Monthly Current Affairs PDF July 2020 PDF

Monthly Current Affairs Capsule – July 2020

S No Table of Contents Page No
1. Banking & Finance 02
2. Business and Economy 13
3. National News 26
4. State News 53
5. International News 79
6. Ranks and Indices 97
7. Summits and Conferences 108
8. Agreements and MoU signed 118
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9. Appointments 146
10. Recent Committees 153
11. Defence News 156
12. Sports News 162
13. Awards and Honors 170
14. Science and Technology 174
15. Web portals & Apps 192
16. Books and Authors 202
17. Important Days and Themes 205
18. Obituaries News 208
Banking & Finance
RBI in News
 Headquarters: Mumbai
 Founder: British Raj
 Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
 Governor: Shaktikanta Das
RBI: Tamil Nadu tops market borrowings among States
 According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Tamil Nadu has raised Rs 30,500 crores in the fiscal
2020-21 and has topped market borrowings among States in the country.
 Tamil Nadu, which has accounted for 17% of the borrowings done through the issue of bonds (known as state
development loans), has been followed by Maharashtra Rs 25,500 crores (14%), Andhra Pradesh Rs 17,000
crores (9%) and Rajasthan Rs 17,000 crores (9%).
 Tamil Nadu raised Rs1,250 crores at the low-interest rate of 6.63% for the 35-year bonds and Rs 1,250 crores
at the rate of 4.54% for the three-year bonds in the auction conducted by RBI.
 On July 7, Tamil Nadu borrowed an additional amount of Rs 500 crores rather than the Rs 2,000 crores
originally planned.
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 The State had planned to raise Rs 2,000 crores through the issue of bonds of Rs 1,000 each with tenures of 35
years and 3 years respectively.
 Tamil Nadu had an option to raise a further Rs 250 crore in each of these securities, through what is known as
the ‘greenshoe’ option.
RBI signs $400 mn currency swap with Sri Lanka
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed an agreement for extending a $400-million currency swap
facility to Sri Lanka.
 This currency swap is used to boost the foreign reserves and ensure the financial stability of the country,
which is badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 The currency swap arrangement will remain available till November 2022.
 Lanka was set to enter into an agreement with the RBI for a currency swap worth $400 million under the
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) framework.
Extra Shots:
Sri Lanka (Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/Sri Lankan Rupee
 President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa
 Prime Minister: Mahinda Rajapaksa
Other Banks in News
Banks sanction over Rs 1 lakh cr loans to 30 lakh MSMEs under ECLGS
 As per the data by the Ministry of Finance on 30 June 2020, banks from public and private sectors have
sanctioned over Rs 1 lakh crore loans under the Rs 3-lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme
(ECLGS) for the MSME sector as of June 26, 2020.
 Out of this, more than Rs 45,860 crore has already been disbursed under the 100 percent ECLGS for the
micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
 This would help more than 30 lakh units of MSMEs and other businesses restart their businesses post the
lockdown.
 The top lenders under the scheme are State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Canara
Bank and HDFC Bank.
Kotak Mahindra Bank & Innoviti Collaborates to Offer EMIs on Kotak Debit Cards Swiped on Innoviti POS
Terminals
 Kotak Mahindra Bank and Innoviti Payment Solutions Pvt. Ltd. announced that they have collaborated to
provide Equated Monthly Installments (EMI) billing options on Kotak Debit Cards which are swiped on
Innoviti Point of Sale(POS) terminals.
 The facility will enable about 10 million(1 crore)Kotak customers to pay for their purchases in instalments by
using the EMIs on debit cards facility at over 70,000 Innoviti POS terminals across more than 1,000 cities.
 The eligible Kotak customer to complete the purchase and to enable instant loan disbursement has to ask the
cashier for the Kotak Debit Card EMI facility, select the preferred EMI tenure and swipe the Kotak debit card
on Innoviti’s POS terminal.
Extra Shots:
Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited:
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 Registered Office: Mumbai, Maharashtra

 Managing Director & CEO: Uday Kotak
Innoviti Payment Solutions Pvt. Ltd:
 Registered office: Bangalore, Karnataka
 CEO: Rajeev Agrawal
HDFC Bank to Offer ‘ZipDrive’, an Online Instant Auto Loans to its Customers
 HDFC Bank announced that it will offer ‘ZipDrive’, an online instant auto loan to its customers in 1,000
cities.
 The auto loan disbursal product is only for customers with pre-approved offers.
 It is a technology-enabled loan product where credit assessment is done by banking software.
 The product will be available to tier 2 and 3 cities across India, such as Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh,
Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh, Thalassery in Kerala, and Balasore in Odisha among other places
 The customers can choose the preferred car model, dealer, loan amount within the eligible limits and tenure
online. They can also opt on-road funding up to 100% of the value.
 It provides a convenient and contactless form for obtaining auto loans from the bank at attractive prices and
terms. The customers need not have to visit any branch.
Extra Shots:
HDFC Bank
 Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
 Chairman: Deepak S. Parekh
 Tagline: We understand your world
Union Bank revamps Insurance distribution channels post merger
 The Union Bank of India has expanded its insurance distribution channels after the amalgamation of Andhra
Bank and Corporation Bank with it with effect from April 1, 2020.
 Now the bank will offer Insurance products of three life insurers, four general insurers and two standalone
health insurers.
 Prior to amalgamation Union Bank was distributing insurance products of one life insurer, 3 general insurer
and one stand alone health insurer, under corporate agency tie-up agreements.
 They were SUD Life Insurance Co Ltd, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, New India Assurance Co Ltd and
Chola M.S. General Insurance Co Ltd and Religare Health Insurance Co Ltd.
 Post-amalgamation, the bank has decided to continue corporate agency agreement with India First Life
Insurance Company Limited and LIC of India under Life Insurance segment, United India Insurance under
General Insurance segment and Manipal Cigna Health Insurance under Health Insurance Segment.
Extra Shots:
Union Bank of India
 CEO: Rajkiran Rai G.
 EDs: Gopal Singh Gusain & Manas Ranjan Biswal
 Owner: Government of India
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 Founded: 11 November 1919

NPCI to set up Rs 500-crore Smart data centre in Hyderabad to handle digital transactions
 The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is setting up its own ‘Smart Datacentre’ in Hyderabad,
Telangana, at an investment of Rs. 500 crore.
 The foundation stone for this Tier-IV data centre was laid by Telangana Information Technology and
Industries Minister KT Rama Rao at Narsingi village in Hyderabad.
 The Smart Data Centre is being constructed by L&T and will be built with an Internet of Things (IoT) based
building- management system that will have eight layers of security, conforming to top global standards of
data centres.
 The centre will protect the systems from natural calamities, ensuring smooth processing of data and further
enhance acceptance infrastructure for digital payments so as to encourage customers towards digital
transactions.
Extra Shots:
NPCI
 Headquarters location: Mumbai
 Founded: 2008
 Number of employees: 1,000
 Type of business: Section 8 Company
 Founders: Reserve Bank of India, Indian Banks' Association
Loans worth over Rs 1.10 lakh crore sanctioned by Banks under ECLGS until 1st July
 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme
(ECLGS) on 13th May 2020. ECLGS was announced as a part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Package for
supporting the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.
 As of 1st July 2020, Public Sector Banks and Private Banks across the country have sanctioned loans worth
over Rs 1.10 lakh crore under ECLGS. Out of this Rs 1.10 lakh crore sanctioned, more than Rs 52000 crore of
the loan amount has been already disbursed until 1st July.
 Out of the Rs 52000 crores that have been disbursed, Public Sector Banks have disbursed Rs 33,000 crore.
 This Rs 33,000 crore was disbursed to around 12,59,000 MSMEs across the country.
 To around 1,45,000 MSMEs were disbursed the remaining Rs 19,000 crore by Private Banks.
ECLGS
 ECLGS ensured that the credit required by the MSMEs for restarting their businesses.
 Under ECLGS, banks were incentivized so that credit of up to Rs 3 lakh crore can be provided to MSMEs and
businesses across the country. As per estimation by the Government, the Rs 3 lakh crore will enable more
than 30 MSMEs and businesses across the country to meet their operational liabilities required for restarting
the business.
 National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) will be providing a 100 percent guarantee for the
loans sanctioned by the banks under the ECLGS.
YES Bank launches ‘Loan in Seconds’ for instant loan disbursement
 YES Bank has launched a digital solution, “Loan in Seconds” for instant disbursement of retail loans.
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 The account holders identified by the bank can avail this quick loan disbursal facility without any document.
 The solution aims to provide customers, completely paperless and hassle-free loans to help them meet their
immediate financial needs.
 Eligible customers under ‘Loan in Seconds’ will receive communication from the bank with the link to apply
for the loan.
 All the eligible customers under the solution will receive communication from the bank with the link to apply
for the loan.
 Those customers have to verify and accept the final offer.
Extra Shots:
YES Bank:
 MD and CEO: Prashant Kumar
 Tagline: Experience our Expertise
Karur Vysya Bank partners with Star Health Insurance

 The Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) has entered into a partnership with Star Health and Allied Insurance Co to
provide a wide range of health insurance options to its customers.
 Under the agreement, all the health insurance products of Star Health & Allied Insurance will be made
available through all 780 branches of the Karur Vysya Bank.
 This agreement helps the bank to provide cost-effective insurance products and quick settlement of claims its
customers.
Extra Shots:
Karur Vysya Bank
 Headquarters: Karur, Tamil Nadu.
 Tagline: Smart Way to Bank.
 Chairman: N. S. Srinath.
Fino Payments Bank launches ‘Bhavishya’ Savings Account for minor children
 Fino Payments Bank Limited (FPBL) has launched a savings bank account ‘Bhavishya’ for minor children
aged between 10 and 18 years on 7th July 2020 to make children banking ready from early age and inculcate a
savings habit among them.
 Bhavishya is an annual subscription-based savings account, which can be opened with just Rs. 349 (inclusive
of GST).
 Initially, the bank is introducing the Bhavishya Savings Account in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh
and gradually it will launch in other states.
Features of Bhavishya Savings Account
 Monthly Average Balance requirement: Nil
 Free Platinum RuPay Debit card which can be used at ATMs only to withdraw cash with Aadhaar
authentication.
 Accidental Insurance/Permanent disability cover of upto Rs.2 Lakhs linked with Rupay Platinum Debit Card
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 Upto 5 free ATM transactions in a month

 Free cash deposit limit upto Rs.25,000 per month
 Free cash withdrawal at Fino Bank branches
 For security reasons minor should have a mobile number that is different from the parent’s number.
 Upon attaining 18 years of age, the BhavishyaSavings Account will be upgraded to regular savings account on
submission of Re-KYC with updated info.
Extra Shots:
Fino Payments Bank Limited
 CEO: Rishi Gupta
 Founded: 13 July 2006
 Subsidiaries: Fino Payments Bank, Alpha Payment Services India Pvt. Ltd, Fino Finance Private Limited
Equitas Small Finance Bank launches video KYC account
 Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited has launched a facility of opening account through video KYC .
 With this, any person anywhere in the country can open a savings account with Equitas Small Finance Bank,
complete the full KYC through video with the Bank employee.
 The new video KYC account is a step forward towards our vision.
 This will ensure contact less, no branch visit and hassle free account opening and transactions for customers.
Extra Shots:
Equitas Small Finance Bank
 Headquarters location: Chennai
 Founded: 2007
 Key people: Shri Arun Ramanathan; (Part-time Chairman); Mr. Vasudevan P N; (MD & CEO)
 Parent organization: Equitas Holding
Deutsche Bank and Google to form strategic global partnership to drive a fundamental transformation of
banking
 Deutsche Bank and Google Cloud have agreed to join forces and form a strategic partnership that aims to
redefine how the bank develops and offers its financial services.
 The partnership is unique in that it will not only deliver cutting edge cloud services to Deutsche Bank, but
also enable co-innovation between the two companies to create the next generation of technology-based
financial products for clients.
 Both parties have signed a Letter of Intent and plan to sign a multi-year contract within the next few months.
Extra Shots:
Deutsche Bank
 CEO: Christian Sewing
 Headquarters: Frankfurt, Germany
HSBC to set up IFSC Banking Unit at GIFT city in Gandhinagar
 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) is to set up the IFSC Banking Unit at
Gujarat International Finance Tec City, GIFT city in Gandhinagar Gujarat.
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 The world’s largest financial services organization HSBC has got in-principle approval from the GIFT SEZ
Authority to set up an IFSC Banking Unit -IBU at GIFT City, subject to other Regulatory approvals.
 The proposed commencement of the IBU by HSBC marks a significant development in India’s IFSC
business.
 It also proves GIFT’s mettle as a globally competitive international financial center.
Benefit from GIFT:
 GIFT IFSC Banking Units have played a pivotal role in the development of IFSC in India by providing dollar
financing to Indian corporate.
 As per available data, GIFT IFSC has contributed around 11 percent of total financial services exports of
India. Apart from banking, insurance and international exchanges in GIFT-IFSC have also seen an upward
trajectory in their business.s:
Extra Shots
HSBC:
 Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
 CEO: Noel Quinn
 Founder: Thomas Sutherland
 Founded: 3 March 1865, Hong Kong
GIFT City: Gujarat International Finance Tec City located on the banks of the Sabarmati River and is around 12 km
from Ahmedabad International Airport and is India's first operational smart city and international financial services
centre. It was promoted by the Gujarat government as a green field project.
‘Digital Choupal’ organized by NABARD on its 39th foundation day
 To mark its 39th foundation day of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), it
organises ‘Digital Choupal’.
 It was conducted in the form of a video conference which was attended by participants of different projects
initiated by NABARD, to share their experiences about the projects they are involved in.
Highlights:
 NABARD has launched a refinance scheme for financial institutions and banks. It has allocated Rs 5,000
crores for the scheme.
 The scheme will mainly focus on watershed development projects.
 These projects are spread over 2.3 million hectares of watershed, tribal development a nd rainfed areas.
 Under the scheme, the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies are to be turned into multi-service centres.
 The fund allocated under the scheme is to be made available to financial institutions and banks to lend to the
beneficiaries in 2,150 water shed development projects.
Extra Shots:
NABARD:
 Chairman: Govinda Rajulu Chintala
 Purpose: Development assistance; Poverty Reduction
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NABARD Credit Support of Rs1,607 Crore to Bengal in Coronavirus Crisis

