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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
MoH&FW Launched NQAS Assessment for AAMs, IPHS Compliance Dashboard & Spot Food License Initiatives
Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao, Minister of State (MoS) Independent charge (IC), and Anupriya Singh Patel, MoS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), unveiled 3 initiatives namely:
i.Virtual National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) assessment for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs);
ii.A dashboard assisting national, state, and district health institutions in monitoring compliance with the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS); and
iii.Spot food license and registration initiative for food vendors.
Note: These initiatives were launched at the ‘Ayushman Bharat Health’ event in Delhi and will play a crucial role in improving the quality of healthcare services and promoting the ease of doing business in India.
About the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW):
Union Minister– J.P. Nadda (Rajya Sabha, Gujarat)
MoS (IC)- Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao (Buldhana, Maharashtra)
MoS– Anupriya Singh Patel (Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh)
>> Read Full News
MoD inks MoU with TIDCO to establish Advanced Testing Facilities in Tamil Nadu
On July 2, 2024, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India(GoI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO) to establish three state-of-the-art advanced testing facilities in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS). These are Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Electronic Warfare (EW) and Electro Optics (EO).
- The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane in New Delhi, Delhi.
- These facilities will aid in boosting the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC) and enhance its testing facilities.
About DTIS:
It was launched by the Union Minister Rajnath Singh, MoD in May 2020 with an outlay of Rs 400 crore. The Government funding covers up to 75% as ‘Grant-in-Aid’, with the remaining 25% funded by Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), consisting of Indian private entities and State/Central Governments.
Objectives:
- Promote indigenous defence production.
- Reduce imports of military equipment.
- Enhance self-reliance in defence.
Testing Facilities:
Seven testing facilities approved under the DTIS: 4 in TN and 3 in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
i.UAS Testing Facility: Led by Keltron, a Kerala government undertaking, with participation from private sector companies.
ii.EW Testing Facility: Led by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru(Karnataka).
iii.EO Testing Facility: Led by India Optel Limited (IOL), Dehradun(Uttarakhand).
About Ministry of Defence (MoD)
Union Minister – Rajnath Singh (Constituency- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP))
Minister of State (MoS)– Sanjay Seth (Constituency- Ranchi, Jharkhand)
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy Launched NIRMAN portal
On 2nd July 2024, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Coal and Mines, Government of India (GoI) launched “Noble Initiative for Rewarding Mains Aspirants of National Civil Services Examination (NIRMAN)”, a web portal in New Delhi, Delhi. This initiative is in alignment with the vision of “Mission Karmayogi” led by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India.
Aim: To provide financial support of Rs 1 lakh to eligible candidates of Union Public Service (UPSC) examination.
- It is a unique Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) scheme led by the Coal India Limited (CIL) for meritorious youth of its operating districts who have qualified the Preliminary round of UPSC examination (for civil services & Forest Service) in 2024.
Key People: The portal was launched in the presence of Satish Chandra Dubey, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines , Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary (Coal) , other officers of the ministry and Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of coal companies.
Eligibility:
i.To avail the benefits of the scheme, candidates who have qualified the Preliminary round of UPSC should have annual family income less than Rs 8 lakhs.
ii.The eligible candidates should belong to either Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), female or third gender.
iii.Also, the eligible candidates need to be permanent residents of any of the 39 operational districts of CIL.
- Some of these include: Dhanbad and Ranchi (Jharkhand), Kolkata (West Bengal), Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra), among others.
Process:
The eligible candidates can submit their application form online through NIRMAN portal .
- The entire application process will be done through this dedicated portal which will ensure full transparency and will simplify the screening process of the applications.
About Ministry of Coal and Mines:
Union Minister- G. Kishan Reddy (Constituency- Secunderabad, Telangana)
Minister of State (MoS) – Satish Chandra Dubey (Rajya Sabha member-Bihar)
About Coal India Limited (CIL):
It is a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Coal (MoC), GoI.
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)- P.M. Prasad
Headquarters- Kolkata, West Bengal
Established- 1975
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
IMF Released AI Preparedness Index: India Ranked 72nd; Singapore Tops
On 25th June 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released an Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI) Dashboard which tracks the level of Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness across 174 countries. According to AIPI, India has secured the 72nd Rank among the 174 countries, with a rating of 0.49.
