National:
1. Cloudburst in Amarnath Camp
Why in news - At least 12 persons were killed and 25 injured in a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst in J&K’s Ganderbal district.
About Cloudbursts –
• A cloudburst is short-term extreme precipitation that takes place over a small area.
• Specific definition - Rainfall of about 10 cm (100 mm) or above per hour over a place that is roughly 10 km x 10 km in area.
• Reason –
A. Cloudbursts happen when saturated clouds are unable to produce rain because of the upward movement of very warm current of air.
B. Raindrops, instead of dropping down, are carried upwards by the air current.
C. New drops are formed and existing raindrops gain in size. After a point, the raindrops become too heavy for the cloud to hold on to, and they drop down together in a quick flash.
• Mountains and hilly areas are more prone to cloudbursts because Hilly terrains aid in heated air currents rising vertically upwards, thereby, increasing the probability of a cloudburst situation.
2. Mangarh Hillock
Why in news - National Monuments Authority (NMA) called for the Mangarh hilltop in Rajasthan to be designated as a national monument in honor of 1500 Bhil tribal freedom fighters.
Key Points –
• It is a site of a tribal uprising where a massacre of over 1500 Bhil tribal freedom fighters took place in 1913. Leader - Govind Guru.
• The place is also known as the Adivasi Jallianwala.
• Bhils are commonly referred to as Rajasthan's bowmen.
• They are South Asia's largest tribe.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Shinzo Abe Assassinated
Why in news - Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe passed away after being shot at during an election campaign Nara, Japan. Prime suspect - Tetsuya Yamagami.
Key Points –
• India declared one-day national mourning to be observed on 9 July as a mark of respect for Shinzo Abe.
• India awarded Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award, to Shinzo Abe, for his exceptional contributions in the field of Public Affairs in 2021.
• He was the first Japanese PM to be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade in 2014.
• He was the longest-serving PM of Japan.
Abe’s Key Contribution to India –
• Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project involving the construction of a 505 km bullet train using Japan’s Shinkansen technology.
• He initiated the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad in 2007.
• In August 2007, he delivered the famous ‘Confluence of the Two Seas’ speech, laying the foundation for Indo-Pacific.
• He signed the Indo-Japan nuclear deal in 2016.
2. UNESCO panel on Intangible Cultural Heritage
Why in news - India has been elected to the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) for the 2022-2026 cycle.
Key Points –
• India has served as a member of the ICH Committee twice — from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2018.
• India received 110 votes from the 155 State Parties that were present and voting.
• In total, 14 Intangible Cultural Heritage elements from India have now been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List.
UNION GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. SVANidhi Mahotsav
Why in news - Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri launched the ‘SVANIdhi Mahotsav’ to be celebrated from July 9 to 31 to celebrate 75 years of independence with the nano-entrepreneurs.
2. Mission Vatsalya
Why in news - Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) released new guidelines for the ‘Mission Vatsalya’ on July 7, 2022 and asked states to not temper with the name of the scheme.
About the mission –
• Mission Vatsalya is a part of triad of schemes along with Mission Shakti, and Poshan 2.0.
• It aims at securing a healthy and happy childhood for every child and to assist States/UTs in delivering the mandate of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015.
• Under Ministry of Women and child development.
• It is essentially a renamed version of Child Protection Services scheme.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Honour the maharajas of Jamnagar and Kolhapur
Why in news - The Polish government has honoured the maharajas of Jamnagar and Kolhapur and others who sheltered Polish refugees fleeing the Soviet Union invasion (1939) of Poland during World War II. They stayed in Valiwade village near Kolhapur city.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Pilikula Biological Park, Mangalore
Why in news - Eggs of 8-year-old king cobra - Nagini - hatched providing a boost to animal conservationists. It is the only Indian zoo permitted by the Central Zoo Authority for captive breeding of king cobras.
2. Kharchi Festival
Why in news - 'Kharchi Puja Festival' has started in Tripura on July 7, 2022. Khar means sin and chi means cleaning. Hence, the festival is referred to as ‘cleaning of sins’ festival.
WORDS IN NEWS:
1. Pasmanda Muslims
Why in news - PM Modi had asked his party leaders to undertake ‘Sneh Yatras’ to bridge the differences between the party and people from the deprived sections, especially, the Pasmanda (OBC) Muslims.
Key Points –
• Pasmanda meaning ‘left behind’ in Persian. They are historically and socially oppressed by caste.
• 85% of the total population of Muslims in the country is known as Pasmanda.
• Ali Anwar of Patna founded an organisation named All India Pasmanda Muslim Merej.
ECONOMY:
1. Akasa Air
Why in news - Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed Akasa Air received the air operator certificate (AOC) from aviation regulator DGCA on July 7, 2022.
BOOKS & HONOURS:
1. Getting the Bread: The Gen-Z Way to Success
Why in news - Prarthna Batra’s debut book ‘Getting the Bread: The Gen-Z Way to Success’ launched by sporting icon Sakshi Malik. Prarthna Batra runs the YouTube channel ‘Power People and Prarthna’.
STATES/UTs:
1. Chhattisgarh’s Electric Vehicle Policy
Why in news - CM Bhupesh Baghel approved Chhattisgarh Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2022 on July 7, 2022. The government aims that Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) should account for 15% of all new vehicle registrations by 2027.
BIHAR:
1. Chromium-Potassium Mining
Why in news - Minister of Mines and Geology, Janak Ram said the state government will soon start mining chromium-potassium mineral blocks along with gold.
Key Points –
• Large deposits of Nickel, Potash, Chromium and Gold have been found in Jamui, Aurangabad and Nawada among others.
• Chromium - Used for hardening steel, making stainless steel, armor, ball-bearings, safes, cutting tools, aviation and mobile.
• Nickel – Used to protect iron and other metals from corrosion, magnet industry and in making steel corrosion resistant.
2. Menstrual Hygiene Roadmap
Why in news – A 2-year roadmap has been prepared on menstrual sanitation for girls and women in Bihar.
Key Points –
• Bihar became the first state in the country where an action plan has been prepared to bring change in thinking along with adopting menstrual hygiene for girls.
• According to NFHS, 58% of women in the state use sanitary pads. Under the roadmap, it will be increased to 75% in two years.
• For this, 11 departments are involved. The biggest role is of the Education Department.
POINTERS:
• Which institution has relaxed FPI & NRI deposit norms to boost foreign exchange inflows - RBI.
• Boris Johnson has resigned as Prime Minister of which country - United Kingdom.
• Who has become the new MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance - Paritosh Tripathi.
• Which state/UT government has launched the 'Mission Kushal Karmi' scheme to upgrade the skills of construction workers – Delhi.
• Who has become the new President of Association of Indian Universities (AIU) recently - Suranjan Das.
• India's first mobile telematics-based auto insurance has been introduced by which insurance company - Edelweiss.
• At what age has former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe passed away - 67 years.
• Who chaired the first meeting of Apex Monitoring Authority of National Industrial Corridor Development Program - FM Nirmala Sitharaman.
• What is the name of recently developed a prototype of an analog chipset by IISc researchers -ARYABHAT-1.
• 6th Deputy National Security Advisor level meeting of Colombo Security Conference members held in – Kochi.