 National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has provided credit support of Rs 1,607
crore to West Bengal during the COVID-19 pandemic so far.
 Besides the bank’s normal refinance schemes, this is a special liquidity support measure as the pandemic and
the lockdown have severely affected the rural economy.
 The help was provided through state cooperative banks, regional rural banks and micro-finance institutions.
Extra Shots:
West Bengal:
 Established on: 26 January 1950
 Capital: Kolkata
 Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar
 Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee
NABARD extends grant assistance of Rs 221.89 cr to support 298 watershed projects in Karnataka
 In Karnataka, NABARD has extended a grant assistance of 221.89 crore rupees to support 298 watershed
projects in over three lakh hectares benefitting 66,500 families. The State has about 75 percent of rainfed area.
 The projects have resulted in improving the crop productivity, diversification, soil and water conservation and
socio-economic condition of the beneficiaries.
Extra Shots:
Karnataka:
 Statehood Day: 1st November 1956
 Capital: Bengaluru
 Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
 Governor: Vajubhai Vala
 National Park: Anshi NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Kudremukh NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.
NABARD launches Rs 44 lakhs worth projects in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
 The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development launched projects worth of Rs 44 lakhs in
Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
 The projects have been launched to develop Self Help Groups and also to help in skill development of Self-
Help Groups in the territory.
 Around 385 village level programmes are to be conducted and provide training to leaders of newly formed
SHGs with an aid of Rs 10 lakhs.
 Under the project, women attached to Self Help Groups (SHGs) are to be trained for Mushroom Cultivation
and Bamboo handicrafts.
 NABARD is to carry out a yearly micro-entrepreneurship development programme for 150 members of
various SHGs in Middle Andaman.
 Also, NABARD has tied up with Centre of Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) to conduct agricultural
programmes of Rs 20 lakhs.
Extra Shots:
NABARD
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 Chairperson: Harsh Kumar Bhanwala
 Purpose: Development assistance; Poverty Reduction
 Formation: July 12, 1982
NHB provides Rs 25,000 crore to housing fin cos as refinance assistance in last 4 months
 The National Housing Bank (NHB) has in the last four months (March to June 30, 2020) provided a total
refinance assistance of over Rs 25,000 crore to the housing finance companies (HFCs) alone.
 Total refinance disbursements during July-June 2020 grew 24 per cent year -on-year to touch Rs 31,250 crore
under its various refinance schemes.
 Under the Aatmanirbhar Package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the NHB was
provided a Special Liquidity Facility of Rs10,000 crore by the Reserve Bank of India to address the pandemic
related liquidity issues of housing finance sector.
Extra Shots:
National Housing Bank (NHB)
 Website: nhb.org.in
 Sector: Bank
 Headquarters: New Delhi
 Managing Director: Shri Sriram Kalyanaraman
 Parent agency: Reserve Bank of India
Income Tax Department launches tool for Banks to ascertain TDS applicability rates on cash withdrawals
 The Income Tax Department launched a new tool for the banks and post offices that will ensure tax deduction
at source (TDS) on the cash withdrawals beyond the threshold.
 With the help of the tool, post offices and banks will be able to ascertain the TDS applicability rates on the
cash withdrawals of above Rs. 20 lakh in case a person is a non- filer of the income tax return and that of
above Rs. 1 crore in case of a filer of Income-tax return.
 On the cash withdrawal exceeding Rs. 20 lakhs, TDS will be deductible at the rate of 2% and it will be
deductible at the rate of 5% if the amount exceeds 1 Crore, in case the person withdrawing is a non- filer of
the income tax return.
Extra Shots:
Income Tax Department
 Founded: 1860
IndusInd Bank integrates with CRMNEXT to boost customer engagement
 IndusInd Bank has announced its successful integration with CRMNEXT, the leading enterprise solution
provider for banks and financial services.
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 This integration will enable the Bank to simplify the process of customer on-boarding, introduce new
products, and meet customer demands by automating and customizing processes to fit the modern-day
financial requirements
 The CRMNEXT platform will empower IndusInd Bank with an intelligence driven ‘Customer Action Center’
which will provide complete information on customers acquired from multiple sources, and make it available
on a single intuitive screen.
Extra Shots:
IndusInd Bank
 CEO: Sumant Kathpalia
 Headquarters: Pune
 Tagline: We Make You Feel Richer
 Owner: Hinduja Group
 Founder: S. P. Hinduja
 Subsidiaries: Indusind Bank Ltd, Asset Management Arm, IndusInd Financial Inclusion, Indusind Bank
Limited
NPCI launches UPI Auto Pay Feature
 The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) launched UPI Auto Pay feature for recurring payments.
 The feature launched is dedicated to recurring payments. It can be used for multiple financial purposes such as
booking bus pass, utility payment, paying DTH, train ticket among others.
Extra Shots:
NPCI
 Founded: 2008
 Founders: Reserve Bank of India, Indian Banks' Association
The NPCI offers following services namely
 Aadhaar Enabled Payment System
 Bharat Bill Payment System
 BHIM (a mobile app)
 Cheque Truncation System
 Immediate Payment Service
 National Common Mobility Card
 National Electronic Toll Collection
 RuPAy
 Unified Payment Interface (UPI)
‘Insta Click Savings Account’ launched by BOB
 India’s third-largest public sector bank, Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched ‘Insta Click Savings Account’, a
100 per cent paperless digital self-assisted online savings account.
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 The account is activated in real-time, which means the customer can start transacting, using the Baroda M
Connect Plus application with the MPIN received on the mobile number, immediately.
 The product also offers customers the option to subscribe to a wide range of digital channels like mobile
banking, Internet banking, UPI (unified payments interface), and debit card.
 Insta Click Savings Account uses a new form of digital KYC (know-your-customer) and Aadhaar-based OTP
(one-time personal identification number) authentication of the customer, which can be operated from the
bank’s website, through mobile phone, IPad, laptop, and PC.
Extra Shots:
BOB:
 Founder: Sayajirao Gaekwad III
 Founded: 20 July 1908, Vadodara
 Chairman: Hasmukh Adhia
ADB partnered with GCF to Boost Green Recovery from COVID-19
 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) agreed to partner toward a ‘green
recovery’ for members confronting the harsh economic impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
pandemic.
 Under Strategy 2030, ADB will ensure that 75 percent of its committed projects will support climate change
mitigation and adaptation by 2030.
 Climate finance from ADB’s own resources will reach USD 80 billion cumulatively from 2019 to 2030.
Extra Shots:
ADB:
 Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
 President: Masatsugu Asakawa
 Founded: 19 December 1966
 Purpose: Economic development
 Membership: 68 countries
GCF:
 Founded: 2010
 Headquarters location: Songdo-dong, Incheon, South Korea
MobiKwik launches personal UPI payment link mpay.me
 Digital wallet company, MobiKwik has launched “mpay.me” UPI link service that allows users to send and
receive money from any UPI payment app.
 This single link created using mpay.me can be shared anywhere to send and receive money and will work
seamlessly on mobile as well as desktop.
 Through mpay.me, users will now be able to generate their own mini personal payment gateways using their
phone numbers.
 Users can share it with anyone over chat, SMS, email, etc to collect payments.
Extra Shots:
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MobiKwik
 Founded: April 2009
 CEO: Bipin Preet Singh
 Headquarters location: Gurugram
 Area served: India
Business & Economy
Fitch slashes India’s GDP Growth Projection to 8% from 9.5% for FY22
 Fitch Ratings has cut India’s growth forecast for the fiscal year 2021-22 to 8 percent from its earlier
projection of 9.5 percent, in its June update of Global Economic Outlook released on 30 June 2020.
 However, the rating agency has retained its projection for the current fiscal which is expected to contract by 5
percent in the 2020-21.
 Meanwhile, Fitch projected Indian economy to grow 5.5 percent in 2022-23.
Extra Shots:
Fitch
 Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
 CEO: Paul Taylor
 Founder: John Knowles Fitch
 Founded: 1914, New York, New York, United States
World Bank approves $750 mn emergency response fund for India’s COVID-hit MSME sector
 The World Bank has approved loan worth $750 million to address the immediate liquidity and credit needs of
India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), severely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.
 The World Bank’s MSME Emergency Response program will provide financial support to some 1.5 million
viable MSMEs.
 With this, the World Bank’s total commitment has reached to $2.75 billion to support India’s emergency
Covid-19 response.
Extra Shots:
World Bank
 Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
 Parent organization: World Bank Group
 Membership: 189 countries (IBRD); 173 countries (IDA)
 Founded: July 1944
 Founders: John Maynard Keynes, Harry Dexter White
World Bank enhances support for rejuvenating Ganga, sanctions USD 400 mn
 The World Bank said it has enhanced its support for Government of India’s program to rejuvenate Ganga
river with a USD 400 million (about Rs 3,000 crore) assistance that will help stem pollution in the river.
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 The assistance will help strengthen the management of the river basin which is home to more than 500 million
people.
 Back in 2015, the World Bank Group has approved USD 1 billion for the First National River Ganga Basin
Project.
 The loan approved for USD 400 million is for the Second National River Ganga Basin Project (SNGRBP).
Objectives of SNGRBP
 Expand the sewage treatment infrastructure to more cities in the Ganga Basin
 In the long term, the assets related to sewage treatment is operated and maintained effectively
 Help develop State-of-the-art tools for National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) for effective management
of the riverfront
 To help control pollution discharge, sewage networks and treatment plants will be set up in select cities across
the Ganga Basin
 New infrastructure projects will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) to ensure long term
effectiveness and are well maintained
Extra Shots:
World Bank
India among Switzerland’s top-3 partners for info exchange on tax matters: Global Forum
 India figures among the top-three countries getting detailed information from Switzerland about bank
accounts and beneficiary ownership of entities established by their residents in the Alpine nation, according to
the latest study by OECD”s Global Forum on transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes.
 The latest peer review by the Global Forum, referring to the period from July 2015 to June 2018, named India
among the top-three jurisdictions to which Switzerland provided information on request.
 The other two countries were France and Germany.
 India is also rated as ”largely compliant” by this OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development) body.
States GSDP may contract by up to 14.3% in FY21 on Covid-19: Ind-Ra report
 The gross state domestic product (GSDP) of all states is likely to contract up to 14.3 per cent in the current
financial year due to the impact of Covid-19-induced lockdown on economic activities, says a report.The
contraction will be in the range of 1.4 per cent-14.3 per cent.
 States such as Assam, Goa, Gujarat and Sikkim are likely to witness a double-digit contraction in FY2021.
 The top five major states where the impact of lockdown was the most pronounced are Karnataka, Jharkhand,
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Odisha.
 The five major states where the impact of lockdown was the least pronounced are Madhya Pradesh, Punjab,
Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
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GST Revenue Collection Improves significantly in the month of June 2020

 Rs 90,917 crore is the gross GST (Goods and Services Tax) revenue collected in the month of June 2020.
 The amount Rs 90,917 crores is 91 percent of GST revenue collected in the month of June in 2019.
Breakdown of GST Revenue Collection for June 2020
 Central GST (CGST): Rs 18,980 crore
 State GST (SGST): Rs 23,970 crore
 Integrated GST (IGST): Rs 40,302 crore (includes-on import of Goods Rs 15,709 crore Collected)
 Cess: Rs 7,665 crore (includes-on import of goods Rs 607 crores collected)
Month-wise GST Revenue Collection in First Quarter of FY 2020-21
 The GST revenue collected in the first quarter of the Financial Year (FY) 2020-21 is 59 percent of the GST
revenue collected during the first quarter of the 2019-20 financial year.
 In April 2019 GST Revenue Collection was of Rs 113, 866 crore while in April 2020 it was 32,294 crore
 In May 2019 GST Revenue Collection was Rs 100,289 crore while in May 2020 it was Rs 62,009 crore
 In June 2019 GST Revenue Collection was Rs 99,940 crore while in June 2020 it was Rs 90,917 crore
Extra Shots:
GST: Goods and Services Tax is an indirect tax used in India on the supply of goods and services. It is a
comprehensive, multistage, destination-based tax: comprehensive because it has subsumed almost all the indirect
taxes except a few state taxes.
Govt launches Special Liquidity Scheme for NBFC of Rs. 30,000 crore
 The Government of India has launched a Special Liquidity Scheme worth Rs. 30,000 crore for improving the
liquidity position of Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFCs) and Housing Finance Company (HFCs).
Who will manage the Scheme:
 The Scheme will be managed by SPV (SLS Trust).
 SPV (SLS Trust) has been set up by SBICAP which is a subsidiary of the State Bank of India.
Highlights:
 RBI will provide funds for this Scheme by subscribing to government-guaranteed special securities issued by
the SLS Trust.
 The total amount of such securities issued outstanding shall not exceed Rs. 30,000 crores at any point of time.
 The Scheme was announced by Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on 13th March 2020.
Aim of the scheme:
 To ensure availability of fund to NBFC and HFC sector and hence improve the liquidity position of
NBFCs/HFCs.
Duration of the scheme:
 The Scheme will remain open for 3 months for making subscriptions by the Trust.
 The period of lending (CPs/NCDs of NBFCs/HFCs for short duration of upto 90 days) by the Trust shall be
for a period of upto 90 days.
Use of Fund by NBFC and HFC:
 NBFC and HFC cannot use this financing to expand assets.
 The financing would be used by the NFBCs/HFCs only to repay existing liabilities.
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Outlay of the Scheme:

 Rs 30,000 Crore
Eligibility criteria for NBFC and HFC:
 CRAR/CAR of NBFCs/HFCs should not be below the regulatory minimum, i.e., 15% and 12% respectively
as on March 31, 2019;
 The net non-performing assets should not be more than 6% as on March 31, 2019;
 They should have made net profit in at least one of the last two preceding financial years (i.e. 2017-18 and
2018-19)
Care Ratings Forecast India’s GDP to contract by 6.4% in FY21
 Care Ratings has revised India’s GDP growth forecast for the current financial year 2020-21 to contract by 6.4
percent.
 The rating agency had earlier projected a decline in GDP growth of 1.5-1.6 per cent in FY21.
 This decline is because the economic activity continues to be under restriction due to the lockdown on account
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Extra Shots:
Care Ratings
 Headquarters: India
 Founded: 1993
Fitch cuts India’s GDP growth forecast to 8% from 9.5% for FY22
 Fitch cuts India’s GDP growth forecast to 8% from 9.5% for FY22, in its June update of Global Economic
Outlook report.
 Fitch retained its projection of Indian economy contracting by 5 per cent in the current fiscal.
 Meanwhile, Fitch projected the Indian economy to grow 5.5 per cent in 2022-23.
Extra Shots:
Fitch
 CEO: Paul Taylor
 Founder: John Knowles Fitch
Intel Capital Invests Rs 1894.50 crore in Jio Platforms
 United States-based Intel Corporation’s investment arm Intel Capital will invest Rs 1,894.50 crores in
Reliance Industries Limited’s (RIL’s) subsidiary company Jio Platform.
 The announcement was made by Reliance Industries Limited on 3rd July 2020.
 With this investment, equity value in Jio Platforms rose to Rs 4.91 lakh crore, while Rs 5.16 lakh crore its
enterprise value.
 Rs 1894.50 of investment will translate to 0.39 percent of an equity stake for Intel Capital in Jio Platforms.
 In a matter of 11 weeks since 22nd April 2020, this was the 12th foreign investment in Jio Platforms.
 The 12 investments make a total of Rs 1,17,588.45 crores that have been raised in Jio Platforms.
 This investment also takes the total stake in Jio Platforms of foreign investors to 25.09 percent.
Page 16 of 210
NOTE:
Reliance Jio Investors List
S.No Investor Investment Amount Stake Bought
(in crores)
1 Facebook, Inc. Rs 43,573.62 9.99%
2 Silver Lake Partners Rs 5,655.75 1.15%
3 Vista Equity Partners Rs 11,367.00 2.32%
4 General Atlantic Rs 6,598.38 1.34%
5 KKR Rs 11,367.00 2.32%
6 Mubadala Rs 9,093.60 1.85%
(additional investment)
8 Abu Dhabi Investment Rs 5,683.50 1.16%
Authority
9 TPG Rs 4,546.80 0.93%
10 L Catterton Rs 1,894.50
0.39%
11 PIF Rs 11,367.00 2.32%

12 Intel Capital Rs 1894.50 0.39%
Extra Shots:
RIL
 Chairman & Managing Director: Mukesh D. Ambani
 Founder: Dhirubhai Ambani
 Founded: 8 May 1973
Intel Capital
 Founder: Avram Miller
 Founded: 1991
 Parent organization: Intel
 Headquarters location: United States
Piyush Goyal hints India’s Export in June 2020 has ‘Recovered’ after Contracting Drastically in April and
May
 The setbacks to the Indian economy in the first two months of the Financial Year (FY) due to the COVID-19
pandemic seems to be finally over as on 3rd July 2020 the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush
Goyal informed that merchandise export figures in the month of June 2020 have touched almost 88 percent of
the June 2019 figure.
 Earlier on 22nd June 2020, Piyush Goyal had informed that the contraction in outbound shipments are 10-12
Page 17 of 210
percent in the month of June 2020 if compared to 60 percent in April 2020.