- Singapore (0.80) topped the overall index followed by Denmark (0.78) and the United States of America (USA) (0.77) at the 2nd and 3rd position respectively.
Key Points:
i.The index ranked the countries based on their performance in 4 key areas such as: digital infrastructure, human capital and labour market policies, innovation and economic integration, and regulation and ethics.
ii.It has classified each country into 3 main categories such as: Advanced Economy (AE), Emerging Market Economy (EM), and Low-Income Country (LIC).
About International Monetary Fund(IMF):
Managing Director– Kristalina Georgieva
Member nations–190
Headquarters- Washington, D.C., United States of America (USA)
Established- 1944
>> Read Full News
INS Shivalik Takes Part in RIMPAC 2024 Naval Exercise in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shivalik, a 6000-tonne indigenously designed and built guided missile stealth frigate, has reached Pearl Harbour, Hawaii (United States of America (USA)), for the 29th edition of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
i.RIMPAC 2024 commenced on 27 June 2024 and will run till 1 August 2024.
- The theme of RIMPAC 2024 is “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.”
ii.Led by the USA Navy, the RIMPAC multinational exercise involves approximately 29 nations, with 40 surface ships, 3 submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.
- The Harbour Phase (27 June – 7 July 2024) of the exercise involves symposiums, exercise planning discussions, etc, while the Sea Phase is divided into 3 sub-phases.
iii.For the 1st time in RIMPAC history, a member of the Chilean Navy, Commodore Alberto Guerrero, will serve as Deputy Commander of the Combined Task Force (CTF).
BANKING & FINANCE
ICICI Bank launches Sapphiro Forex Card for Indian students
On July 2, 2024, ICICI Bank launched a pre-paid ‘Student Sapphiro Forex Card’ for Indian students heading abroad for higher education. This Visa-powered prepaid card offers a comprehensive solution for managing education-related expenses such as admission and course fees, as well as everyday costs like travel, dining, and groceries.
- This Card can be applied through the official ICICI Bank website or its banking application, iMobile Pay.
Key Points:
i.The Student Sapphiro Forex card provides currency support of loading and transacting in 15 currencies without any cross-currency mark-up charges.
ii.It also offers joining benefits up to Rs 15,000, along with exclusive privileges
iii.The reload of the card can be made via iMobile Pay and internet banking by both students and parents.
Benefits:
i.International Lounge Access: Two complimentary international lounge access passes annually, worth USD 99.
ii.Free international SIM card: To enhance the connectivity of Students.
iii.Vouchers: Complimentary Uber vouchers worth Rs 1,000.
iv.International Student Identity Card (ISIC): Membership worth Rs 999, providing internationally recognized student status in 130 countries.
v.Card Protection Plus plan: Lost card and counterfeit card insurance coverage up to Rs 5 lakh.
vi.ATM Fee Waivers:Three monthly ATM fee waivers on cash withdrawals for 5 years.
vii.Cashback: 5% cashback on online grocery shopping and transit bookings.
viii.No Extra Charges: No charges on cross-currency transactions.
ix.Welcome kit: It includes a primary and a replacement card, which can be activated during loss/damage of the primary card.
Click Here for Official release
About ICICI Bank:
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Sandeep Bakhshi
Establishment – 1994
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Tagline– Hum hai na, Khayal Apka
Axis Bank Partners with Piramal Finance For Co-lending Business
Axis Bank Limited, a private sector bank, and Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Limited (Piramal Finance), a Non-Banking Financial Company – Housing Finance Company (NBFC-HFC), has entered into a co-lending partnership focusing on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Home Loan segments.
i.The partnership aims to boost financial inclusion for underserved borrowers, facilitate easier access to credit for MSMEs to foster business growth.
ii.under this partnership, both the lenders will provide loans to the middle and low-income segment customers with focus on rural and semi-urban areas.
iii.It will cater to potential clients who are either new to credit or underserved by larger banks, resulting in a multi-product loan book.
Note: Piramal Finance is a wholly owned subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Limited (PEL).
