NATIONAL NEWS
Puri Becomes First Indian City to Provide Drinkable Tap Water All TimeNow, people in Odisha’s temple town Puri can drink water directly from the tap and there is no need to store or filter the water as the facility is available round the clock, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.
- With this the Jagannath Dham also become the first city in India to provide “drink from tap" quality water 24X7.
- The chief minister said his government has enhanced the budgetary allocation under drinking water supply by 20 times in the past five years, from Rs 200 crore to Rs 4,000 crore.
measures for welfare of beggars The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme “SMILE - Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”, which includes subscheme - ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’.
- This scheme covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging.
- The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages and so on.
- The scheme would be implemented with the support of State/UT Governments/Local Urban Bodies, Voluntary Organizations, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) , institutions and others.
Department of MSME, Government of Uttar Pradesh, signed an MoU with government advisory firm Sapio Analytics, to provide licenses of automation software Accloud, worth Rs. 72 crores, to 20,000 MSMEs of the state.
- The software licenses shall be provided free of cost to the MSMEs who can apply for the same (https://sapioanalytics.com/accloud/)through a portal.
- Accloud can be operated on both mobile and web, and is available in multiple languages including Hindi, for the business people of the state of Uttar Pradesh
The Centre has said that the Garima Grihas for the transgender persons are being set up with the help of community-based organizations.
- Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment A. Narayanaswamy informed Lok Sabha, 12 pilot shelter homes have been initiated with the aim of providing safe and secure shelter to transgender persons.
- He said, such shelter homes have been set up in the states of Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
Unemployment rate for women fell to 4.2 per cent in 2019-20 from 5.1 per cent in 2018-19, according to Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO),a wing of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women has increased from 24.5 per cent in 2018-19 to 30.0 per cent in 2019-20.
- The government has taken several initiatives to improve women's participation in the labour force. In order to encourage employment of women, a number of protective provisions have been incorporated in the labour laws for creating congenial work environment for women workers.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Scientists from India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa will collaborate on Covid researchScientists from India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa will collaborate on research that will help develop or repurpose drugs against COVID-19.
- The consolidation of efforts, knowledge and experience of scientists and specialists from different areas will lead to the optimisation of the health system and health care in BRICS countries.
- The approach which could inhibit both maturation and propagation of viruses during the infection in the host cells can help produce new COVID-19 medicines with improved production methods.
12th Edition of Indo-Russia joint Military Exercise INDRA-2021 will be held at Volgograd, Russia from 1st to 13th August.
- The exercise will entail conduct of counter terror operations under the United Nations mandate by a joint force against international terror groups.
- Two hundred fifty personnel from both the nations will form part of the exercise. The Indian Army contingent comprising of a Mechanised Infantry Battalion underwent rigorous training at different locations in India to refine their drills for participation in the joint exercise.
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Talwar is participating in Exercise Cutlass Express 2021, which commenced on July 26 along the East Coast of Africa, to improve combined maritime law enforcement capacity and increase interoperability between the regional navies. The exercise will conclude on August 6.
- The exercise is an annual maritime exercise conducted to promote national and regional maritime security in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean.
- The 2021 edition of the exercise involves the participation of 12 Eastern African countries, US, UK, India and various international organisations, like International Maritime Organisation (IMO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol, EurEuropean Union Naval Forc (EUNAVFOR), Critical Maritime Routes Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO) and EUCAP Somalia.
BANKING & FINANCE
HDFC Bank launches up to Rs 10 lakh overdraft facility for shopkeepers, merchants to ease cash crunchIndia’s largest private lender HDFC Bank launched an overdraft facility for small retailers in partnership with the government’s e-governance services delivery arm CSC SPV that enables government schemes and services through common service centres (CSCs).
- The ‘Dukandar Overdraft Scheme’ by HDFC Bank is aimed at helping shopkeepers and merchants ease their cash crunch. According to the bank, retailers operating for a minimum of three years are eligible for the scheme by providing six months bank statement from any bank.
- HDFC Bank will approve an overdraft limit from a minimum of Rs 50,000 to a maximum of Rs 10 lakhs based on the statements.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
IMF Cuts India's GDP Growth Forecast to 9.5 Per Cent for FY22The International Monetary Fund (IMF) slashed its FY22 growth forecast for India by 300 basis points (bps) from its April projection to 9.5 per cent, the sharpest cut for any country, citing the damage caused by the second Covid wave that peaked in May.
- While the multilateral body retained its global growth forecast at 6 per cent for 2021, it trimmed its earlier projection by 40 bps for developing countries and raised it by 50 bps for advanced economies.