 The overall export data for the month of June 2020 will be released by the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry on 15th July 2020.
 After three straight months of decline in Export figures, the signs of improvements bring about a much-
needed relief for the Indian economy.
 Overall combined Exports (Merchandise and Services) for the April and May month of 2020 were USD 61.57
billion, that is 33.66 percent decline in Overall combined Exports from the April and May 2019 figures.
India’s Exports & Imports in May 2020
 Exports in the month of May 2020 declined by 36.47 percent as compared to April 2020.
 Import Value: USD 22.20 billion (Imports in May 2019 was USD 45.35 billion)
 Export Value: USD 19.05 billion (Exports in May 2019 was USD 29.99 billion)
 Trade deficit: USD 3.15 billion (Trade deficit in May 2019 was USD 15.36 billion)
SBM Bank India, Mastercard partners to facilitate cross border remittances using Mastercard Send
 SBM Bank India (promoted by Government of Mauritius) and Mastercard have joined hands to facilitate
cross-border payments and remittances services by using ‘Mastercard Send’.
 Mastercard Send is a secured and innovative solution – crafted to modernize domestic and cross-border
payments and remittances.
 SBM Bank India is the first bank to receive universal banking licence from the RBI to set up and operate as a
scheduled commercial bank through the wholly-owned subsidiary mode.
Extra Shots:
SBM Bank (Mauritius)
 CEO: Parvataneni Venkateswara Rao
 Headquarters: Port Louis, Mauritius
 Parent organization: SBM Holdings
 Subsidiaries: SBM Bank Kenya Limited, Rafiki Microfinance Bank Limited, Banque SBM Madagascar SA
Mastercard
 CEO: Ajaypal Singh Banga
 Headquarters: Purchase, Harrison, New York, United States
 Founded: 16 December 1966, United States
 Founders: Wells Fargo, Crocker National Bank, First Interstate Bancorp, Bank of California
World Bank to provide USD 400 million to enhance support to rejuvenate Ganga
 World Bank and the Government of India (GoI) signed a loan agreement to enhance support for the Namami
Gange programme that seeks to rejuvenate the Ganga river.
 The Second National Ganga River Basin Project aims to help stem pollution in river Ganga.
 It will also strengthen the management of the river basin, which is home to more than 500 million people.
Highlights:
 The $400 million projects comprise a loan of $381 million and a proposed Guarantee of up to $19 million.
 The agreement aims to ensure that the river Ganga returns to a pollution-free, ecologically healthy state.
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 The new project will extend the engagement of India and the World Bank in this critical national programme
to make the Ganga a clean, healthy river.
 The project will help build infrastructure and institutions that are needed to make the Ganga clean.
Extra Shots:
World Bank:
Citi projects India’s FY21 GDP forecast at -6%
 Brokerage firm Citi, has projected India’s GDP for FY21 to contract by 6%. The projection has been lowered
by Citi, as compared to its earlier estimate of -3.5%.
 Citi has reduced the projection for the following reasons: Spread of the Corona Virus, Virus concentration risk
and Macro Indicators.
Extra Shots:
Citi is a leading provider of transaction banking, liquidity, credit and capital markets services to retail and
institutional broker-dealers, asset management and infrastructure companies worldwide.
AIIB provides USD 50 mn to L&T Infra Finance for renewable energy
 L&T Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (LTIFCL) has received USD 50 million from the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), for funding Renewable Energy projects in the country.
 The loan amount is first tranche of the total USD 100-million ECB (External Commercial Borrowing) loan
approved by Beijing-based AIIB.
 The fund will be used for on-lending large and mid-scale wind and solar power infrastructure projects in
India.
 Also, this is the first loan by AIIB to a non-banking financial company (NBFC) in India.
Extra Shots:
AIIB:
 Headquarters: Beijing, China
 Region served: Asia and Oceania
 Membership: 102 Members
 Main organ: Board of Governors; Board of Directors
 Purpose: Crediting
 Formation: 16 January 2016 (Open for business); 25 December 2015 (Entry into force Articles of Agreement)
 Legal status: Treaty
LTIFCL
 Founded: 2006
 Parent organizations: Larsen & Toubro, L&T Finance Holdings
RIL Becomes First Domestic Firm to Cross Rs 12 Lakh Crore M-cap Mark
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 RIL added another feather to its cap as its market valuation crossed Rs 12 lakh crore mark, a first by any
domestic company.
 The company’s market valuation rose by Rs 40,508.8 crore to Rs 11,73,677.35 crore at close of trade on the
BSE.
 RIL’s partly paid-up shares crossed Rs 40,000 crore in market cap, thereby taking the aggregate market
capitalisation of RIL to Rs 12.14 lakh crore (USD 163.1 billion).
Extra Shots:
RIL:
 CEO: Mukesh Ambani
 Owner: Mukesh Ambani (47.35%)
 Founded: 8 May 1973, Maharashtra
Global economy to contract by 5.2 pc in 2020: D&B Report
 The global economy is likely to contract by 5.2 percent in 2020, according to Dun and Bradstreet’s (DNB)
Country Risk and Global Outlook Report, that covered 132 countries.
 The reason behind this decline is the coronanvirus, which is still spreading, and the economic prospects of
countries across the world are uncertain.
Aditya Birla Mutual Fund launches voice-based services with Google Assistant
 Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC has launched voice-based services for its investors with Google Assistant.
 The voice assistant acts as a 24X7 interface for investors to interact with the fund house, to address their
various service requests such as portfolio valuations, account statement, capital gains statement etc.
 The Google voice assistant uses the latest in AI and NLP to provide a simple conversational experience and
provide the relevant solution.
Extra Shots:
Aditya Birla Group
 Founder: Seth Shiv Narayan Birla
 Founded: 1857
ADB, Education Above All Foundation agree to work together for quality Primary Education for out-of-school
children
 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Qatar-based Education Above All (EAA) Foundation have
signed an agreement to carry out $100 million in joint projects to put out-of-school and at-risk children into
quality primary education.
 The two organizations will implement projects in up to 10 countries to ensure that at least 320,000 out-of-
school children, including refugees and internally displaced children, realize their right to a quality primary
education.
 The 10 countries initially selected for projects are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar,
Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Sri Lanka.
Extra Shots:
Page 20 of 210
ADB: Asian Development Bank

Google to invest Rs. 75,000 crore in India over next 5 to 7 years
 Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced an investment of Rs. 75 thousand crore in India over the next 5 to 7
years through ‘Google for India Digitisation Fund’ to help accelerate country's digital economy.
 He made this announcement during the sixth annual edition of the "Google for India" virtual event.
The investments will focus on four key areas of India's digitization:
 Enabling affordable access and information to every Indian in their own language,
 Building new products and services relevant to India's unique needs,
 Empowering businesses as they continue to embark in digital transformation,
 Leveraging technology and Artificial Intelligence for social good in areas like healthcare, education and
agriculture.
Extra Shots:
Google
 CEO: Sundar Pichai
 Founded: 4 September 1998, Menlo Park, California, United States
 Parent organization: Alphabet Inc.
 Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States
 Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin
FICCI survey predicts India’s GDP to contract by 4.5% in FY21
 Industry body FICCI has projected the Indian economy to contract by (-) 4.5 percent in 2020-21, as per its
latest Economic Outlook Survey released on 12 July 2020.
 The minimum and maximum GDP growth estimate stood at (-) 6.4 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively, for
FY21.
 The downward revision is due to the halt in economic activities amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the
lockdown.
Extra Shots:
FICCI:
 Headquarters location: New Delhi
 Founded: 1927
 Founders: Ghanshyam Das Birla, Purshottamdas Thakurdas
 Type of business: Trade Association
CBDT launches a new Utility Tool for Banks and Post Offices for Proper Implementation of Finance Act 2020
 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has informed on 12th July 2020 that a new Utility Tool has been
launched that will facilitate the Banks and Post Offices across the country with the accurate TDS rate (Tax
Deduction at Source) applicable on cash withdrawals.
Page 21 of 210
 The utility tool can be accessed by the Banks and Post Offices by visiting the web portal-
‘incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in’.
 The Utility Tool is available under the name’ Verification of Applicability u/s 194N’ on the portal.
 The Utility Tool was developed based on the Data of Cash Withdrawal from across the country that has
suggested that large amounts of cash were withdrawn by Individuals who had never filed income tax returns.
Extra Shots:
CBDT:
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is the authority vested with the responsibility of the administration of
laws related to direct taxes through the Department of Income Tax.
India’s GDP to contract 7.5% if Covid vaccine is delayed, 4% in base case: Bank of America Securities
 A longer wait for a vaccine against Covid-19 virus may lead to a contraction of up to 7.5 per cent in the Indian
GDP in FY21, a foreign brokerage Economists at Bank of America Securities said.
 It also revised down their base case estimates on the real GDP within a week, and now expect it to contract by
4 per cent because of a drop in economic activity.
 Many analysts are expecting the Indian economy to contract by 5 per cent in FY21 as a result of the
nationwide lockdowns, with some also estimating a contraction of up to 7.2 per cent in the GDP.
Extra Shots:
Bank of America
 Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
 CEO: Brian Moynihan
ICRA Predicts India’s GDP to Contract 9.5% in FY21
 Credit Rating agency ICRA has sharply revised the GDP forecast for India and expects the Indian economy to
contract by 9.5% (-9.5%) in 2020-21.
 Earlier it had projected the GDP at -5% for FY21.
 The increasing Covid-19 infections, leading to localised lockdowns in some states and cities, affecting the
economic activities is the main reason for this sharp revision.
 Icra’s projection is the sharpest contraction in the gross domestic product (GDP) for FY21 among all
estimations so far.
Extra Shots:
ICRA
 CEO: Naresh Takkar
 Founded: 1991
 Owner: Moody's Corporation
India's foreign exchange reserves reach all-time high of 516.362 billion dollars
 India's foreign exchange reserves have swelled by 3.108 billion dollars to reach a fresh all-time high of
516.362 billion dollars in the week ended 10th July 2020.
 In the previous week, the reserves had increased by 6.416 billion dollars to end at 513.54 billion dollars.
Page 22 of 210
 India's special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund rose by 5 million dollars to reach 1.453
billion dollars, while the country's reserve position also increased by 19 million dollars to 4.545 billion
dollars.
Extra Shots:
Forex: The foreign exchange market is a global decentralized or over-the-counter market for the trading of
currencies. This market determines foreign exchange rates for every currency. It includes all aspects of buying,
selling and exchanging currencies at current or determined prices.
Govt starts e-campaign on Voluntary Income Tax Compliance for tax payers
 The Income Tax Department is all set to start an e-Campaign on voluntary compliance of Income Tax for the
convenience of the taxpayers.
 The 11-day campaign will focus on the assesses or taxpayers who are either non-filers or have discrepancies
in their returns for the financial year 2018-19.
 The objective of the e-campaign is to facilitate taxpayers to online validate their tax and financial transaction
information available with the I-T Department.
 Under this e-campaign the Income Tax Department will send email and SMS to identified taxpayers to verify
their financial transactions related information received by the I-T department from various sources such as
Statement of Financial Transactions, Tax Deduction at Source, Tax Collection at Source and Foreign
Remittances.
Nomura estimates India’s GDP to contract by 6.1% in FY21
 The Indian economy is expected to contract by 6.1 percent in the current fiscal (2020-21), as per the Japanese
financial services firm Nomura.
 The contraction in the GDP is due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has impacted both supply and demand
forces in the economy since March 2020.
Extra Shots:
Nomura:
 CEO: Koji Nagai
 Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
 Founder: Tokushichi Nomura II
 Founded: 25 December 1925, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
EPFO registers 3.18 lakh new subscribers in May 2020
 The subscriber base for Employees' Provident Fund Organization- EPFO has grown by 3.18 lakh new net
members during May 2020. It has registered 218 per cent month on month growth.
 The subscriber base growth is on account of increased number of new subscribers, lower exits and higher
rejoining by exited members.
 The new subscriber joining increased by 66 per cent from 1.67 lakh in April to 2.79 lakh in May 2020.
Extra Shots:
EPFO:
 Founded: 4 March 1952, New Delhi
Page 23 of 210
 Jurisdiction: India
 Type of business: Central-Owned
Government amended certain Indian Accounting Standards
 Government of India (GoI) has amended certain Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS), including the
standard relating to leases amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
 The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has amended Ind-AS 103, 116, and some other standards.
Highlights:
 Ind-AS 103 pertains to business combinations, Ind-AS 116 relates to principles for the recognition,
presentation, and disclosure of leases.
 The amendment to Ind-AS 116 is expected to provide significant relief to such lessees for accounting for rent
concessions from lessors specifically arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
 The amendment in Ind-AS 103 is aimed to help entities to determine whether a transaction needs to be
accounted for as a business combination or as an asset acquisition.
Bharti AXA General Insurance launches ‘Bohot Zaroori Hai’ campaign for farmers in Maharashtra and
Karnataka
 Bharti AXA General Insurance has launched a crop insurance campaign titled ‘Bohot Zaroori Hai’ for farmers
in Maharashtra and Karnataka to encourage them about their yield protection and financial security.
 Under the campaign, the Bharti AXA General Insurance, will insure the farmers in Maharashtra and
Karnataka for a period of three years under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY).
 Bharti AXA General Insurance has received Rs 800 crore worth crop insurance mandate from the
governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka for 3 years.
 The company will insure farmers under PMFBY in six districts of Maharashtra and three districts of
Karnataka.
 It includes Ahmednagar, Nashik, Chandrapur, Solapur, Jalgaon and Satara in Maharashtra and Dharwad,
Mysuru and Kodagu in Karnataka
Extra Shots:
Bharti AXA General Insurance
 CMD: Sanjeev Srinivasan
ADB approves USD 3 million grant to India to combat COVID-19
 Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved USD 3 million (about Rs 22 crore) grant to India from its Asia
Pacific Disaster Response Fund to further support the government’s emergency response to COVID-19
pandemic.
 The grant will be used to procure thermal scanners and essential commodities to strengthen India’s COVID-
19 response.
Extra Shots:
ADB:
Page 24 of 210

Bank of Maharashtra joins hands with Uniken for Omni-channel security
 In a bid to secure its Internet banking channels as also mobile, card, call centres and ATMs, among others,
against cyber fraud, the state-owned Bank of Maharashtra has joined hands with Uniken, a pioneer in the field
of digital security in India.
 The bank will use Uniken’s REL-ID technology for Omni-channel security.
 The REL-ID technology by Uniken has been modelled for defence-in-depth functions that will help secure the
bank’s mobile apps by protecting them against phishing, pharming and malware attacks.
Extra Shots:
Bank of Maharashtra
 Headquarters: Pune
 CEO: A. S. Rajeev
 Founders: D. K. Sathe, V. G. Kale
Tata Capital Growth Fund to invest Rs 225 crore in Biocon Biologics
 Biocon Ltd, a global biopharmaceuticals company, announced that the board of its subsidiary Biocon
Biologics India Limited has approved a primary equity investment by Tata Capital Growth Fund.
 Tata Capital will invest Rs 225 crore for a 0.85 percent minority stake in the biosimilar business, valuing
Biocon Biologics at an equity valuation of Rs 26,250 crore and an enterprise valuation of Rs 30,400 crore.
Extra Shots:
Biocon Ltd
 CEO: Arun Suresh Chandavarkar
 Founder: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
 Founded: 1978
 Headquarters: Bengaluru
Tata Capital
 CEO: Rajiv Sabharwal
 Parent organization: Tata Group
 Founder: Praveen Kadle
Govt extends deadline for filing income tax returns for FY 2018-19 till Sep 30
 Union Government has extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for 2018-19 fiscal by two months
till 30th of September.
 To further ease compliances for taxpayers, it extended the due date for filing of Income Tax Returns from 31st
of July 31 to 30th of September 30.
Page 25 of 210
National News
NBRI to set up Advanced Virology Lab to test COVID-19 disease

 The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, has set up an “Advanced Virology Lab” for
testing COVID-19 disease.
 The facility has been established as per the guidelines of the Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR), the
World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Highlights:
 Advanced Virology Lab is a Bio-Safety Level (BSL) 3 level facility. Biosafety levels are assigned to a facility
depending on the pathogen it deals with.
 As per the ICMR guidelines, the BSL2 level facility is recommended for COVID-19 and in an advanced
manner.
 The lab is facilitated with "Negative Pressure", which means it has a suction facility that can suck any aerosol
and pass it through filters. It can filter viruses or bacteria to make it a safe COVID-19 testing facility. This
will reduce the possibility of infections at culturing facilities.
 The facility will be added to the testing capacity of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Currently, the testing facility in UP
tests about 20,000 samples per day.
 The Lab will start testing 100 samples a day in the first week and later it will scale up to 500 samples a day.
Helicopter Services for Locust Control flagged off by Union Minister
 On 30th June 2020, a Bell 206-B3 Helicopter was flagged off with spray equipment for Air Force Station in
Rajasthan’s Barmer from the helipad facility in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar.
Highlights
 Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar flagged off the Helicopter.
 The Helicopter will be deployed for locust control in the desert areas of Rajasthan. Districts that the
Helicopter will cover are Nagaur, Jodhpur, Barmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur.
 The Helicopter will be able to cover about 25 to 50-hectare area in one flight. In a single flight, it will have
the capacity to carry 250 liters of pesticide.
Objective of the Helicopter Operation
 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned last week that the Desert Locusts may
breed in the semi-arid/desert regions of Rajasthan as the monsoon rains will make it suitable for them to
breed.
 The bell helicopter will work towards reaching areas in the desert that is not easily accessible through drones
and spray mounted vehicles.
Locust Control Operations
 From 11th April to 28th June 2020, a total of 2,33,487 hectares of land has been covered under locust control
operations in 9 states of India. In terms of crop loss, only from the state of Rajasthan, there have been reports
of minor crop losses.
Page 26 of 210
First Edition of ‘Matsya Sampada’ launched by Union Minister

