NATIONAL NEWS
Ministry of S&T to set up first-its-kind Centre of Excellence in NortheastThe Ministry of Science and Technology is setting up a first-of-its-kind Centre of Excellence in the Northeast.
- The project for establishing the Centre for Bio-Resources and Sustainable Development as a Centre of Excellence was sanctioned by the Department of Biotechnology and is complete for formal inauguration soon.
- Built at a cost of nearly Rs 50 crore, the project will come up at Kimin in Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh and the construction of the new building as well other infrastructure has been completed.
The Union government will set up over 42 virology research and diagnostic laboratories under a central scheme during the period of 15th Finance Commission (2021-22 to 2025-26) at a cost of Rs324 crore.
- The scheme under the Department of Health Research (DHR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) aims to help boost coverage of timely diagnosis and identification of viruses during an epidemic outbreak, generation of data about viral diseases for facilitating quick deployment of resources and measures to save human lives.
Government has said that around one crore 13 lakh houses have been sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban till date.
- Out of them more than 84 lakh houses are grounded and more than 50 lakh have been completed and delivered to the beneficiaries.
- Central assistance of one lakh 82 thousand crore rupees has been approved under the scheme so far. More than one lakh crore rupees have been released to States, Union Territories and Central Nodal Agencies.
Over 17,500 companies have been struck off as per provisions of section 248 of the Companies act during the period of March 2020 to June 2021.
- The Government has announced fund of 29.87 lakh crore rupees under Atmanirbhar Bharat package as a relief for several sectors.
- Besides initiatives of RBI several relief measures have been announced by the Government under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the foundation stone of a Bamboo Industrial Park at Manderdisa in Dima Hasao district. The project will be implemented with Rs. 50 crores from DoNER Ministry.
- The project, once completed, would usher in a new era in the economy of the region and create vast employment opportunities for the local youth.
In Madhya Pradesh, the State Government has prepared the Ayush-based economic upgradation scheme – Devaranya Yojana with the twin objectives of improving people’s health and livelihood of tribals.
- For this, medicinal plants should be cultivated in the beautiful plains of the villages. He was addressing a workshop on the scheme. AIR correspondent reports that Chief Minister said that more than 360 new AYUSH health and wellness centers are being established in the state.
- Ayush Super Specialty Hospitals are being constructed in Indore and Bhopal.
Rajasthan government's Industries Department and the apex industrial development body, the Rajasthan Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO), have launched a campaign to help local traders in expanding their businesses to foreign countries.
- The campaign "Mission Niryatak Bano" is planned in six steps to register and handhold the local traders willing to expand their business to foreign countries.
- As per a state government's release, the campaign will cover assistance of local traders from training, securing necessary documentation, registration in Rajasthan Export Promotion Council and even support in exports and trade operations.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Uzbekistan hosts two-day 'Central-South Asia conference'The Central-South Asia nation, Uzbekistan is in the saddle to host the two-day prestigious Central-Asia Conference in the capital city of Taskent. The top-level event is held to discuss the 'challenges and opportunities in Uzbekistan.
- The event shall address multilateral discussions on trade, energy consumption, and brand cooperation in presence of high-ranking delegates mentioned Saidjanov.
- Indian External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar has highlighted India's role in the top-level conference. He is supposed to hold discussions with representatives of countries like the European Union, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan on the sidelines of the summit.
The Indore city of Madhya Pradesh, or the cleanest city of India, has become the only city from the country to be selected for International Clean Air Catalyst Programme.
- The project will be operated for a period of five years to purify the air in the city with the cooperation of Indore Municipal Corporation and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board.
- Under the project, USAID and partners will work with local communities to better understand local pollution sources and identify, test, accelerate, and scale solutions for cleaner, healthier air.
BANKING & FINANCE
SBI tops list of PSBs writing off bad loans in FY21State Bank of India topped the list of public sector banks writing off loans in FY21 followed by Union Bank of India.
- While SBI removed Rs 34,402 crore from its balance sheet, the Union Bank of India wrote off Rs 16,983 crore during the last fiscal.
- Punjab National Bank (PNB) wrote off Rs 15,877 crore in FY 21 and came third in the list as bad loans piled up.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Tata Power distribution arm in Odisha ties up with CSCs to facilitate online bill payments in rural areasTata Power Central Odisha Distribution Ltd has partnered with authorities of Common Service Centres (CSCs) under the Digital India Programme to facilitate online payment of electricity bills in rural areas.