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Dick Schoof sworn in as the New Prime Minister of Netherlands
On 2nd July 2024, Willem-Alexander, the King of the Netherlands swore in Dick Schoof as the New Prime Minister(PM) of the Netherlands at the ceremony held in Huis Ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.
- He succeeds Mark Rutte, who served as the PM of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024. Rutte is set to take over as the New Secretary General of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in October 2024.
Note: For the 1st time since the World War II, the Netherlands is being led by a PM, who is not affiliated with any political party.
2024 General Election of the Netherlands:
i.Party for Freedom (PVV) led by Geert Wilders won the 2024 general elections of the Netherlands which was held in November 2023.
ii.On 16th May 2024, the PVV formed a right-wing coalition with the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), New Social Contract (NSC), and the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB) .
iii.Dick Schoof, who did not contest in the 2024 election, was nominated for PM on 28th May 2024.
About Dick Schoof:
i.Dick Schoof previously served as the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice and Security from 2020 to 2024.
ii.He has also served as the Director-General of the General Intelligence and Security Service from 2018 to 2020.
iii.He also served as the National Coordinator for Security and Counter-terrorism from 2013 to 2018.
About The Netherlands:
Prime Minister– Dick Schoof
Capital– Amsterdam
Currency– Euro
LIC Re-designated Siddhartha Mohanty as its CEO and Managing Director (MD)
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), India’s largest Public Sector Insurance Company, has re-designated its Chairman, Siddhartha Mohanty as its new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with effect from 30th June 2024.
- He was appointed as chairman of LIC in April 2023 until 29th June 2024 and was also appointed as MD and CEO of LIC from June 2024 until 7th June 2025.
Note:
i.In March 2023, Siddhartha Mohanty was appointed as interim chairman of LIC for period of 3 years.
ii.At present, there are 4 MD’s in LIC: M.Jagannath, Tablesh Pandey, Sat Pal Bhanoo and R. Doraiswamy.
About Siddhartha Mohanty:
i.He started his career with LIC as an apprentice officer in 1985. During his career of nearly 40 years, he has worked in various capacities of LIC, including Executive Director (Legal) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of LIC Housing Finance Limited (HFL).
ii.He has also worked as the MD and CEO of LIC HFL from 2019 to 2021.
iii.He has also served as Senior Divisional Manager of Raipur(Chhattisgarh) and Cuttack (Odisha) in LIC.
iv.At present, He is a Director on the Board of the Kenindia Assurance Limited, a Life and Non-Life Insurance Company based in Kenya.
About Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC):
It is under the ownership of Government of India and administrative control of the Ministry of Finance(MoF).
Chairman- Siddhartha Mohanty
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- 1956
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Indian Solar Mission Aditya-L1 Completes Its 1st Halo Orbit Around the Sun-Earth L1 Point
On 2nd July 2024, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, India’s 1st space-based solar observatory mission at Lagrangian point 1 (L1), completed its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point. The spacecraft in the Halo orbit takes 178 days to complete one revolution around L1.
- During its travel into the halo orbit, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft undergoes Station-Keeping (SK) maneuvers to maintain its orbit due to various perturbing forces.
Points to Note:
i.The spacecraft was launched on September 2, 2023, and was inserted into its targeted halo orbit on 6 January 2024.
ii.Lagrange points, also known as libration points, are unique locations in space where the gravitational forces of 2 massive bodies, such as the Sun and Earth, are in equilibrium.
iii.A halo orbit is a periodic, three-dimensional (3D) orbit at L1 involving the Sun, Earth, and a spacecraft.
- It involves an out-of-plane motion component relative to the primary bodies.
iv.A halo orbit around the L1 of the Sun-Earth system is about 1.5 million kilometers (km) from the Earth on the continuously moving Sun-Earth line with an orbital period of about 177.86 Earth days.
About Aditya-L1:
i.Aditya-L1 is a satellite dedicated to the comprehensive study of the Sun, specifically the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona of the Sun.
ii.It has 7 indigenously developed distinct payloads.
- 5 were developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO); and
- 2 by the Indian scientific laboratories, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), and the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in collaboration with the ISRO.
iii.It was designed and realised at UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) with participation from various ISRO centers. Click here to know more
Station-Keeping Maneuvers:
i.Three SK maneuvers have been performed to maintain its orbit on February 22, 2024, June 7, 2024, and July 2, 2024, respectively.
ii.The 3rd SK maneuver has ensured the spacecraft’s continuation into its second halo orbit path around L1.
iii.The mission has validated the state-of-the-art flight dynamics software developed in-house by the URSC-ISRO.