- Risks around the global baseline projections are, however, to the downside, it cautioned. Countries lagging in vaccination, such as India and Indonesia, would suffer the most among G20 economies.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
ICICI, Axis and HDFC Bank pick up stake in blockchain start-up IBBICPrivate sector lenders including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank have picked up a stake in blockchain technology focussed start-up IBBIC Pvt Ltd.
- In separate stock exchange filings, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank said they have picked up 50,000 equity shares amounting to 5.55 per cent stake in IBBIC.
- HDFC Bank and Axis Bank invested ₹5 lakh each for the shares.ICICI Bank paid ₹4.9 lakh for the shares.
SPORTS
Mithali Raj reclaims No. 1 spot in ICC Women's ODI Rankings for ninth timeIndia batting star Mithali Raj is back at the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings, the ninth time she is number one among batters since first occupying the spot more than 16 years ago, after West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor slipped to fifth position.
- This took place after the latest weekly update in the rankings, which takes into account performances in the last three matches of the five-match series between the West Indies and Pakistan.
India wins 13 medals, including 5 Golds at the World Cadet Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
- Young Indian wrestlers Priya Malik, Tannu, Aman Gulia, Sagar Jaglan, Chirag, Jaideep and Komal won gold medals at the World Cadet Wrestling Championship.
- Jaskaran Singh and India Women's Wrestling team won silver while Ankit Gulia, Varsha, and Sahil had to settle for bronze.
- The trio propelled the Indian Women's team to the 2nd position with 139 points with USA leading the way with 149 points and third position secured by Russia.
APPOINTMENTS
Social Entrepreneur Sanjay Rai Sherpuria named National Brand Ambassador for SDG ChoupalWell-known social worker and entrepreneur Sanjay Rai 'Sherpuria' was named National Brand Ambassador for SDG Choupal at an event held.
- Sanjay Rai 'Sherpuria' was felicitated at the event held here this evening for his remarkable contributions in the wake of COVID.
Lebanon's president is expected to appoint a billionaire businessman and former prime minister Najib Mikati as the next premier-designate, after Saad Hariri earlier this month gave up attempts to form a Cabinet amid an unprecedented financial meltdown roiling the country.
- Mikati was also endorsed by Hariri, who abandoned efforts to form a government after failing to agree with Aoun on the Cabinet's makeup.
AWARDS
Harappan-era City Dholavira in Gujarat Inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage ListDholavira, a Harappan-era metropolis, in Gujarat has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the organisation said.
- Gujarat so far has three world heritage sites — Champaner near Pavagadh, Rani ki Vav in Patan and the historic city of Ahmedabad.
Kandla SEZ (KASEZ) was awarded IGBC Platinum Rating. KASEZ is the First Green SEZ to achieve the IGBC Green Cities Platinum Rating for Existing Cities.
- The efforts of KASEZ team were applauded especially noting the fact that this was accomplished in Bhuj region where water conservation and afforestation are critical interventions.
- This was major achievement and is part of activities envisaged under the commitment of the Government to the Green SEZs Mission as part of celebrations marking India@75 - Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
WCD Minister Smriti Irani launches 24/7 helpline number for women affected by violenceWomen and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani launched a 24/7 helpline number for women affected by violence. The helpline number is – 7827170170.
- The aim of the helpline is to provide round the clock emergency and non-emergency complaints and counseling services to women affected by violence.
- The helpline will link them with appropriate authorities such as police, hospitals, District Legal Service Authority, psychological services and providing information about women-related government programmes across the country through a single uniform number.
OBITUARIES
Doyen of particle physics Steven Weinberg passes awayPhysicist Steven Weinberg, who won the Nobel prize in 1979 with two other scientists for their separate contributions unlocking mysteries of tiny particles and their electromagnetic interaction, has died at 88.
- In 1979, Weinberg shared the Nobel prize in physics with scientists Abdus Salam and Sheldon Lee Glashow. Their work improved the understanding of how everything in the universe relates, according to a UT statement.
- The work helped physicists unify two of the four forces of nature, subatomic forces known as nuclear forces, said Sean Carroll, a theoretical physicist at the California Institute of Technology.
IMPORTANT DAYS
83rd CRPF Raising DayIndia’s largest Central Armed Police Force, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is observing its ‘83rd Raising Day’.
- The day marks the immense and unparalleled contribution of the force in upholding the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of the nation.
World Drowning Prevention Day is held annually on 25 July.
- The global organisation dedicated this day for the global advocacy of drowning prevention in April this year through a resolution, moving towards a more sustainably developed world.
World IVF Day, observed on July 25, symbolises the essence and significance of the In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) technique in infertility treatment.
- The world's first test tube baby, Louise Brown, was born on July 25, 1978, which is why the day is celebrated as World IVF Day.
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