- The collaboration will help rural consumers of the joint venture company between Tata Power and the Odisha government pay their power bills to CSCs and Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs).
InCred has entered into a strategic partnership with Amazon India to provide collateral-free, working capital loans of up to Rs 50 lakh to Amazon merchants via its seller portal.
- The InCred and Amazon India partnership aims to resolve this challenge by addressing the financial constraints of the Indian e-tailers.
- Both intend to empower them by extending quick, easy, and low-interest working capital loans based on their revenues, with minimal documentation and flexible repayment options.
SPORTS
Skateboarder Momiji Nishiya becomes Japan's youngest gold medal winner ever at 13Momiji Nishiya won gold in women's street skateboarding at the Olympics, which made her one of the youngest gold medal winners ever, CBS News reports.
- She also became Japan's youngest gold medal winner, as well as the first person to win a gold medal in women's street skateboarding, which made its Olympics debut in Tokyo this year.
- Horigome Yuto of Japan previously won gold in men's street skateboarding.
APPOINTMENTS
Basavaraj Bommai elected as 23rd Chief Minister of KarnatakaBasavaraj Bommai, veteran leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), took oath as the 23rd chief minister of Karnataka, succeeding BS Yediyurappa for the post.
- Bommai's predecessor had quit two days ago, amid speculations that were rife over a crisis in the BJP's state unit.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
India’s largest 3 GWh Li-ion battery factory to be set up by Lohum within 18 monthsLohum Cleantech, a lithium ion battery maker and a battery recycling solutions company, has firmed up plans to expand its manufacturing capacity of lithium ion batteries from 300 MWh to 1000 MWh (1 GWh) and its recycling capacity 10 times, from 1,000 tonnes per annum to 10,000 tonnes per annum.
- The expansion project, to be taken up on a modular mode, is likely to be completed within the next 12-18 months and will effectively take the recycling capacity to about 2 GWh of recyclable material.
Minister of state in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh said a multipurpose device COVID BEEP has been developed to monitor Oxygen rate, body temperature and heart rate indigenously by ECIL and ESIC Hyderabad.
- With the help of Red Cross Society 500 COVID BEEP has been provided to the hospital and it is helpful in maintaining Covid protocol. Mr Singh said the cost effective monitoring system has also inbuilt a GPS facility.
OBITUARIES
Legendary badminton player Nandu Natekar passes awayNandu Natekar, one of the superstars in Indian badminton history, passed away in Pune due to prolonged illness. He was 88.
- The first Indian shuttler to win a tournament overseas — the Selangor International crown in Kuala Lumpur in 1956, Natekar was among the first batch of the Arjuna Award recipients in 1961 when the awards were introduced.
- His international achievements included making it to the All England Championship quarterfinals in 1954 and representing India in the Commonwealth Games in Jamaica in 1966.
Noted Carnatic Classical Violinist ‘Kalaimaamani’ Sikkil Shri R Bhaskaran passed away at Chennai. He was 85.
- He was an ‘A” Grade Artist of AIR and has served for nearly 2 decades in Chennai radio Station from 1976 to 1994. He has served as an Executive Committee member of the Thiruvaiyaru Thyaga Brahma Festival for more than 2 d. ecades
- During his close to 5 decades of Musical Career, Bhaskaran has been bestowed with many laurels, Awards & Honours.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
‘India Versus China: Why They Are Not Friends’ book by Kanti BajpaiThe book titled ‘India Versus China: Why They Are Not Friends’ authored by Kanti Bajpai has been released recently.
- In this book Bajpai attempts to answer the question, with the help of four Ps: Perceptions, Perimeters, other Partnerships and Power asymmetry.
- The book, the second in a series from Juggernaut publishers after diplomat and scholar Husain Haqqani’s India Vs Pakistan: Why Can't We Just be Friends?, contains a concise version of the history of India-China ties, tracing a trajectory on the downslide.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Nature Conservation DayThe World Nature Conservation Day is observed annually on July 28.
- The occasion aims to create awareness about the need to preserve the environment and natural resources in order to keep the world healthy.
- The theme for this year's World Nature Conservation Day 2021 is "Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet".
World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease and hepatocellular cancer.
- This year’s theme is “Hepatitis Can’t Wait”.
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