 The first edition of Fisheries and Aquaculture Newsletter was launched.
 The name of the newsletter is ‘Matsya Sampada’.
 The newsletter was launched by the Union Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Giriraj
Singh.
 From the first quarter of 2020-21, newsletter Matsya Sampada will be published on a quarterly basis.
 The operational guidelines for the PMMSYscheme have also been published in the first edition of the
newsletter.
Aim of Matsya Sampada
 Through the newsletter, the Department of Fisheries will aim to reach out to the fishers and fish farmers of the
country.
 The newsletter will serve as a means of communication for educating and providing the latest information and
developments related to the fisheries and aquaculture sector to all the stakeholders involved in the sector.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
 With an investment of Rs 20050 crore, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) was launched
in May 2020.
 Through the scheme, responsible and sustainable development of the fisheries sector will be aimed, which
will further help in creating an AtmaNirbhar Bharat.
 Under the scheme, 55 lakh (5.5 million) jobs are expected to be created over the next 5 years as the target has
been set for an additional 7 million (70 lakh) tonnes of fish production per year.
Centralized System of Stamp Duty collection comes into effect from 1st July 2020
 Through Finance Act 2019, amendments were brought to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899. The amendments made
come into effect from 1st July 2020 onwards.
Highlights:
 These amendments were made for building a pan-India securities market and to boost Ease of Doing
Business.
 For building a pan-India securities market, a centralized system of stamp duty with a unified rate has been
brought under the amendments.
 A uniform stamp duty across all the states will be imposed for all financial securities transactions.
 For stock exchange, duty on the transaction of securities will be deposited to the Central Government.
 As per the legal and institutional mechanism, the stamp duty is collected by the State Government, under the
uniformity, the Central Government will deposit it to the State Government based on the place from where the
trade took place.
 For other financial securities transactions (non-stock exchange), depositories will collect stamp duties on
behalf of the State Government.
Estimated Rs 1,48,938 crore of food grains and pulses will be distributed from April to November 2020
 The Department of Food and Public Distribution has estimated that food grains (Rice and Wheat) and pulses
worth Rs 1,48,938 crore will be distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana in the period
between 8 months from April to November 2020.
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Breakdown of the Estimation

 The estimations were made based on Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) for the previous three
months April to June 2020 of the scheme.
 Under the Yojana, 5 Kg of Rice/Wheat is provided for free to each member of the beneficiary family per
month, also 1 Kg of pulses is provided to each beneficiary family per month.
 Estimations made suggests that a total of 32 million tonnes of foodgrains worth Rs 1,22,829 crores will be
provided from April to November 2020. An estimate of approx Rs 11,800 crore of Pulses will be distributed
in total during the April to November 2020 period.
 Apart from the above costs, Rs 3109.52 crores for distribution of foodgrains to migrant labourers in the
months of April and May 2020 and Rs 11,200 crore for Central Issue Price under the National Food Security
Act from April to November 2020 was been included in the estimation.
Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurates Asia’s first-ever Continuous Galvanized Rebar manufacturing facility
launched in Punjab
 The Union Minister of Steel Dharmendra Pradhan virtually inaugurated Continuous Galvanized Rebar
Production Facility at Mandi Gobindgarh in Punjab on 29 June 2020.
 The new plant is a first-of-its-kind facility in Asia to apply CGR technology that will increase life span of
these rebars thereby reducing the overall maintenance cost.
 The facility has been developed by International Zinc Association (IZA), in collaboration with Madhav KRG
Group. The project will be supported by Hindustan Zinc Limited.
 The Continuously Galvanized Rebar (CGR), are value added rebars for higher life and low maintenance of
infrastructure to provide significant cost savings compared to other corrosion resistant rebar systems.
 It is estimated that the plant will produce an annual capacity of over 30,000 tonne of ZnCoat TempCore TMT
bars, under the brand name ‘Jyoti’.
Extra Shots:
The Ministry of Steel is an executive branch agency of the Government of India that is responsible for formulating
all policies regarding steel production, distribution and pricing in India.
 Departments: Kudremukh Iron Ore Company
 Founded: 2017
 Annual budget: 47.9 crores INR (2018-19 est., US$6.7 million)
 Officeholders: Birender Singh (Minister), Vishnu Deo Sai (Minister of State)
Centre sanctions Rs 909 crore for permanent NIT campus in Uttarakhand
 The Centre has sanctioned Rs 909.85 crore for the construction of permanent campus of the National Institute
of Technology in Pauri district of Uttarakhand.
 Rs 831.04 crore out of the total amount sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development
will be spent on building a permanent campus at Sumari village in the district and Rs 78.81 crore on
upgrading facilities, including hostels and laboratories, at its present temporary campus in Srinagar, Pauri.
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 The state government will bear the cost of building a road near the institute and facilitate power and water
supply
Extra Shots:
Uttarkhand
 Capital- Dehradun
 Governor- Baby Rani maurya
 CM-Trivendra Singh Rawat
 National Park -Jim Corbett NP, Gangotri NP, Nanda Devi NP, Rajaji NP
19 lakh Household Provided FHTC under Jal Jeevan Mission during Lockdown
 During the first quarter (April 2020 to June 2020) of the FY 2020-21, despite a nationwide lockdown and
restriction on the movement of people due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 19 lakh households in the rural areas
across the country were provided with tap water connection.
 For the continuous progress and implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, for the Financial Year (FY) 2020-
21 Rs 8050 crore was allocated by the Central Government under the scheme.
Jal Jeevan Mission
 Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Central Government has set a target to provide every rural household in the
country with the facility of Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) of water by 2024.
 The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi during his address to the
nation on the occasion of the 73rd Independence Day of India on 15th August 2019.
 Following the target set by the Prime Minister, in the period of the next 7 months from September 2019 to
March 2020, 84 lakh households in the country were provided with tap water connection.
Estimated Expenditure for Providing Every Rural Household FHTC
 For achieving the target of providing every rural household in the country with an FHTC by 2024, Rs 3.5 lakh
crore will be spent, this was announced announced by Prime Minister in September 2019.
President inaugurated Dhamma Chakra Day 2020 celebrations on 4th July
 President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated Dhamma Chakra Day 2020 celebrations on 4th July 2020.
 The day is celebrated to mark Buddha's First Sermon to his first 5 ascetic disciples at the Deer Park,
Rsipatana in the present-day Sarnath near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
 Dhamma Chakra Day is celebrated by Buddhists across the world as the day of Dharma Chakra Parvattana or
“Turning of the Wheel of Dharma”.
 It is celebrated by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture.
Dhamma Chakra Day:
 Dhamma Chakra day is the second most sacred day for Buddhists after the Buddha Poornima or Vesak. It is
known as Asanha Bucha in Thailand and Esala Poya in Sri Lanka.
 The day marks Buddha's first teaching after attaining Enlightenment to the first five ascetic disciples
"pañcavargika" on the full-moon day of Asadha at Deer Park, Ṛiṣipatana (current day Sarnath, near Varanasi,
India.)
 Buddha's first sermon, after his enlightenment, is recorded in the Buddhist text "Dhammacakkappavattana
Sutta."
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 The day is also celebrated as Guru Poornima by both Buddhists and Hindus as a day to mark reverence to
their Gurus
The 5 ascetic disciples are:
 Kondañña
 Assaji
 Bhaddiya
 Vappa
 Mahānāma
Events:
 On this day, many events including messages from top Buddhist religious leaders, Masters, and Scholars from
various parts of the world will be streamed from Sarnath and Bodh Gaya.
 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole program will be conducted virtually.
 The event is expected to be witnessed by around 30 lakh devotees worldwide via live webcast.
HRD Minister, Sports Minister to launched Fit India Talks of eminent sportspersons with school children
 Government of India's flagship program "Fit India" has launched a series of interactive sessions titled "Fit
India Talks" with some of the top sportspersons of India on 3 July.
 The Fit India Talks sessions are organized in association with the Sports Authority of India and the Ministry
of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
Highlights:
 A host of leading sports personalities share their experiences of childhood, stories on how they got inspired,
their failures, struggles, and their success.
 It is expected that this session will give the audience a very inspirational and interesting account of their
journeys, from common school students to world-class champions.
 A total of six sessions will be held till 14 July. Star players including PV Sindhu, Sunil Chhetri, Ashwini
Ponnappa, Rani Rampal, Manika Batra, Apurvi Chandela, and Deepa Malik will join in at the sessions.
 The sessions will be streamed on Shri Ramesh PokhriyalNishank's social media pages, MHRD social media
pages, Fit India Facebook & YouTube channel, SAI Facebook Page, MyGov YouTube channel, SportsTak
YouTube channel, and the DD Sports Television and YouTube channel.
Extra Shots:
The Ministry of Human Resource Development, formerly Ministry of Education, is responsible for the
development of human resources in India.
 Officeholder: Ramesh Pokhriyal (Union Minister)
 Ministry executives: R. Subrahmanyam, (IAS Officer); Rina Ray, (IAS Officer)
 Founded: 26 September 1985
 Departments: Department of Higher Education, Department of School Education and Literacy
Hardeep Singh Puri launched the 6th edition of the annual cleanliness survey of urban India 2021 Swachh
Survekshan
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 The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Shri
Hardeep Singh Puri launched the sixth edition of the annual cleanliness survey of urban India, the toolkit for
Swachh Survekshan 2021.
 The survey was conducted by MoHUA.
Highlights:
 Swachh Survekshan is redesigned innovatively every year, to ensure that the process becomes more robust,
with a focus on sustaining the behaviour change.
 In 2019, the Ministry’s efforts focussed on ensuring the sustainability of the sanitation value chain, the SS
2021 indicators focus on parameters pertaining to wastewater treatment and reuse along with faecal sludge.
 MoHUA provided a detailed presentation on the methodology and various parameters of Swachh Survekshan
2021.
Prerak Dauur Samman:
 A new category of awards titled Prerak Dauur Samman will be given as a part of Swachh Survekshan 2021.
 Top three cities will be recognized in each category.
 The award has a total of five additional sub-categories namely:
1. Divya (Platinum)
2. Anupam (Gold)
3. Ujjwal (Silver)
4. Udit (Bronze)
5. Aarohi (Aspiring)
 A new category ‘population category’ been added.
 It will categorize cities on the basis of six select indicator wise performance criteria which are as follows:
 Segregation of waste into Wet, Dry and Hazard categories
 Processing capacity against wet waste generated
 Processing and recycling of wet and dry waste
 Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste processing
 Percentage of waste going to landfills
 Sanitation status of cities
PM extends “Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana” till November 2020
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the free grain distribution scheme under the Pradhan Mantri
Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) will be extended by five months till the end of November, with an
additional estimated outlay of Rs 90,000 crore.
 Over 80 cr people to get free food grain till Diwali and Chhath pooja.
 Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, 20 crore accounts have received 31,000 crores in their Jan Dhan
Accounts.
PM to Inaugurate Asia’s Largest Solar Plant on 10th July
 Through video conferencing, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the 750 MW Rewa
Ultra Mega Solar Plant on 10th July 2020.
 This was informed on 5th July 2020 by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
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 To date, the 750 MW Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project is the largest single-site solar power projects in
India and also in Asia.
Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project
 The Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project is located in Gurh Tehsil of Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district. It is
spread over 1,590 acres of land.
 For the successful implementation of the Power Project, a Joint Venture Company between Solar Energy
Corporation of India (SECI) and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikash Nigam Limited (MPUVNL) was set up.
 The name of the Joint Venture Company is Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL).
 The entire cost of the Solar Power Project is worth around Rs 4000 crore.
 International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the transaction adviser for the Solar Power Project.
 On 31st January 2018, the World Bank Group has approved a loan of USD 30 million (approx Rs 225 crore)
for the internal infrastructure of the project.
 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is an institutional customer of the 750 MW Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power
Project. 24 percent of the power generated by the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Plant will be supplied to Delhi
Metro.
Indian Railways to transform itself as 'Net Zero' Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030
 Indian Railways is taking decisive steps to transform itself as a 'Net Zero' Carbon Emission Mass
Transportation Network by 2030.
 It is endeavoring to be self reliant for its energy needs by utilising its vacant land for renewable energy
projects.
 Railways is committed to utilize solar energy for meeting its traction power requirements and become a
complete 'Green mode of transformation.
 The Railways Ministry has decided to install solar power plants on its vacant unused lands on mega scale.
 The use of solar power will accelerate Rail Minister Piyush Goyal's mission to achieve conversion of Indian
Railways to 'Net Zero' Carbon Emission Railway.
 The present demand of Railways would be fulfilled by the solar projects being deployed, making it the first
transport organization to be energy self-sufficient.
 This would help in making Railways green as well as Atma Nirbhar.
Extra Shots:
Ministry of Railways
 Government department executive: Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman, Railway Board;
 Founded: March 1905
 Departments: Indian Railways, Railway Board, MORE
 Officeholders: Piyush Goyal (Minister), Rajen Gohain (Minister of State)
India’s 1st NPNT compliant Drone flight successfully completed
 India’s First No-Permission No-Takeoff (NPNT) compliant drone flight on the A200 Remotely Piloted
Aircraft System (RPAS) has been completed successfully by Quidich Innovation Labs and Asteria Aerospace.
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 This NPNT drone flight is under the Ministry of Civil Aviation MoCA & DGCA comprehensive policy on the
use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), which came into effect on 1st Dec 2018.
 Quidich, in collaboration with the Drone Federation of India (DFI), has extended its services to Police
Departments across multiple states, providing drones for crowd monitoring and surveillance operations during
the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary to be upgraded into a National Park
 After months of Controversy, the Assam State Government has decided for the up-gradation of the status of
the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary to National Park.
 The decision was taken on 6th July 2020 and was announced by the Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda
Sonowal.
 This campaign was due to the controversial decision made by the National Board for Wild Life’s (NBWL)
during its 57th meeting of the Standing Committee on 7th April 2020 by giving preliminary approval for coal
mining to Coal India Limited’s subsidiary North Eastern Coalfield (NEC) inside 98.57 hectareof land Saleki
Proposed Reserved Forest.
 Saleki Proposed Reserved Forest falls within the ‘Eco-Sensitive Zone’, that is within 10 Km of radius from
the Dehing Patkai Wild Life Sanctuary.
 The Saleki Proposed Reserved Forest is at a distance of exact 9.1 Kilometers from the Dehing Patkai Wildlife
Sanctuary.
Extra Shots:
Assam:
 Capital: Dispur
 Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
 Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
 National Park: Dibru-Saikhowa NP, Kaziranga NP, Manas NP, Nameri NP, Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP
IARI Jharkhand’s bulding named after Late Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
 The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Jharkhand new administrative and the academic building
have been named after Bharatiya Jan Sangh founder Late Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on his 119th birth
anniversary.
 Shyama Prasad Mukherjee dedicated his life to the unity and integrity of the country, gave the call for one
nation-one law and sacrificed his life in Kashmir.
Extra Shots:
IARI:
 Founded: 1905
Govt to Release Commemorative Stamp in Honour of Ex-PM Narasimha Rao: Union Minister
 A commemorative stamp would be released soon by the Centre in honour of former Prime Minister PV
Narasimha Rao on his 100th birth anniversary, said by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy.
 PV Narasimha Rao served as the ninth Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996.
 He is revered as the ‘Father of Indian Economic Reforms.’
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Fever Network launches ‘Happiness Partner’ initiative to help SMEs amid pandemic
 Fever Network, the country’s leading radio network and house to the most popular radio stations, Fever FM,
Radio Nasha and Radio One is now live with its latest campaign – ‘Your Happiness Partner’.
 The initiative aims to support the pandemic-affected small and medium enterprises and help them bounce
back faster with the right promotion plan, targeting the right audience.
Govt sanctions Rs 4,000 cr under Atmanirbhar programme to improve infrastructure for Food Parks in
Karnataka
 Karnataka Agriculture Minister B C Patil informed that Central Government has sanctioned 4,000 crore
rupees under Atmanirbhar programme to improve infrastructure for the Food Parks in the state.
 Infrastructure will be improved in four Food Parks developed in the state and plans will be afoot to set up
more.
 Agri start-ups will be encouraged in the state to set up units in the Food Parks. Malur, Bagalkote, Hiriyuru and
Jewargi have Food Parks.
 Food Karnataka Limited is a special purpose vehicle appointed to manage these parks
Private players to begin rail passenger services by April 2023
 Private players will begin rail passenger services by April 2023, and they will run only five per cent of the
Railways’ total mail and express trains.
 The rest of the 95 per cent of the trains in India will be operated by Railways.
 All the train sets and coaches will be procured under this project will be as par Make in India policy
Cabinet approved Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
 The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a new pan India Central Sector
Scheme under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
 The main objective of the scheme is to provide a medium-long term debt financing facility for investment in
viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through interest
subvention and financial support.
Highlights:
 Under the scheme, banks, and financial institutions will be provided Rs.1 Lakh crore as loans to Primary
Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Self Help Group (SHG), Farmers, Joint Liability Groups (JLG),
Marketing Cooperative Societies, Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), Multipurpose Cooperative
Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, Aggregation Infrastructure Providers and Central/State agency or
Local Body sponsored Public-Private Partnership Project.
 Total Outlay: Rs 1 Lakh Crore
 Duration: 10 Years, from FY2020 to FY2029
 Purpose: Provide medium – long term debt financing facility to entrepreneurs, start-ups, agri-tech players and
farmer groups for setting up infrastructure and logistics facilities through interest subvention and financial
support.
 Beneficiaries: Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Marketing Cooperative Societies, Farmer
Producers Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Group (SHG), Farmers, Joint Liability Groups (JLG),
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Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, Aggregation Infrastructure Providers and

Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public Private Partnership Project
 Loan Disbursement Stages: 4 Years. Rs. 10,000 crore will be disbursed in the current year (2020-21) and Rs.
30,000 crore each in next three financial years.
 Interest subvention: 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs. 2 crore for a maximum period of seven years
 Credit guarantee coverage: Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme
for a loan up to Rs. 2 crore.
 Government of India will provide Rs.10,736 crore as the total outflow as budgetary support.
Centre released Guidelines for Evaluation of Nano-based Agri-input, food products in India
 Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh
Tomar released the ‘Guidelines for Evaluation of Nano-based Agri-input and food products in India' on 7 July
2020.
 The Guidelines are aimed to help the policymakers and regulators to frame effective provisions for future
novel nano-based products in the agri-input and food sectors of India.
Guidelines for Evaluation of Nano-based Agri-input and food products in India:
 The guidelines will encourage the Indian innovators and industries to develop and commercialize new nano-
based formulations and products in these sectors.
 It is expected that when compared to the bulk form of chemical inputs in crops, the use of nano-nutrients can
reduce nutrient run-off into ground and surface water. This will in turn can reduce environmental pollution.
 The formulation of these Guidelines is one of the most important steps for delineating quality, safety, and
efficacy assessment of the novel nano-formulations which can be commercialized.
 These guidelines are also aimed to provide transparent, consistent, and predictable regulatory pathways for
nano-based agri-input and food products in the country.
 The initiative has been brought on board all the Departments and Ministries that deal with Nanotechnology,
and nano-based products.
 It will also pave the way for significant benefits for the mission on Doubling Farming Income by 2022 and
the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture.
PM Narendra Modi to deliver the inaugural address at 2020 India Global Week
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to deliver the inaugural address on the first day of India Global Week 2020.
 Centre is to host a three-day virtual conference themed 'Be The Revival: India and a Better New World.'
Highlights:
 India Global Week 2020 will have 5000 global participants from 30 nations being addressed by 250 global
speakers across 75 sessions.
 Other officials who will participate at the event are Dr. S. Jaishankar, Union External Affairs Minister, Shri
Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Railways, and Commerce & Industry, Lt Governor of J&K, GC Murmu,
Isha Foundation Founder Sadhguru, Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, along with UK’s Foreign Secretary
Dominic Raab and Home Secretary Priti Patel, US Ambassador to India Ken Juster, and among others.
 The event will feature 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' performance by Madhu Nataraj and a special 100 birth
anniversary concert in tribute to the sitar maestro Ravi Shankar.
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Cabinet Approves Capital infusion of Rs 12,450 crores in Three Public Sector General Insurance Companies,
Process of Merger Ceased
 For three Public Sector General Insurance Companies, the Union Cabinet under the chairmanship of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has approved a capital infusion of Rs 12,450 crore on 8th July 2020.
 This capital infusion of Rs 12,450 also includes the capital of Rs 2,500 infused by the Central Government in
the Financial Year 2019-20 in these three Public Sector General Insurance Companies.
 Out of Rs 12,450 crore, Capital of Rs 3,475 crore will be released in the current financial year, Remaining
Capital of Rs 6475 will be infused later.
 The authorized share capital of NICL will be Rs 7500 crore while Rs 5000 crore for UIICL and OICL.
3 Public Sector General Insurance Companies
 Chennai headquartered United India Insurance Company Limited (UICL)
 New Delhi headquartered Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL)
 Kolkata headquartered National Insurance Company Limited (NICL)
Extra Shots:
NICL:
 Headquarters location: Kolkata
 Chairman & MD: Tajinder Mukherjee
OICL
 Chairman & MD: SN RAJESWARI
UICL
 Headquarters: Chennai
 CEO: Shri Girish Radhakrishnan
 Founded: 18 February 1938
Prime Minister e-Inaugurated 750 MW Asia’s Largest Solar Power Plant in Rewa
 Through video conferencing, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 750 MW Rewa
Ultra Mega Solar Plant on 10th July 2020.
 To date, the 750 MW Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project is the largest single-site solar power projects in
India and also in Asia.
Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project
 The Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project is located in Gurh Tehsil of Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district.
 It is spread over 1,590 acres of land. For the successful implementation of the Power Project, a Joint Venture
Company between Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikash Nigam
Limited (MPUVNL) was set up.
 The name of the Joint Venture Company is Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL).
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 The entire cost of the Solar Power Project is worth around Rs 4000 crore.
 International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the transaction adviser for the Solar Power Project.
 On 31st January 2018, the World Bank Group has approved a loan of USD 30 million (approx Rs 225 crore)
for the internal infrastructure of the project.
 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is an institutional customer of the 750 MW Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power
Project.
 24 percent of the power generated by the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Plant will be supplied to Delhi Metro.
White Paper launched for Recommendations on Immediate Technology and Policy Impetus to Make India
ATMANIRBHAR
 At a virtual event, White Papers prepared by the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment
Council (TIFAC) was launched by Dr. Harsh Vardhan (Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare) on
10th July 2020.
Focus of the launched White Paper
 As the global supply chain is mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, this also has created a
challenge for developed economies to re-position themselves and brought an opportunity for developing
economies to position themselves in the Global Manufacturing Hub.
 By realizing this, India has set the target of achieving ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)’ by adopting
appropriate technology and policy reforms that will provide a thrust to the ‘Make in India’ initiative in the
post-COVID-19 era.
The White Papers are on:
 Focused Interventions for Make in India: Post COVID 19
 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients: Status, Issues, Technology Readiness and Challenges
8.8 Crore People have availed Healthcare Services under Ayushman Bharat Yojana in last 5 Months
 At the Health and Wellness Centres across the country under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, in between 1st
February 2020 to 30th June 2020, about 8.8 crore Indian Citizens have availed healthcare services.
 The Health and Wellness Centres functioning across the country at the time of the COVID-19 Lockdown have
organized 6.53 lakh sessions of Yoga and Wellness
Highlights from All India Data Available (from 1st February 2020 to 30th June 2020) Out of the 8.8 crore
people:
 1.41 crore people were detected with Hypertension
 1.34 crore were detected with oral, breast or cervical cancer
 1.12 crore were detected with diabetes
 In June 2020: 5.62 lakh patients have been dispensed with medicines of hypertension while 3.77 lakh
medicines for patients with diabetes through the Health and Wellness Centres.
 The total number of Health and Wellness Centres providing treating under Ayushman Bharat Yojana as of 1st
July 2020 was 41,790.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches CAPFs nationwide tree plantation drive
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 Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Central Armed Police Forces-CAPFs nationwide tree
plantation drive.
 Under this drive, saplings were planted by the jawans of Central Armed Police Forces in Chhattisgarh.
 The personnel of BSF, CRPF, ITBP and CISF - deployed in Chhattisgarh for Anti-Naxal operations, planted
saplings in their respective campuses as well as in their places of deployment.
 By planting saplings, paramilitary forces are also playing their role in preserving and promoting the
environment as well as to check the pollution and save the Earth.
 All the CAPFs will undertake a drive in their respective organisations to achieve the collective target of
planting more than 1.35 crore saplings by this month.
Indian Railways to become Green Railway by achieving net-zero carbon emission
 The Ministry of Railways has announced mission mode with the goal of transforming Indian Railways into
Green Railways by the year 2030.
 It has taken a number of major initiatives towards mitigation of global warming and combating climate
change.
Highlights:
 Indian Railways, as a part of mission mode, has planned to electrify All routes on Broad Gauge (BG) network
by December 2023.
 Indian Railways is currently focusing on the electrification of last-mile connectivity & missing links. Under
this, 365 km of major connectivity work has been commissioned amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Indian Railways strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emission includes Railway Electrification, improve the
energy efficiency of locomotives and trains and fixed installations, green certification for
installations/stations, fitting bio-toilets in coaches and switching to renewable sources of energy, among
others.
Extra Shots:
The Ministry of Railways is a ministry in the Government of India, responsible for the country's rail transport. The
ministry operates the state-owned Indian Railways, an organisation that operates as a monopoly in rail transport and
is headed by the Chairman of Railway Board.
 Government department executive: Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman, Railway Board
 Officeholders: Piyush Goyal (Minister), Rajen Gohain (Minister of State)
NHAI to collaborate with IITs, NITs, reputed Engineering Colleges for improving highways
 NHAI has approached all IITs, NITs and reputed Engineering Colleges to collaborate and adopt nearby
stretches of National Highways on voluntary basis as part of Institutional Social Responsibility.
 This is part of NHAI's endeavor to provide world-class National Highways network.
 The objective is to leverage the intellectual prudence of students and faculty towards improvement of road
infrastructure ecosystem of the country.
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 The Institutes along with its faculty and students have better appreciation of local requirement, topography,
and resource potential and these vital inputs can be utilized by NHAI during different stages of pre-
construction, construction and operation of NH stretches.
 This decentralized approach provides an opportunity to the students for hands-on-learning, option for
internship and future areas of research.
 Large number of IITs, NITs and Engineering Colleges have opted to join the scheme and NHAI officers have
started mutual consultation with Directors of the interested Institutes.
Extra Shots:
NHAI:
 Founded: 1988
 Sector: Indian National Highway System
 Purpose: Development and maintenance of national highways
 Chairperson: Sanjeev Ranjan
Nitin Gadkari to inaugurate lay foundation stones for new economic corridor projects in Haryana
 Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate and lay foundation stones
for various new economic corridor projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore in Haryana in a web based function .
 Chief Minister Manohal Lal will preside over the function.
The projects for inauguration include:
 the 35.45 km 4-lane Rohna/Hasangarh to Jhajjar section of NH 334B costing Rs 1183 crore,
 the 70 km 4-laning of Punjab-Haryana Border to Jind section of NH 71 costing Rs 857 crore,
 the 85.36 km 2-lane with paved shoulders Jind-Karnal Highway on NH 709 costing Rs 200 crore.
The projects for foundation stone laying include:
 the 227 km 6-lane access controlled Greenfield expressway from Ismailpur to Narnaul on NH 152D in 8
packages costing Rs 8650 crore,
 the 46 km 4-lane Gurugram Pataudi-Rewari section of NH 352W costing Rs 1524 crore,
 the 14.4 km 4-lane Rewari Byepass costing Rs 928 crore, the 30.45 km 4-lane Rewari-Ateli Mandi section of
NH 11 costing Rs 1057 crore,
 the 40.8 km 6-lane Narnaul Byepass on NH 148B, NH 11 and Narnaul to Ateli Mandi section of NH 11
costing Rs 1380 crore,
 the 40.6 km 4-lane Jind-Gohana (Pkg 1, Greenfield alignment) of NH 352A costing Rs 1207 crore, the 38.23
km 4-lane Gohana-Sonipat section of NH 352A costing Rs 1502 crore,
 the 40.47 km 4-lane UP-Haryana Border to Roha on NH 334B costing Rs 1509 crore.
Extra Shots:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is a ministry of the Government of India that is the apex body for
formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to road transport, transport research and in
also to increase the mobility and efficiency of the road transport system in India.
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 Headquarters: Parivahan Bhavan, 1, Parliament Street, New Delhi
 Annual budget: 91,823 crores INR (US$13 billion, 2020-21 est.)
 Ministry executives: Sanjeev Ranjan, IAS, Secretary; I.K. Pandey, Director General (Road Development) and
Special Secretory to Government of India
 Officeholders: Mansukh L. Mandaviya (Minister of State), Nitin Gadkari (Union Minister)
Due to the Delays in Funding, India dropped from Construction of Chabahar-Zahedan Rail Project
 The Iran Government has decided to drop India from the construction of the Chabahar Port-Zahedan Railway
Line Project and now will be proceeding with the construction of the Project on its own.
 This was informed by the Transport and Urban Development Minister of Iran during the inauguration of the
Chabahar Port-Zahedan railway track laying process last week.
Chabahar Port-Zahedan Rail Line Project
 The agreement for the development of the Chabahar Port and for the construction of a 628 Km railway line
from Chabahar port to Zahedan was signed as a part of India’s Commitment in development of Trade with
Iran and Afghanistan.
 This Railway Project if completed by India would have served India an alternative Trade Route with
Afghanistan and the Rest of Central Asian Countries
 For the Railway Line Construction, Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the Indian
Government’s IRCON International Limited and the Iranian Railways during the visit of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to Iran back in 2016.
Extra Shots:
Iran (Capital/Currency): Teharan/ Iranian rial
 President: Hassan Rouhani
Ministry of HRD launched the guidelines for Pragyata
 The Union Human Resource and Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ released PRAGYATA
guidelines on digital education.
Highlights
 The PRAGYATA guidelines have been developed focusing digital education or online education.
 It will mainly help students who are presently at home due to lockdown. The guidelines include eight steps of
online learning.
 They are Plan, Review, Guide, Arrange, Talk, Assign, Track and Appreciate.
Extra Shots:
Ministry of HRD:
 Union Minister: Ramesh Pokhriyal (Constituency – Haridwar, Uttarakhand)
 Ministry executives: R. Subrahmanyam
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Govt aims to increase public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025

