Largest Economy
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi assured that during his 3rd tenure, India will be among the top 3 economies of the world.
Key Points –
• The size of an economy is mapped by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expressed in billions of US dollars.
• In 2014, India was the 10th largest economy. 2023 - 5th largest economy.
• IMF data show that India is indeed forecast to become the third-largest economy by 2027 (growth rate required - 6% per annum).
• Favourable reasons for India’s GDP growth –
(a) India’s GDP has grown by 83% between 2014 and 2023. (China - 84%). Other competing countries stagnated.
(b) Of the 5 countries that India overtook, the UK’s total GDP has grown by a total of 3%, France’s by 2%, Russia’s by 1%. Italy’s GDP has not grown at all while Brazil’s GDP has contracted by 15%.
(c) Global Financial Crisis (GFC, 2008-09) hit India’s economy, too, but the impact was nowhere near as disastrous as it was for the European countries.
(d) Moving from rank 10 to rank 5 was relatively easier because the GDPs were within $1 trillion of each other.
• However. the gap between the 3rd rank and the first two is far greater.
• In 2027, India’s GDP will be one-5th of China’s (short by $20 trillion) and one-6th of the US (short by $26 trillion).
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Miles Franklin Literary Award 2023
Why in news - Shankari Chandran won the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award.
Key Points –
• For her novel “Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens.”
• She is an Australian writer of Sri Lankan origin.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Nature Conservation Day 2023
Why in news - It is celebrated on July 28.
Key Points –
• Theme - 'Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.’
Value Addition –
• About 75% of the Earth’s land surface and 66% of the oceans had been “significantly altered”
• Recent extinctions include 3 subspecies (Bali, Javan, Caspian) of tiger.
• Since the origin of life on earth, there were 5 episodes of mass extinction of species.
• 6th Extinction (anthropogenic) is in progress. Extinction rate is estimated to be 100 to 1,000 times faster than in pre-human times.
• Invasive alien species (threat to biodiversity) –
(a) Weed species - carrot grass (Parthenium), Argemone, Lantana and water hyacinth (Eicchornia).
(b) African catfish Clarias gariepinus is a threat to indigenous catfishes in rivers.
(c) Eucalyptus tree in Southern India.
• Co-extinction - When a species becomes extinct, the plant and animal species associated with it in an obligatory way also become extinct.
• Keystone species - Species whose addition to or loss from an ecosystem leads to major changes in the occurrence of at least one other species. E.g., Tiger, Lion, Crocodile, Elephant.
• Flagship species - A species chosen to represent an environmental cause, such as an ecosystem in need of conservation. E.g., Indian tiger, African elephant etc.
SPORTS:
1. Handball Association of India (HAI)
Why in news - Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports accorded recognition to Handball Association of India.
Key Points –
• It was accorded recognition as a National Sports Federation (NSF) for the promotion and regulation of the sport.
• HAI is duly affiliated with the International Handball Federation and the Asian Handball Federation.
• Handball is included in the Olympics and Asian Games.
Value Addition –
• President of HAI - Digvijay Chautala.
• Secretary general - Jagan Mohan Rao.
POINTERS:
• Prime Minister Modi has inaugurated the first greenfield airport of which state – Gujarat.
• Which country has made the world record for the fastest 100 runs in Test cricket – India.
• ISRO will launch PSLV-C56 carrying the new DS-SAR satellite of which country – Singapore.
• Who has projected India's growth rate to increase to 6.1% in the current financial year - IMF.
• In which state, Honour of Dead Body Bill, 2023 has been passed – Rajasthan.
• Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 to amend the Constitution (Schedule Tribes) Order, 1950 for inclusion of certain communities in the list of Schedule Tribes from which state – Chhattisgarh.
• Which state has started Rural Housing Justice Scheme – Chhattisgarh.
• Which country's pharma industry is currently valued at $49 billion and is the third largest in the world - India.
• Which country's Sberbank has been allowed by RBI to set up IT unit in Bengaluru – Russia.
• Which Union Minister has launched "Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar" in New Delhi as part of the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence - Amit Shah.