ENVIRONMENT
Xenophrys apatani: New Horned Frog species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh
Researchers from Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered new species of forest-dwelling horned frog named “Xenophrys apatani” has been discovered at Tale Wildlife Sanctuary in Lower Subansiri District, Arunachal Pradesh.
- The new frog species has been named after the Arunachal Pradesh’s Apatani tribe in recognition of their ingenuity in the conservation of wild flora and fauna.
- The findings of the research were published in the latest issue of the Records of the ZSI.
Background:
i.In 2019, the specimen of the new species was mistakenly identified as Xenophrys maosonensis due to limited genetic data.
ii.The conclusion of the 2019 erroneous report of the Maoson horned frog (Xenophrys maosonensis) in India by ZSI Shillong was revised after further analysis revealed substantial genetic disparities between the Indian specimen and X. maosonensis from Vietnam and China.
iii.The researchers also provided insights into the biogeographic distribution of the Xenophrys species in India, distributed along the Eastern Himalayan and the Indo-Burma biodiversity hot spots of India.
OBITUARY
Renowned Albanian Novelist & Poet Ismail Kadare Passed Away 
Ismail Kadare, a renowned Albanian novelist and poet who explored Balkan history and culture in poetry and fiction, passed away at 88 in Tirana, the capital of Albania. He was born on 28th January 1936, in the southern Albanian city of Gjirokaster.
About Ismail Kadare:
i.Ismail Kadare focused on short stories until the publication of his first novel, “The General of the Dead Army”(1963), which was later made into an Italian drama film directed by Luciano Tovoli.
ii.In 1990, Kadare claimed political asylum in France, issuing statements in favour of democratisation.
Noted works:
i.Kadare’s novels draw on Balkan history and legends and his works have been published in about 30 languages.
ii.His popular works include, Chronicle in Stone (1977), Broken April (1978), and The Concert (1988).
Awards and honours:
i.The french government made him a lifetime member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences of France in 1996 and Commander of Arts and Letters in 1996.
- He was awarded the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor title by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2023.
ii.The French government appointed him as the Commander of Arts and Letters in 1996 and Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor in 2020.
iii.He was awarded the Prix Mondial Cino Del Duca in 1992, the inaugural Man Booker International Prize in 2005, the Prince of Asturias Award of Arts in 2009, and the Jerusalem Prize in 2015.
iv.The Concert (1988) was considered the best novel of the year 1991 by the French literary magazine Lire.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Sports Journalists Day 2024 – July 2
World Sports Journalists Day is annually observed across the globe on 2 July to honour and acknowledge the services of sports journalists worldwide to promote sports.
- This Day also commemorates the establishment of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS (Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive)) in 1924 in Paris, France.
2 July 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), the World Sports Journalist body.
Background:
i.World Sports Journalists Day was established by the AIPS in 1994, marking the 70th anniversary of its foundation.
- To mark the foundation of AIPS, July 2 each year has been designated World Sports Journalists Day.
ii.The 1st ever World Sports Journalists Day was observed on 2 July 1994.
About the International Sports Press Association (AIPS):
President– Gianni Merlo
Headquarters– Lausanne, Switzerland
>> Read Full News
International Plastic Bag Free Day 2024 – July 3
International Plastic Bag Free Day is annually observed across the globe on 3rd July to raise awareness of the environmental impact caused by Single-Use-Plastic (SUP) like plastic bags, which are harmful to ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.
- The day also emphasises eliminating or reducing the use of SUP bags and promotes reusable bags as a more sustainable alternative to disposable plastic bags.
- The day serves as a reminder to individuals, communities, and governments worldwide of the urgent need to reduce plastic pollution.
Background:
i.Rezero, a member of the Zero Waste Europe (ZWE), initiated the International Plastic Bag Free Day which was first observed on 3 July 2008 in Catalonia, Spain.
ii.The observane gained wider recognition in 2009, after ZWE introduced the observance to the European Union (EU).