 In a meeting with the 15th Finance Commission, the Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, highlighted
that the government aims at gradually increasing the public health expenditure to 2.5 per cent of the nation’s
GDP by the year 2025.
 The Minister asserted that the outlay for primary health expenditure will also be made nearly two third of the
total public health expenditure in the country.
 The Health Ministry has also revised its requirement of around 4.9 lakh crores to 6.04 lakh crores in view of
the COVID pandemic.
Govt approves Rs 107 cr for firefighting facilities at Haldia Dock
 Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has approved 107 Crore rupees for augmentation of firefighting
facilities on five jetties of Haldia Dock Complex at Kolkata Port.
 The modern firefighting facility will enable the Haldia Dock Complex in safe handling of the movement of
petro-chemical products.
 The existing fire fighting facility does not support the handling of the LPG and other petroleum products as
per the guideline of Oil Industry Safety Directorate of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
India launches World’s Most Affordable COVID-19 kit “COROSURE”
 The Union Minister of Human Resource and Development Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishnak launched world’s most
affordable COVID-19 kit.
 The kit was developed by IIT Delhi.
 The test called “COROSURE” has been billed as the world’s most affordable RT-PCR based COVID-19
diagnostic kit. The base price of the kit is Rs 399.
 Around 10 companies have been given licenses to manufacture the kit. The technology of preparing the kit is
to be transferred to the companies by IIT Delhi.
 Both ICMR and DCGI (Drug Controller General of India) have approved the test kit. ICMR has approved the
kit with highest score and DCGI has approved the kit with highest sensitivity and specificity.
Extra Shots:
The Ministry of Human Resource Development, formerly Ministry of Education, is responsible for the
development of human resources in India.
Indian Railways creates ‘Post-Covid Coach’ to ensure safer journey
 The Indian Railways has launched a new state-of-the-art, ‘Post COVID Coach’ in an effort to prevent the
spread of COVID-19 virus infection.
 The Indian Railways’ production unit, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, has developed this new Post COVID
Coach.
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 The salient features of the Post COVID Coach are handsfree amenities, copper-coated handrails & latches,
plasma air purification and titanium di-oxide coating for COVID free passenger journey.
Indian Railways first cable-stayed bridge ‘Anji Khad Bridge’ being set up in Jammu & Kashmir
 India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge ‘Anji Khad bridge ‘is being constructed by the Indian Railways’ in
Jammu & Kashmir to connect Katra and Reasi Section of Jammu–Baramulla line.
Highlights:
 The Rs. 458 crore railway bridge is being developed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, a Government
of India undertaking.
 The total length of the Anji Khad Bridge is 473.25 metres, standing at a height of 331 metres above the
Chenab river bed.
 The project is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project of the Indian
Railways’.
 The USBRL project also involves the construction of Chenab river bridge, a steel and concrete arch bridge.
Once completed, the Chenab bridge will become the world’s highest rail bridge.
Extra Shots:
Jammu & Kashmir:
 Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
 Lt Governor- Girish Chandra Murmu
 National Parks: City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park,
Kishtwar National Park
 Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baltal-Thajwas WLS, Changthang Cold Desert WLS, Gulmarg WLS, Jasrota WLS,
Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS etc
Govt launches implementation guidelines for Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund
 Government launched the implementation guidelines for Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development
Fund, AHIDF worth 15 thousand crore rupees.
 The fund was approved by the Union Cabinet last month under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan stimulus
package for ensuring growth in several sectors.
Highlights:
 Government has been implementing several schemes for incentivizing the investment made by dairy
cooperative sector for development of dairy infrastructure.
 Dairy cooperative sector for development of dairy infrastructure. The AHIDF has been set up as MSMEs and
Private companies also need to be promoted and incentivized for their involvement in processing and value
addition infrastructure.
 The Dairy Processing Infrastructure Development Fund is being implemented for infrastructure development
in cooperative sector and AHIDF is a first type of scheme for private sector.
 The eligible beneficiaries under the Scheme will be Farmer Producer Organizations, MSMEs, Private
Companies and individual entrepreneurs with minimum 10 per cent margin money contribution by them.
KVIC opens footwear training center in Delhi for leather artisans
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 Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has opened first-of-its-kind footwear training center in
Delhi to train the marginalized community of leather artisans.
 The center has been established with the technical knowhow of Central Footwear Training Institute (CFTI),
Agra which is a unit of the Ministry of MSME.
 The KVIC-CFTI Footwear Training Cum Production Center located at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat, will provide
a comprehensive two months training program to leather artisans for making high-quality footwear.
Extra Shots:
KVIC
 Founded: 1956
 Purpose: To plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and
village industries
 Agency executive: Vinai Kumar Saxena (Chairperson)
 Parent agency: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
 Type: Statutory corporation
All capitals cities of North-Eastern states to be connected with rail network by 2023
 All capitals of North-Eastern states will be connected to the rail network by 2023.
 This announced was made by Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav.
 Work to connect capitals of Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya is in progress.
Attempts to connect every part of Jammu and Kashmir to the railway are underway at full speed, and the
Katra-Banihal rail link project is likely to be completed by December 2022.
Extra Shots:
Railway Board
 Chairman VK Yadav
 Parent organization: Ministry of Railways
Union HRD Minister to launch Manodarpan to provide psychosocial support to students
 Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ is to launch virtually the
Manodarpan initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) 21 July 2020.
 Manodarpan is an initiative under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, to provide psychosocial support to students
for their Mental Health and Well-being.
Highlights:
 The initiative is launched due to the need to focus on continuing education on the academic front and the
mental well-being of the students.
 Manodarpan will cover a wide range of activities to provide Psychosocial Support to the students for their
Mental Health and Well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond.
 All the students, teachers, and parents across India have been directed to join the initiative to keep a healthy
lifestyle and lead a stress-free life.
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 The Manodarpan initiative has been included in the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
 The initiative is a part of strengthening human capital and increasing productivity and efficient reform and
initiatives for the Education sector.
Extra Shots:
Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)
Union Power Minister inaugurated India’s first of its kind public EV Charging Plaza
 Union Minister for Power, New & Renewable Energy, Shri R.K Singh, inaugurated India’s first public
Electric Vehicle (EV) charging plaza at Chelmsford Club in New Delhi on 20 July 2020.
Highlights:
 The move is focused on enhancing energy efficiency and promoting e-mobility.
 The Minister also launched Retrofit of Air-conditioning to improve Indoor Air Quality for Safety and
Efficiency (RAISE).
 The two initiatives focus on energy efficiency, promoting e-mobility, and improving indoor air quality.
Charging plaza:
 EESL, in collaboration with New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), has established India’s first of its kind
public EV Charging Plaza in Central Delhi.
 The plaza will host 5 EV Chargers of different specifications.
 The charging plaza is compatible with a wide range of EVs. It will greatly spur e-mobility adoption.
 The charging plaza is expected to make EV charging hassle-free and convenient for the consumers, thereby
making e-mobility adoption an attractive proposition.
RAISE:
 RAISE (Retrofit of Air-conditioning to improve Indoor Air Quality for Safety and Efficiency) is a joint
initiative of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) MAITREE programme.
 The project focuses on improving indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal comfort, and energy efficiency (EE) in the
EESL office’s air conditioning system.
 The pilot project showed about 80% improvement in Air Quality parameters with almost no implementation
hassles.
Extra Shots:
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)
 Location: New Delhi
 Ministry: Ministry of Power (India)
 Founded: 2009
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 Subsidiaries: EPSL Trigeneration Private Limited, EESL EnergyPro Assets Limited

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launches PNB’s campaign to distribute face masks & sanitizers
 Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched Punjab National Bank’s campaign to distribute face masks
and sanitizers to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in New Delhi.
 Steps like donation in PM Cares fund and organising CSR activities for distribution of masks and sanitizers
have been taken by the Bank.
 use of masks and good hand hygiene promote COVID appropriate behaviour and this is the best ‘social
vaccine’ people currently have against the disease.
 The Bank is distributing such material in 662 districts throughout the country.
Extra Shots:
Punjab National Bank
 CEO: S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao
 Founded: 19 May 1894, Lahore, Pakistan
 Founders: Lala Lajpat Rai, Dyal Singh Majithia
Union Home Minister Amit Shah to launch Vriksharopan Abhiyan
 Union Home Minister Amit Shah is to launch Vriksharopan Abhiyan in New Delhi on 23 July.
 The Union Home Minister will also inaugurate and lay the Foundation stone of 6 Eco parks/ Tourism sites.
 The inauguration event will take place through Video Conferencing across more than 130 locations spread in
38 Districts of 10 coal and lignite bearing States.
 Large scale plantation to be carried out by Coal/Lignite PSUs under Coal Ministry.
Vriksharopan Abhiyan:
 Vriksharopan Abhiyan is organized by the Ministry of Coal.
 It will involve all Coal/Lignite Public sector undertakings (PSUs) during which large
 areas of Coal/Lignite PSUs.
 The seedlings will be distributed in nearby areas for promoting plantation by society.
 The eco-parks/tourism sites will provide avenues for recreation, adventure, water sport, bird watching, etc. for
the people residing in nearby areas.
 The sites will be integrated to form part of the tourism circuit.
 These sites are aimed to generate revenue for self-sustenance and create employment potential for local
people.
 The key thrust area of the coal sector is Going Green. It involves maximization of green cover through
ecological reclamation of mined-out areas and overburden dumps, a plantation in and around mines, and
avenue plantation suitable places.
Prakash Javadekar virtually launches piloting of National Transit Pass System
 Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today virtually launched piloting of the National Transit Pass
System at Indira Paryavaran Bhawan in Delhi.
 The National Pass System enhances seamless movement of forest produce. The Minister said Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has laid a lot of stress on the Ease of Movement.
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 People can apply for Passes from their mobile phones as well as receive e passes in their mobile phones.
Government to revitalize Fertilizer Industry to boost indigenous production
 Government of India (GoI) has announced that it is to take various initiatives to boost the fertilizer sector so
that an adequate amount of fertilizers could be made available to farmers during the sowing season.
 The information was made by the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda.
Various Measures taken by GoI:
 GoI is to revive the closed fertilizer units of Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL) at Ramagundam, Talcher,
Gorakhpur & Sindri, and Himachal Futuristic Communications Ltd. (HFCL) unit at Barauni.
 The aim is to become self-sufficient in urea production.
 This is a Joint Venture of nominated PSUs to set up gas-based fertilizer plants of 1.27 MMTPA capacity each.
 Under the provisions of New Investment Policy-2012 and its amendment in 2014, Chambal Fertilizers &
Chemicals Limited (CFCL) has set up a Brownfield project at Gadepan, Rajasthan with a production capacity
of 12.7 LMT Urea per annum.
Extra Shots:
Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL)
 Founded: 1961
 Headquarters: Noida
 Type of business: Publicly listed company
Indian Railways to RFID Tag all wagons by 2022 December
 Indian Railways is planning to radio-frequency identification tags (RFID) Tag all wagons by the end of 2022.
 Indian Railways is expected to complete this process of fitting RFID in all the wagons by December 2022.
Highlights:
 The RFID tags will be used to track all wagons.
 Around 23,000 wagons have been covered under the RFID project.
 The Project is still in progress amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Currently, the Indian Railway is maintaining such data manually that leaves scope for errors.
 The RFID devices will be easier for the railways to know the exact position of all the wagons, locomotives,
and coaches.
 The RFID tag will be fitted in the rolling stock and the trackside readers will be installed at stations and key
points along the tracks to read the tag from a distance of about two meters and transmit the wagon identity
over a network to a central computer.
 The moving wagon can be identified and its movement will be tracked.
Extra Shots:
Indian Railways
 Founded: 16 April 1853, India
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DST launched India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme
 The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched the India-Russia Joint Technology
Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme.
 DST has launched the programme in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) and Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) of the Russian
Federation.
 The programme will connect Indian, and Russian Science & Technology (S&T) led SMEs and Start-ups for
joint R&D for technology development and for cross-country technology adaptation.
 The programme is to strengthen the Science, Technology, and Innovation ties between India and Russia.
 The programme can leverage joint intellectual and financial resources to develop technologies that would
provide the solutions for the future.
 The programme will run through two annual cycles with up to five projects to be funded under each cycle.
 The project aims to lead S&T focus areas, including IT & ICT (including AI, AR, VR), Medicine &
Pharmaceuticals, Renewable Energy, Aerospace, Alternative Technologies, Environment, New Materials,
Biotechnologies, Robotics, and Drones.
Extra Shots:
DST:
 Founded: May 1971
 Subsidiary: National Innovation Foundation – India
Postal dept extends all small savings schemes to branch post office level
 Department of Posts has extended all small savings schemes up to the branch post office level.
 The decision aims to empower rural India by bringing all Post Office Savings schemes to the doorstep of the
people living in rural areas.
 The new order has allowed Branch Post Offices to offer facilities of Public Provident Fund, Monthly Income
Scheme, National Savings Certificate, Kisan Vikas Patra and Senior Citizen Savings Schemes.
World Class State of the Art Honey Testing Lab inaugurated by Narendra Singh Tomar
 Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the ‘World Class State of Art
Honey Testing Laboratory’ in Anand, Gujarat through Video Conference.
 The laboratory was established by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) with support of the National
Bee Board (NBB).
 The move is in line with PM Narendra Modi's vision to bring sweet revolution in India.
Highlights:
 The establishment of Laboratory will encourage large number of famers for production and marketing of
Honey and earn more profit in agriculture.
 Centre aims to increase the income of farmers and the Bee-keeping enterprise has to play a major role in
supplementing the income of farmers.
 GoI also aims to increase bee colonies, honey bee production, processing, marketing and export, which will
significantly contribute in GDP and boosting the rural economy.
Page 47 of 210
Extra Shots:
NDDB:
 Chairman: Dilip Rath
 Headquarters: Anand, Gujrat, India
NBB
 Chairman : Shri Sanjay Agarwal
PM launches High throughput COVID-19 testing facilities on 27 July
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched high throughput COVID-19 testing facilities on 27 July 2020
through video conferencing.
 The facility is aimed to ramp up testing capacity in the country.
 These facilities will help in strengthening early detection and treatment, assisting in controlling the spread of
the pandemic.
Highlights:
 The facilities will be able to test over 10,000 samples in a day.
 These labs will reduce turn-around-time and exposure of lab personnel to infectious clinical materials.
 The labs have been designed are enabled to test diseases other than COVID-19 as well, and is expected to test
for Hepatitis B and C, HIV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia, Neisseria, Dengue,
etc. post the pandemic.
The new three high-throughput testing facilities which were set up strategically are located at:
 ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida
 ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai
 ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata
Extra Shots:
ICMR:
 Secretary & Director General: Dr. Balram Bhargava
 Leader: Balram Bhargava
 Founder: Government of India
 Founded: 1911
Indian Railways Constructing World’s first electrified double-stack container tunnel near Haryana
 The Indian Railways is constructing the world’s first electrified double-stack container tunnel, between the
Aravalli hills, on the railway’s Western Dedicated Freight Corridor near Haryana’s Sohna
 Once operational, a double-stack container goods train will be able to run at a speed of more than 100 km
from within this one-km-tunnel.
 The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) is the implementing agency of the
project.
 The D-shaped tunnel is one of the biggest Railway tunnels in India in terms of cross-sectional area, measuring
150 square metres.
 One end of the tunnel is near Rewari while the other end of the tunnel is at Dadri.
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 The tunnel connects the Mewat and Gurugram district of Haryana.

Extra Shots:
Haryana:
 Capital: Chandigarh
 Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
 Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
 National Park: Sultanpur National Park, Kalesar National Park
47 Chinese clone Apps banned in the country
 Government has banned 47 more Chinese apps.
 Earlier, it had banned 59 China-based apps on the grounds of national security and data privacy.
 These 47 apps are clones of the previously banned Chinese apps.
5th phase of 'Vande Bharat Mission' to begin from 1st August

 The fifth phase of the Vande Bharat Mission will begin from 1st of next month to rescue Indians stranded
abroad. It will continue till 31st August this year.
 Over eight lakh 14 thousand people have returned since 6th May this year through various means under the
Vande Bharat Mission.
Government Sets Up Single-Window Clearance for Aviation Sector
 The civil aviation ministry has set up a single-window clearance mechanism to expedite various investment
proposals in the domestic aviation industry.
 The setting up of the ICC was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in 2020-2021 Union
Budget in February this year.
 The 10-member ICC will be headed by Amber Dubey, joint secretary in the aviation ministry.
Ministry of Earth Sciences launched MoES-Knowledge Resource Centre Network
 Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) launched a World-Class Knowledge Resource Centre Network (KRCNet)
under the Digital India initiative of the Government of India.
 KRCNet will be a single point entry to MoES. Due to this, the traditional libraries of the MoES system will be
upgraded into Knowledge Resource Centres (KRC).
Knowledge Resource Centre Network (KRCNet):
 Using the KRCNet, the resources and services of the MoES system will be accessible 24X7 through a one-
point dynamic, updated and integrated KRCNet portal.
 The pilot project was developed at MoES headquarters which will be integrated with other MoES institutes.
 KRCNet will establish a Total Quality Management (TQM) system by securing ISO certification for
documenting MoESknowledge resources, its maintenance, easy retrieval, and dissemination.
 It will develop and maintain an up-to-date meta-data of the print & digital resources available in MoES
headquarter and MoES institutes, including MoES services.
 KRCNet aims to provide 24X7 access to the subscribed knowledge contents through the KRCNet portal.
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DRDO launched Dare to Dream 2.0 contest for innovators and startups
 Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has launched its innovation contest ‘Dare to
Dream 2.0’ on 27 July 2020, the 5th death anniversary of former President and noted scientist Dr. APJ Abdul
Kalam.
 The scheme has been aimed for emerging technologies to promote the individuals & startups for innovation in
defence and aerospace technologies in India.
 The move is in line with ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Dare to Dream 2.0:
 Dare to Dream 2.0 is an open challenge to promote the innovators and startups of the country.
 Under the initiative, the winners will be decided after due evaluation by an expert committee.
 The winners will be awarded money, up to Rs.10 lakh for the startup, and Rs.5 lakh to the individual category.
 The contest is for the Ignited Minds, whether innovators or startups.
Extra Shots:
DRDO:
 Motto: बलस्य मूलं विज्ञानम्; "Strength's Origin is in Science" (Sanskrit)
 Founded: 1958
 Minister responsible: Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence
India to setup its own Cotton Warehouse in Vietnam to boost Exports
 The Cotton Corporation of India is holding surplus stocks of cotton.
 With the next harvest season approaching, the CCI is trying to boost exports.
 To export the current stocks, India will sign Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh to export 1.5 to
2 million bales of cotton.
 Also, the CCI will set up its own warehouse in Vietnam to boost cotton exports.
Extra Shots:
Vietnam (Capital/Currency): Hanoi/ Vietnamese dong
 President: Nguyễn Phú Trọng
Govt notifies changes in FDI norms on civil aviation
 GOI has notified changes in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms on civil aviation. It will permit non-
resident Indian nationals to own 100 per cent stake of Air India.
 Last month, the government for the third time extended the deadline to bid for Air India.
 The deadline was extended by two months till August 31st.
 The divestment process for the national carrier was initiated on January 27th.
Centre allocates additional Rs 40 thousand cr under MGNREGA in view of COVID-19 pandemic
 In view of the situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic, an additional allocation of 40 thousand crore
rupees has also been made for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme during
this financial year.
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 Union Minster for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar has called upon the states
to ensure that funds being routed to Gram Panchayats are effectively used for development works at the
village level.
 On this occasion, Mr Tomar released a Financial Management Index for Rural Development Programmes to
rank the performance of the states.
Extra Shots:
MGNREGA: Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act 2005, is an Indian labour law and social security
measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to work'. This act was passed in September 2005 under the UPA government
of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
 Official website: nrega.nic.in
 Launch year: 2006
 Sector: Rural Employment
 Launched by (prime minister): Manmohan Singh
 Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
National Education Policy 2020
 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the National Education Policy 2020.
 The recently approved National Education Policy 2020 will replace the thirty-four-year-old National Policy
on Education (NPE), 1986.
 National Education Policy 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century and aims to bring
transformational reforms in both school and higher education sectors.
 National Education Policy 2020 is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is based on
the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability.
HRD Ministry becomes Ministry of Education now
 Ministry of Human Resource Development has been renamed as Ministry of Education.
 The Union Cabinet has approved the change in the name of the ministry.
 The HRD Ministry is currently headed by Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
 The name change was a key recommendation of the draft New Education Policy.
 The HRD ministry name was adopted in 1985.
 The new National Education Policy (NEP) will replace the existing National Policy on Education which was
first formulated in 1986 and last modified in 1992.
Power Minister dedicates SECI 1, 2 and 3 wind projects to nation
 Union Power Minister Raj Kumar Singh yesterday dedicated Sembcorp's state of the art SECI 1, 2 and 3 wind
projects to the nation.
 With the full commissioning of its 300MW SECI 3 wind project, Sembcorp becomes the first independent
power producer to fully commission its projects awarded in the first three wind auctions held by the Solar
Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
Extra Shots:
Ministry of Power
 Departments: Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
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 Officeholder: R. K. Singh (MOS independent charge)

