NATIONAL:
1. National Emblem in the New Parliament Building
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi unveiled the bronze national emblem that has been placed atop the new Parliament building on July 11, 2022.
Key Points –
• It has been built in Aurangabad, Jaipur and Delhi by artists Sunil Deore and Lakshman Vyas.
• It is 6.5m high and weighs 9,500 kg.
2. Sealdah Metro Station
Why in news – Union Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated the Sealdah Metro Railway station of East-West Metro corridor in Kolkata through virtual mode on July 11, 2022.
Key Points –
• The full length (16.6 km long) of the East-West Metro corridor will be completed by 2023.
• When fully operational, the East-West Metro Corridor will connect Howrah to Salt Lake via Kolkata.
• It is the first underwater metro (riverbed of Hooghly) in the country.
3. Dwarka Expressway
Why in news – Dwarka Expressway is being developed as the first elevated urban expressway in India.
Key Points –
• The 29-km expressway connecting Dwarka in Delhi to Gurugram in Haryana is being developed at a total cost of ₹9,000 crore.
• It would be operational in 2023.
• It is also known as the Northern Peripheral Road and is a part of Delhi-Jaipur-Ahmedabad-Mumbai arm of Golden Quadrilateral.
UNION GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Prime Minister's National Apprenticeship Fair
Why in news – The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship organised the apprenticeship fair on July 11, 2022 over 200 locations across India.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Nord Stream 1 Pipeline
Why in news – The Nord Stream 1 was shut down on July 11 for 10 days of scheduled maintenance work. It is Germany’s main source of gas from Russia.
Key Points –
• Germany’s parliament July 8 passed emergency legislations to reopen their old coal plants for electricity production.
• The Nord Stream 2 pipeline (completed in September 2021) was suspended in February in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
About Nord Stream 1 –
• It is a 1,224 km underwater gas pipeline that runs from Vyborg in Russia to Lubmin in Germany via the Baltic Sea.
• It transports 55 billion cubic metres of gas a year.
• It was inaugurated in November 2011 at a cost of cost 7.4 billion euros.
• Germany is Russia’s biggest European gas consumer (55% in 2021).
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. National Fish Farmers Day
Why in news – National Fish Farmers day is celebrated on July 10 every year to demonstrate solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders.
Key Points –
• It is 65th National Fish Farmers Day being celebrated across the Country.
• It is celebrated every year, to commemorate the contribution of Professor Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri and his colleague Alikunhi in successfully inducing the breeding of
major carps.
SECURITY:
1. Artificial Intelligence in Defence(AIDef)
Why in news – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the first-ever ‘Artificial Intelligence in Defence’ (AIDef) symposium and exhibition on July 11 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
Key Points –
• It was organised by Department of Defence Production under Ministry of Defence.
• 75 newly-developed AI products/technologies have been launched.
• Task Force for 'Strategic Implementation of AI for National Security and Defence' was established in 2018 under N Chandrasekaran.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Dark Matter
Why in news – A dark matter detector experiment named LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) in South Dakota in the U.S. became the most sensitive dark matter detector in the world.
About Dark matter –
• Dark matter is made up of particles that do not have a charge.
• They are called ‘dark’ because they do not emit light (electromagnetic phenomenon) and ‘matter’ because they possess mass like normal matter and interact through gravity.
• Many physicists believe that the entire visible part of the universe forms only 5% of all matter in it. The rest is made up of dark matter and dark energy.
REPORT & INDICES:
1. The World Population Prospects 2022
Why in news - United Nations’ released the 2022 edition of the World Population Prospects (WPP) on July 11, 2022.
Key Points –
• In 2022, China remains the most populous country (1,426 million), India (1,412 million).
• India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country by 2023. (2019 report - India would overtake China by 2027).
• The global population will reach 8 billion on November 15, 2022.
• For the first time in 2020 since 1950, the rate of population growth fell below 1% per year.
• Two most populous regions in 2022 –
A. Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (2.3 billion people, 29%).
B. Central and Southern Asia (2.1 billion, 26%).
• It took 123 years for the population to double to 2 billion in 1927. The last billion will be added in just 11 years.
• Globally, life expectancy reached 72.8 years in 2019. (77.2 years in 2050).