>> Read Full News
STATE NEWS
NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme: Andhra Pradesh CM Launches Distribution of Hiked Pensions
On July 1 2024, Andhra Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister (CM) N.Chandrababu Naidu launched the distribution of Rs 4,408 crore under the ‘NTR Bharosa pension scheme’ for 65.31 lakh beneficiaries at their doorstep.
- This scheme, which was originally called the YSR Pension Kanuka system, has now been renamed as ‘NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme’.
- Pawan Kalyan, Deputy Chief Minister of AP also participated in distribution event at Gollaprolu village in Pithapuram.
About NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme:
i.NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme is a social security scheme of the AP government.
ii.Under this scheme, the monthly pension for elderly people, widows, weavers, toddy tappers, fishermen, single women, traditional cobblers, transgenders and artists has been raised from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000.
iii.The pension for the disabled and multi-deformity leprosy patients has been raised from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 per month.
iv.The pension amount has been enhanced from Rs 5,000 to Rs15,000 for fully disabled people who are confined to beds or wheelchairs, as well as those with severe muscular dystrophy.
v.It has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 for individuals with thalassemia and other chronic illnesses.
Note: He also announced that the AP government would soon receive the Amma canteen, with meals being distributed to the public for Rs 5.
About N T Rama Rao:
i.Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, often referred as NTR, was a well-known Telugu film actor and producer.
ii.In 1982, he founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to protect the interests of the Telugu people.
iii.He has served as the CM of AP for three times (1983–84, 1984–89, and 1994–95)
iv.In August 1995, Chandrababu Naidu succeeded NTR as TDP leader and CM of AP.
About Andhra Pradesh:
Chief Minister (CM) – N. Chandrababu Naidu
Governor – S. Abdul Nazeer
Capital – Amaravati
National Parks – Mrugavani National Park, Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park, Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park
Wildlife sanctuaries – Kolleru wildlife sanctuary, Coringa Wildlife sanctuary
Madhya Pradesh CM Launches ‘Lokpath Mobile App’ To Fix Road Problems In 7 Days
On July 2 2024, The Chief Minister (CM) of Madhya Pradesh (MP) Mohan Yadav launched the ‘Lokpath Mobile App’ at the Media Center of the Vidhan Sabha in Bhopal, MP to resolve road problems for the public in seven days.
About Lokpath Mobile App:
i. The Lokpath Mobile App was prepared by thePublic Works Department(PWD) and developed by Madhya Pradesh State Electronic Development Corporation Limited (MPSEDC) .
ii.It will provide a facility for the general public to report issues on the routes and will also ensure the accountability of the officers.
iii.The app would help to improve 40,000 kilometres of roads in MP, despite obstacles like excessive rainfall and heavy traffic.
Implementation :
The scheme will be executed in two phases. The first phase consists of national highways, state highways, and main district roads which began on July 2 2024. The second phase will include other district and rural roads.
Features:
i.The app enables the public to report road problems by taking images and sending them directly to the appropriate officials.
ii.The officers are required to resolve the issues within seven days and update the status on the app.
About Madhya Pradesh (MP):
Chief Minister (CM) – Mohan Yadav
Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel
Capital – Bhopal
National Parks – Panna National Park, Pench National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries – Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary, Ghatigaon wildlife sanctuary
Karnataka Govt Notified Rules Extending Social Security & Welfare Measures to Unorganized Transportation Workers
The Karnataka state government has notified the Karnataka Motor Transport and Other Allied Workers’ Social Security and Welfare Act, 2024, a first-of-its-kind legislation in India, to provide social security and welfare measures to promote the welfare of an estimated 5.4 million motor transport and allied workers within the state.
i.The Act establishes a dedicated Social Security Fund, financed through a cess on motor transport businesses, government grants, and contributions from beneficiaries.
- Workers must register through a digital portal to be eligible for benefits under the Act.
ii.The Act mandates the formation of the Karnataka State Motor Transport and Other Allied Workers’ Social Security and Welfare Board to oversee the implementation of various welfare schemes and social security measures.
iii. The regulation aims to cover workers aged 18-60 with benefits including accident relief, medical reimbursement, maternity benefits, and educational assistance for children.
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