Indian Red Cross Society to buy 1.80 lakh face masks from KVIC
 Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has received a purchase order from Indian Red Cross
Society (IRCS) to supply 1 lakh 80 thousand face masks.
 the masks for Red Cross will be made of 100 per cent double-twisted handcrafted cotton fabric in brown
colour with red piping.
 KVIC has specially designed these double-layered cotton masks for the Indian Red Cross Society as per the
designs provided by them.
 The supply of masks will begin by next month.
Extra Shots:
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
 Founded: 1956
 Purpose: To plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and
village industries
 Chairperson: Vinai Kumar Saxena
 Parent agency: Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Central government to set up single-window clearance for business
 The central government is working on a single window portal which will reduce the time for businesses to get
clearances, further increasing India’s ranking in the ease of doing business.
 Single Window System is completely digital and provides for unified and integrated business procedures.
 Portal will be undertaken soon.
 With six states on board, it will showcase five lakh hectares of land that has already been identified.
 This will allow online viewing of land available for companies, from their distant offices, precluding the need
to frequently visit the offices of land-owning agencies.
Phase 5 of Vande Bharat Mission to start from August 1
 Phase Five of the Vande Bharat Mission is scheduled to start from the first of August.
 A total of 792 flights which include 692 international flights and 100 domestic flights have been scheduled
under this phase to repatriate Indians from 23 countries.
 These include GCC countries, US, Cananda, UK, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Israel, and Kyrgyzstan.
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State News
Madhya Pradesh
 Capital: Bhopal
 Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
 Governor: Anandiben Patel (Additional Charge)
 National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP,
Satpura NP
‘Intzaar Aap Ka’ Social Media Campaign by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board
 In order to attract tourists in the state, the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has started a social media
campaign.
 The name of the campaign is ‘Intzaar Aap Ka’ meaning ‘Waiting for You’.
 The campaign will be conducted by describing the characteristics of the tourism destinations in Madhya
Pradesh through photographs and videos.
 Through the campaign, the tourism board aims to establish the confidence back in the tourism sector by
offering tour packages to the tourists that are specially designed by keeping in mind safe travel, stay, and
excursion for prevention from COVID-19 infection.
 Recently, the Tourism Development Corporation of Madhya Pradesh has also started food home delivery
services in 3 cities of the state by following all safety standards required for prevention from Novel
Coronavirus infection.
 The home delivery service is conducted through a mobile application in order to keep the restaurants and
hotels under the Corporation functional amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
MP Govt launches ‘Hamara Ghar-Hamara Vidyalaya’ campaign
 Madhya Pradesh government has launched “Hamara Ghar-Hamara Vidyalaya” over a virtual platform to take
care of academic regularity of the students during the Lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.
 The scheme will start on 6th July 2020.
“Hamara Ghar-Hamara Vidyalaya” campaign:
 Under the scheme, the school bells are going to be heard within the student’s house and the teachers will
begin the class of the students after the bell.
 The scheme provides a school-like environment for the children taught at their home through online classes.
 The classes will be held from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm with 1 hours classes for every subject.
 The scheme will provide the topic preparation for the teachers of class 1 to 8.
 The timetable for the students’ education and other activities under this scheme are prepared by the School
Department of Education.
 As per the time table, the students will have subject classes from Monday to Friday and Saturday the students
will be engaged in activities like yoga, write and listen to stories etc.
 Under this scheme, the teachers will discuss take feedback from the students and parents.
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MP govt to run 'Roko -Toko' campaign for those who do not wear masks
 MP government will now run a Roko -Toko (रोको टोको) means stop and campaign for those who do not wear
masks.
 As the Use of masks is mandatory in all public places in the state.
 Now selected voluntary organizations will provide masks to the people who do not wear masks in public
places and will charge an amount of Rs 20 per mask from the concerned.
 The collector will select voluntary organizations in the district for this work.
 The number of persons available ,credibility and efficiency of the organization will be taken into
consideration while making the selection.
 Collectors will make available suitable places to these organizations for the distribution of masks.
 The selected organizations will be provided 100 masks created under 'Jeevan Shakti Yojana' on credit.
Madhya Pradesh Tops in the Implementation of PM SVANidhi
 Madhya Pradesh has topped in implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atma Nirbhar Nidhi
(PM SVANidhi) by sanctioning an interest-free loan of around Rs 15.50 crore to 15,500 street vendors in the
state.
PM SVANidhi
 PM SVANidhi is a central sector scheme that was launched on 1st June 2020 to help and formalize the street
vendors involved in small businesses across the country.
 The scheme is funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
 Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs 10,000 is being provided without any interest from Banks for a
period of one year to street vendors across the country so that they can resume their businesses in the post
nationwide lockdown period.
 The interest on the loan amount of 7 percent will be borne by the Central Government, while the remaining
interest on the loan amount will be borne by the Governments of that respective State in which the street
vendor is registered.
 Further, the Street Vendors who will timely repay the loan amount will be eligible for a loan of Rs 20,000 in
the next financial year under the scheme.
MP govt begins ‘Mera Ghar Mera Vidyalaya’ scheme to facilitate students
 Trying to facilitate learning among public school children amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Madhya
Pradesh government has started Mera Ghar Mera Vidyalaya Scheme.
 The scheme aims to provide students with a school-like atmosphere at home. After the launch of the scheme,
several teachers and staffers of the schools were seen delivering books and study material to the children.
MP govt to provide online COVID-19 prevention training to all 22 thousand 812 Gram Panchayats
 In Madhya Pradesh, state-wide online training is being provided by the Department of Panchayat and Rural
Development regarding the role of Panchayats and community in prevention, control and management of
Covid-19. This series of division-wise training will run till August 7.
 In this training, 22 thousand 812 Gram Panchayats of all districts in the state will be included.
 The training consists of a total of eight technical sessions in which the role of Panchayat in control and
prevention measures of COVID-19, technical aspects of management of quarantine center, role of women's
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groups and community-based organizations in relief operations, social security schemes run by the state and
central governments are mainly included.
MP govt to conduct Sero Surveillance study in three major cities
 In Madhya Pradesh, the State Government has decided to conduct a Sero Surveillance study in three major
cities i.e. Indore, Bhopal and Ujjain to control the rising cases of Corona infection and to understand the
infection rate.
 This survey will be conducted under the supervision of All India Institute of Medical Sciences-AIIMS,
Bhopal.
Indian Railways installs automatic lighting systems at three railways stations in Madhya Pradesh
 The Indian Railways has recently installed automatic lighting systems at three railways stations in Madhya
Pradesh. The Railways plan to scale up the project to cover more stations on its network.
 Railways have installed these automatic lighting systems at Jabalpur, Narsinghpur and Bhopal railways
stations of Madhya Pradesh, which fall under the West Central Railway zone.
 As soon as trains will arrive at the railway station, the lights of the platform will light up automatically at 100
percent capacity and as soon as the train leaves, 50 percent lights on the stations will turn off.
 Due to this, more than 100 units of electricity are being saved daily at big stations like Bhopal and Jabalpur,
which will lead to money-saving.
Bihar
DRDO to set up two temporary hospitals of 500 bed to treat Corona patients in Bihar
 In Bihar, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) will set up two temporary hospitals of five
hundred bed to treat Corona patients.
 DRDO has taken this decision in view of increasing positive cases in the state.
 These hospitals will be set up at Patna and Muzaffarpur with latest medical equipments.
 There will be 150 ventilators in each hospital.
Extra Shots:
DRDO:
 Founded: 1958
 Chairman: G. Satheesh Reddy
Rajasthan
 Statehood Day: 30 March 1949
 Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
 Governor: Kalraj Mishra
 Capital: Jaipur
 Literacy Rate: 66.11%
Rajasthan launches campaign”Pure for Sure” to ensure purity of milk & dairy products
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 The Rajasthan state government has launched a week-long campaign ”Pure for Sure” to ensure purity of milk
and its products.
 The campaign will run from July 8-July 14, 2020.
 Under the campaign samples of milk and dairy products will be collected for testing at Food Testing
Laboratory available at the divisional level.
 Information related to samples will be provided by the food safety officers on the FSSAI app on daily basis.
Rajasthan launches the first plasma bank of the state
 Rajasthan Government is to set up the first plasma bank of the state in Jaipur.
 The first ever plasma bank of India was established in Delhi.
 The plasma banks set up by the state governments operate within the states. On the other hand, the plasma
bank launched in Delhi operates at national level.
 The second national level plasma bank is to be opened in Tamil Nadu.
Extra Shots:
Plasma Therapy:
 Under Plasma Therapy, the blood plasma is collected from a COVID-19 recovered patient. It is then
transfused into a COVID-19 patient. The blood plasma is the fluid left after the components of blood are
removed. The components of the blood are RBC, WBC, and platelets. RBC is Red Blood Corpuscles and
WBC is White Blood Corpuscles. The RBCs are the ones carrying oxygen in the blood.
Chattisgarh
 Statehood Day: November 1, 2000
 Capital: Raipur
 Chief Minister: Bhupesh Baghel
 Governor: Anusuiya Uikey
 National Park: Indravati (Kutru) National Park, Kanger Valley National Park, Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay)
National Park
Chhattisgarh Government organises India’s first e-Lok Adalat
 Chhattisgarh government has organised the first e-Lok Adalat of India amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The
virtual hearings were conducted through video conferencing under the e-Lok Adalat along with its live
streaming.
 The “e-Lok Adalat” was organized by the High Court and Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority and
was inaugurated by P R Ramchandra Menon, the Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court.
 The “e-Lok Adalat” were organized in order to bring relief to people and to reduce the pendency of cases
amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
 During the “e-Lok Adalat”, over 3,000 cases were heard in around 200 benches of 23 districts across the state.
‘Godhan Nyay Yojana’ begins in Chhattisgarh
 In Chhattisgarh, first of its kind scheme of the country- Godhan Nyay Yojana commenced on 20th July.
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 Under the Godhan Nyay scheme, the Chhattisgarh government will procure cowdung at Rs 2 per kilogram
from livestock owners and use it to prepare organic fertilizers.
 Women self-help groups will prepare Vermi-compost using the cowdung procured under the scheme.
 This Vermi-compost will be sold at the rate of Rs 8 per kg.
 The state government will construct cowsheds in all 20 thousand villages in phases. These cowsheds are being
developed as day care center for cattle.
 The Godhan Nyay Yojana will be implemented through these cowsheds only.
Uttar Pradesh
 Capital: Lucknow
 Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
 Governor: Anandiben Patel
 State formed in: 24 January 1950
UP CM Yogi Adityanath launches piped water project ''Har Ghar Jal'' for Bundelkhand region
 Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath today launched the ambitious piped water project ''Har Ghar
Jal'' that means water to every house for Bundelkhand region.
 The 12 projects for which the foundation stone was laid by the Chief Minister in Jhansi today are part of the
''Jal Jeevan Mission'' Har Ghar Jal, started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 Union Janshakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and State BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh along with
other state ministers were present during the launch in Jhansi district.
 Under the first phase of project which costs 2185 crores the 3 districts of Bundelkhand region will be covered.
 Work for this first phase is expected to complete in next 2 years.
U.P Chief Minister Inaugurates ‘Mission Vriksharopan-2020’
 The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath has inaugurated a programme under which the State
Government of Uttar Pradesh has set a target to plant more than 25 crore sapling across the state.
 The name of the mega plantation programme is ‘Mission Vriksharopan-2020’. Yogi Adityanath planted 3
saplings at the Kukrail Reserve Forest’s Harishank ari Vatika in Lucknow to inaugurate the Mission
Vriksharopan-2020.
 He planted saplings of a Banyan tree, Ficus Virens and Ficus Religiosa.
 Under the Programme, in plantation sites, geo-tagging will be done. Apart from environmental plants (those
reduce environmental pollution), saplings of medicinal, shady, fodder and fruit yielding plants have been
disturbed across the 75 districts of the state. Saplings include the likes of Pipal, Neem, Sahjan, Jamun,
Mulvari etc.
 A total species of 201 variety of saplings will be planted under the programme.
 The mega plantation programme will also focus on biodiversity conservation for which saplings will be
planted across the banks of river Ganga and its tributaries.
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More than 25 crore saplings planted in UP Under Mission Vriksharopan-2020 drive