• In 2021, the average fertility stood at 2.3 births per woman.
• NFHS 5 found that India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) reduced to 2.0 for the first time, less than the replacement level of 2.1.
SPORTS:
1. Austrian Grand Prix 2022
Why in news - Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc defeated world champion Max Verstappen to win the Austrian Grand Prix 2022.
AGREEMENTS:
1. Networked Robotics Center of Excellence
Why in news - Nokia has partnered with the Indian Institute of Science to set up the Nokia Center of Excellence in networked robotics at IISc Bengaluru.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Alvaro Lario
Why in news - Spain's Alvaro Lario has been appointed as the new President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). He succeeded Gilbert Hongbo.
2. Rajendra Prasad
Why in news - Rajendra Prasad has been appointed as the Managing Director of National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).
OBITUARIES:
1. Jose Eduardo Dos Santos
Why in news - Former President of Angola, Jose Eduardo dos Santos passed away at the age of 79.
2. Brijendra K Syngal
Why in news - Brijendra K Syngal, former Chairman of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL), passed away. He has been acknowledged as the father of the Indian Internet. He was unofficially known as the ‘bulldozer’.
STATES/UTs:
1. Lulu Mall-Lucknow
Why in news - CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated Lulu Group’s Lulu Mall-Lucknow at a grand event in Lucknow on July 10, 2022.
Key Points –
• Built with an investment of Rs 2,000.
• This is the fifth mall to be constructed by Lulu Group in India after Kochi, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur.
• Lulu Group’s Chairman and Managing Director - Yusuffali M A.
2. Lifetime President of Y.S.R. Congress
Why in news - Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has been elected as the Lifetime President of Yuvajan Shramik Rythu Congress Party (YSR Congress).
3. Mission Kushal Karmi
Why in news - Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia started Mission Kushal Karmi to help construction workers improve their abilities. It was developed with assistance from the Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU) and Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
BIHAR:
1. One Health Lab
Why in news – Hon’ Health Minister Mangal Pandey inaugurated India's first One Health Lab established in Government Medical College at SKMCH, Muzaffarpur on July 12, 2022.
Key Points –
• It would be operated by the Department of Pathology and Doctors for You with technical support from Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.
• Genome Sequencing Lab situated here is the first hi-tech lab in the Eastern and North-Eastern states where diseases can be detected by studying any person, animal or plant down to the genetic level.
2. National Master Powerlifting Championship
Why in news – Kriti Raj Singh and Sudha Kumari of Bihar dominated the National sub-junior and Master women and men powerlifting championship held in Hyderabad.
Key Points –
• Kriti Raj Singh won 3 medals in 57 kg category –
A. Bronze – Lifted 65 kg in bench press.
B. Bronze - Lifted 130 kg in deadlift.
C. Bronze - Lifted 310 kg in total.
• Sudha Kumari won 4 medals in 63 kg category –
A. Gold - Lifted 170 kg in Squart.
B. Gold - Lifted 112.5 kg in bench press
C. Gold - Lifted 440 kg in total
D. Silver - Lifted 15.5 kg in deadlift
• Sudha Kumari was awarded the ‘Strongest women of India’ award in ‘Best Lifter’.
POINTERS:
• Who has recently won the Wimbledon women's singles title - Elena Rybakina.
• According to the report released by which organization India's malnourished population has come down to 224.3 million in the last 15 years – United Nations (State of
Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 report).
• Which government organization has announced the winners of 2022 Fields Medal - International Mathematical Union.
• Which country has organized the ‘Bon Global Biodiversity Conclave 2022’ – Germany.
• Which has become the first state to link one district one product with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) – Uttar Pradesh.
• Which bank and the Indian Air Force have signed an agreement for the Defense Salary Package Scheme – State Bank of India.
• Which country's government has recently declared a state of emergency in the five northern regions around the Po river in view of severe drought – Italy.
• Which general insurance company has launched Cyber VaultEdge Insurance Plan – SBI General Insurance.
• India's GMR Group has started operations of International Airport in Medan in which country – Indonesia.
• India's first indigenous aircraft carrier 'Vikrant' has completed which phase of its sea trials – Fourth phase.