 In Uttar Pradesh, Guru Purnima is being celebrated across the state. This is the festival of showing respect by
disciples to their mentors.
 The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has appealed to the public to observe the festival of Guru Poornima in
compliance with social distancing in view of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
 And he planted a sapling at Lucknow on this occasion Under the Mission Vriksharopan-2020 drive.
 The government carrying out drive of planting 25 crore saplings in state in a single day
 Under the Mission Vriksharopan- medicinal, fruit yielding, environmental, shady, fodder, and other important
plants of more than 201 species are being planted which include Ficus Religiosa, Pipal, Ficus Virens,-Pakad,
Mulvari, Neem, Jamun,Arjun,Sahjan and Banyan
Uttar Pradesh ‘Startup Policy 2020’ gets Cabinet Approval
 The State Cabinet of the Uttar Pradesh Government has given its approval to an independent and
comprehensive ‘Startup Policy 2020’ on 8th July 2020.
 Until the Startup Policy 2020, Uttar Pradesh did not have an independent and comprehensive Policy for the
Startups in the state, policy for Startups in the state, policy for Startups was governed under the- Uttar Pradesh
Information Technology and Startup Policy 2017.
 The Uttar Pradesh ‘Startup Policy’ was prepared by the State Government with the help of NITI Aayog back
in 2018. The Policy got the approval of the State Cabinet on 8th July 2020.
Startup Policy 2020
 The Startup Policy 2020 will be applicable for a period of 5 years. The aim will be of the corporatization of
more than 10,000 startups across the state in these 5 years.
 Other Major Goals under the Policy are: To establish the largest incubator of India in the state and also to
establish the first dedicated Incubator for the Defence Sector in the country.
 On 20th May 2020, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath had launched the Uttar Pradesh ‘Startup
Fund’. This Startup Fund will be managed by SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India).
Locust swarms cause severe damage to crops in UP
 In Uttar Pradesh, Swarms of Locusts have caused severe damage to crops at various places in the state.
 Agriculture department ed farmers regarding the locusts and people are taking various steps to save crops
from the attacking insects. a swarm of locusts that reached Sitapur district has caused a big loss to crops in
various villages of 10 blocks under four Tehsils - Misrikh, Maholi Mahmudabad, and Bisawan .
Uttar Pradesh: Emergency services linked to 112 helpline number
 Uttar Pradesh government has expanded the ambit of the emergency police helpline number 112, and linked
fire, ambulance, railway police and disaster relief services with it.
 Now for any kind of emergency issues related to Government Railway Police, fire control, 108 ambulance
and 1090 women powerline people can call on 112 directly.
 The police response vehicles PRVs of 112 services had played an important role in providing assistance,
medicine and food to the needy during lockdown and extended its services to senior citizens also with a
special sawera campaign.
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Uttarakhand
 Capital- Dehradun
 Governor- Baby Rani maurya
 CM-Trivendra Singh Rawat
 National Park -Jim Corbett NP, Gangotri NP, Nanda Devi NP, Rajaji NP
Char Dham Yatra begins in Uttarakhand
 Char Dham Yatra begins today in Uttarakhand with restrictions.
 State government has issued 'Standard Operating Procedure' for pilgrimage to the four revered shrines -
Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
 No pilgrim from outside Uttarakhand will be allowed. The SOP mentioned that every pilgrim must carry
identification and address proof.
 Anyone from containment zone or buffer zone will not be allowed to travel to any of the four shrines.
'Waste to Energy' initiative of Uttarakhand to generate electricity from waste
 The Uttarakhand government has decided to convert waste generated in the state to electricity under an
initiative titled 'Waste to Energy'.
Data related to waste:
 At present 900 tonnes of waste is generated in the hill state every day, according to state government data.
 Out of the total waste generated, half is organic in nature while 17 per cent falls in a recyclable category
followed by 21 per cent biomedical waste and 11 per cent of inert nature which is building material waste.
 According to Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) this waste can
generate upto 5 megawatt of electricity and curb the pollution.
Aim of the Scheme:
 to convert waste generated in the state to electricity
 to solve the problem of unavailability of landfills to dispose off the solid waste across the hill state with has
10 out if 13 districts as hill areas.
Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat Inaugurated ‘Smriti Van’ on Harela festival
 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat inaugurated ‘Smriti Van’ at Asthal village of Dehradun
district in memory of late Jeet Singh Negi, famous folk singer of the state on the occasion of Harela festival.
 Harela(means the day of green) festival, a Hindu festival is celebrated by people from the Kumaon region of
the state of Uttarakhand and in some parts of Himachal Pradesh.
 The festival is celebrated thrice every year, the first Harela during Chaitra Navrati, the second during Sharad
Navratri in the month of Ashwin and third, Shravan Harela, is celebrated on July 16 this year (2020)
Uttarakhand: First govt-run inter-state chopper service flagged off
 In Uttarakhand, the first government-run inter-state chopper service that connects Dehradun to Garhwal hills
was flagged off yesterday.
 It will boost tourism in the hills.
 The flight on the Dehradun-New Tehri-Srinagar-Garhwal Gauchar route is operated by the state-run Pawan
Hans Limited under the Central Government's Regional Connectivity Scheme of 'Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik'
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was flagged off virtually by the Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri and Chief Minister Trivendra
Singh Rawat.
 The route provides much-needed air connectivity to people of the hill state and is affordable, the airfare
between Dehradun and New Tehri has been fixed at 2,903 rupees and the distance will be covered in 25
minutes.
 One has to spend a similar amount to travel on Tehri-Srinagar and Srinagar-Gauchar route.
Assam
 Capital: Dispur
 Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
 Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
 National Park: Dibru-Saikhowa NP, Kaziranga NP, Manas NP, Nameri NP, Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP, Dehing
Patkai
Poba Reserve Forest in Assam will be upgraded to Wildlife Sanctuary
 Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal has announced, Poba Reserve Forest in Dhemaji district would
be upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary.
 The announcement was made during a meeting with senior officials of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Majuli
districts at Jonai.
 Poba Reserve Forest declared in 1924 with an area of 10,522 hectares is home to a large number of flora and
fauna.
NOTE:
 Dehing Patkai wildlife sanctuary declared as Stae’s National Prak.
 Dehing Patkai will be the sixth national park in Assam. the other five being Kaziranga, Nameri, Manas, Orang
and Dibru-Saikhowa.
Assam govt deploys drone and anti-depredation quick response vehicle to guard forest areas
 In a move to intensify surveillance, Assam deployed a Surveillance Quadcopter (Drone) and an anti-
depredation quick response vehicle.
 The inauguration of the vehicle an intensified 24X7 surveillance would be made possible over the forest cover
of the state helping to rein in the increasing incidents of human-animal conflict.
 This surveillance drone would be able to narrow-cast any purported movement of the poachers and would
delve a blow to poaching in the national parks, wild life sanctuaries and other reserve forests
Mizoram
 State formed on: 20 February 1987
 Governor: P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
 Chief Minister: Zoramthanga
 Deputy Chief Minister: Tawnluia
 Capital: Aizawl
 Literacy rate: 91.58%
 Shares borders: Assam, Manipur, and Tripura
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Mizoram celebrates 34th anniversary of Mizo peace accord

 In Mizoram, the 34th anniversary of Mizo peace accord is being celebrated today on 1st July.
 The Mizo peace accord has been the most successful accord ever signed in the country and the world as well.
 Mizoram has become the most peaceful state and a beacon of hope for the world and proved peace can be
attained and sustained.
 The state government has declared public holiday for government offices and educational institutions to mark
the day.
 The peace accord was signed between the Union government and the erstwhile underground Mizo National
Front (MNF) on the 30th June in 1986.
 The signatories were MNF leader Laldenga, R. D. Pradhan, Union Home Secretary, and Lalkhama, Mizoram
Chief Secretary.
Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal virtually inaugurates Mega Food Park in Mizoram
 The Union Minister for Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal today made a virtual inauguration of the
Zoram Mega Food Park, set up at Khamrang in Kolasib district of Mizoram.
 This is the first of its kind modern food park in the state, set up at a 50-acre industrial complex, under the
mega food park schemes of the Ministry of Food Processing Industry.
 The Zoram Mega Food Park will provide direct and indirect employment to 5,000 persons and benefit about
25,000 farmers in the core processing centre and primary processing centre catchment areas.
 Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the Park will leverage an additional investment of about Rs. 250 Crore in
about 30 food processing units in the park and would eventually lead to a turnover of about Rs. 450-500
Crores annually.
Jammu & Kashmir
 Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
 Lt Governor- Girish Chandra Murmu
 National Parks: City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park,
Kishtwar National Park
 Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baltal-Thajwas WLS, Changthang Cold Desert WLS, Gulmarg WLS, Jasrota WLS,
Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS etc
J&K: 'One Nation One Ration Card' scheme inaugurated in Anantnag
 In Jammu and Kashmir, District Development Commissioner Anantnag KK Sidha inaugurated "One Nation
One Ration Card" at Food Civil Supplies & Consumer and Public Distribution (FCS & CAPD) sale outlet at
Nai Basti in Anantnag
 The move is aimed at providing ration to the card holders at any place of the country. On the occasion, some
migrant labourers of Uttar Pradesh were provided one month ration from the said sale outlet who have already
been Aadhaar linked.
 As per the scheme of the central government, the registered card holder is entitled to get ration for his family
or for the persons residing at any place.
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J&K LG e-inaugurates 10 power projects & lays foundation stones for seven others in Kashmir
 Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Girish Chandra Murmu e-inaugurated 10 power projects worth Rs. 19.51 crore
and laid foundation stones for 07 others costing Rs. 30.35 crore to boost power sector in Kashmir.
J&K LG e-inaugurates 15 important infrastructural projects of School Education Dept
 Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Girish Chandra Murmu has e-inaugurated 15 important infrastructural projects
of School Education Department to boost education sector.
Rs 25 lakhs insurance cover approved for Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Members
 Jammu and Kashmir administration announced life insurance cover of Rs 25 lakhs to all elected members of
urban local bodies and panchayati raj institutions.
 The provision of insurance aims to strengthen grassroots democracy by providing sense of security to the
members elected.
 This is essential as the elected members are under constant threat from terrorists.
J&K LG announces launch of ‘Macadamisation Program’
 Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu has announced the launch of a ‘Macadamisation Program’ for
the improvement of roads across Jammu and Kashmir.
 Murmu has approved a program for 100 percent Macadamisation of all roads in the Union Territory including
11,000 km of fair-weather roads.
Green J&K Drive-2020 begins in Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary of Jammu
 In order to mark 72nd Van-Mahotsa in Jammu and Kashmir, the Wildlife Protection Wing of Forest
Department yesterday kick-started Green J&K Drive-2020 at Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
 the department has set the target of planting about five lakh plants in various Wildlife Areas of Jammu region
during the monsoon season.
 The plants being planted are fruit, fodder and shelter trees, shrubs, herbs/grasses, soil binders etc.
 The focus of the plantation activity is towards habitat improvement for wild animals.
Jammu and Kashmir government establishes 12 AMRIT pharmacies
 Jammu and Kashmir Government has established 12 AMRIT Pharmacies across the Union Territory to reduce
Out of Pocket Expenditure for consumers.
 These stores provide branded drugs and implants surgical and disposable at affordable prices.
 These pharmacies offer an inventory of more than 5,200 drugs, implants, surgical disposable and other
consumables besides ensuring availability of generic and lifesaving branded drugs is its prime objective.
Kerala
 Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
 Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
 Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan
 Festivals: Onam, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram, Nehru Trophy Boat Race
 National Parks: Anamudi Shola National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park,
Pambadum Shola National Park, Periyar National Park,Silent Valley National Park
 Wildlife Sanctuaries: Aralam WLS, Chimmony WLS, Idukki WLS, Periyar WLS, Wayanad WLS, Peppara
WLS, Neyyar WLS, Kurinjimala WLS, Malabar WLS etc
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Kerala announces ‘Dream Kerala Project’ aimed at aiding returning expats

 The Kerala government has announced “Dream Kerala Project” to tap the potential and experience of those
returning from abroad and other states after losing their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 The project aims at the rehabilitation of returning expatriates and the state’s overall development.
 Among the returnees, there are a large number of professionals from overseas and other parts of the country.
 The project also aims to harness their potential for the future of the state.
 The project, to be jointly implemented by various departments of the state government, will provide the public
with an opportunity to give suggestions and ideas on the future of Kerala.
India’s first trans-shipment hub in Cochin port, Kerala
 The Minister of State for Shipping Shri Manasukh Mandaviya reviewed the development activities of
Vallarpadam terminal at Cochin.
 The terminal accommodates India’s first trans-shipment hub.
Trans-Shipment Hub
 A Trans-Shipment Hub handles containers and stores them temporarily. Later it transfers them to other ships
for onward destination.
Kerala announces new Entrepreneurship Development Programme
 The Kerala government announced a new Entrepreneurship Development Programme to address the issues of
shortage of working capital and availability of credit faced by start-ups and small entrepreneurs in the
backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 The aim of the programme to identify 2,000 entrepreneurs per year and plans to launch 1,000 new small and
medium ventures every year for the next five years, creating 5,000 new ventures.
 The programme will be implemented through the Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC), which will provide
loans up to 90 per cent of the project cost subject to a maximum of rs 50 lakh at 10 per cent interest.
Tamilnadu
 Capital: Chennai
 Chief Minister: Edappadi K.Palanisamy
 Governor: Banwarilal Purohit
 Chief Justice of Madras High Court: Vijaya Kamlesh Tahilramani
 National Park: Guindy NP,Gulf of Mannar Marine NP, Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) NP, Mudumalai NP,
Mukurthi NP.
Tamil Nadu govt decides to establish piped oxygen supply to beds in 59 state-run hospitals
 The Tamil Nadu Government has decided to establish piped oxygen supply to the beds in 59 state-run
hospitals.
 It has allocated over 75 crore rupees for the project.
Tamil Nadu govt announces monthly stipend of Rs. 3000 for the lawyers
 Tamil Nadu government on July 2 announced a monthly stipend of Rs. 3000 for the lawyers for the time
period of two years.
 The decision has been taken to help them overcome financial difficulties at the time of the crisis.
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 The announced stipend was the long-standing demand of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu.
 The state government has also been implementing an Advocates Welfare Scheme for more than three decades.
 To support the advocates, the government has decided to bring in the monthly financial assistance to the
young lawyers.
Advocates Welfare Scheme:
 Tamil Nadu Government has been implementing the scheme for more than three decades.
 Under the scheme, on the demise of the advocates, the state government provides seven lakh rupees each to
their families.
 After the announcement, as an additional measure, the young advocates will be getting a monthly dole of Rs.
3000 for the next two years.
TamilNadu government signs MoUs with 16 firms for Rs. 5,137-crore investments
 The Tamil Nadu government signed MoUs with 16 companies that would bring an investment of Rs. 5,137
crore and provide employment to 6,555 persons.
 This comes within three days of the State government signing MoUs with eight companies for bringing in
investment of Rs. 10,399 crore and providing 13,507 jobs.
 There are seven MoUs that have been signed in the technology space. Of these, six will come up in Chennai
and one in Coimbatore.
Tamil Nadu government to rename three metro rail stations in Chennai after late Chief Ministers
 The Tamil Nadu government has passed an order to rename three metro rail stations in Chennai after three
late Chief Ministers of the State.
According to the order
 Alandur metro will now be Aringar Anna Alandur Metro,
 Central will be renamed as Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MG Ramachandran Central Metro and CMBT metro as
Puratchi Thalaivi Dr J Jayalalithaa CMBT Metro.
 Earlier, the State had renamed the Central Railway Station after the late three-time CM MGR.
New Delhi
 Chief Minister: Arvind Kejriwal
 Lt. Governor: Anil Baijal
17 days ‘Paudhe Lagao, Paryavaran Bachao’ Campaign in New Delhi from 10th July
 A mega tree plantation drive has been announced by the Delhi Government on 2nd July 2020.
 The name of the campaign is ‘Paudhe Lagao, Paryavaran Bachao’ meaning ‘Plant Trees, Save Environment’.
 The campaign will begin on 10th July 2020 and will continue until 26th July 2020.
Objective of the Campaign
 In the last few years, the National Capital has recorded a high level of air pollution.
 The campaign is to reduce air pollution by increasing the green cover in and across New Delhi.
 In 2017, green cover in New Delhi was 299 square kilometers, this was increased to 325 in 2019.
 The Delhi Government’s Environment Ministry has set a target of 350 square kilometers of green cover by
2021.
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All About the Campaign

 In 17 days, 31 lakh (3.1 million) saplings will be planted under the campaign. Near ITO in National Highway
20 (NH 20) the campaign will be launched.
 Out of the 31 lakh saplings, Delhi Government’s various departments will be planting 18 lakh, the Delhi
Development Authority (DDA) will be planting 9 lakh 40 thousand saplings, 2 lakh by Delhi Municipal
Corporation and another 2 lakh will be planted in combine by Delhi Metro, Northern Railways and another 2
lakh will be planted in combine by Delhi Metro, Northern Railways and BSEB.
 Out of the 31 lakh saplings, 20 lakh saplings will be of big trees while the remaining 11 lakh saplings will be
of shrubs that will be planted on both sides of the roads.
Urban forest created at polluted ITO in Delhi
 The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar along with CAG Rajiv
Mehri inaugurated the dense urban forest.
 The forest has been created in a park adjacent to the ITO metro station, Delhi.
 It has been created by planting at least 12,000 saplings of 59 indigenous tree species.
 It has been built by the government’s official auditor comptroller and auditor general.
Highlights:
 The Urban Forest is made up of trees that are native to the area.
 There are three dimensional, multi-layered communities having 30 times the surface area of the greenery of
single-layered lawns, and have more than 30 times the ability to protect against natural disasters and to
conserve the environment.
 The move comes as the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi has become an increasing cause of concern in the
past years.
 Also, the ITO crossing of New Delhi has recorded particularly high air pollution levels.
 The forest creation will help in reducing the temperature by as much as 14 degrees & increase the moisture by
more than 40%.
 Urban forest has the capacity to restore habitat for bees, butterflies, birds, and microfauna.
India’s Largest COVID-19 facility ‘Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel COVID19 Hospital in Delhi becomes operational
 Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal inaugurated the 1000-bedded Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre and
Hospital (SPCCCH) at Radha Soami Satsang Beas in Chhatarpur area, located at Air Force land near airport
in Delhi.
 It is the largest COVID-19 facility in India and has been developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) in a record time of 12 days.
 The hospital will operated by medical team of doctors, nurses and support staff from Armed Forces Medical
Services.
 The facility has 250 intensive care units (ICU) beds and the capacity to house and treat 10,000 coronavirus
patients at the same time.
 Apart from this, DRDO has decided to name all the different wards of new Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel COVID-
19 Hospital in Delhi after the Indian Army troops who lost their lives in the Galwan valley clash last month.
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COVID-19 War Room to be set up in Delhi to check the spread of virus

 The Delhi government will set up a ‘COVID-19 War Room’, which will 24×7 monitor the city’s fight against
the novel coronavirus, and suggest measures to effectively deal with the prevailing situation.
 The ‘COVID-19 War Room’, which is being set up at the Delhi Secretariat, will be manned by around 25
experts.
 It is expected to become operational in the next few days
Delhi extends ban on manufacturing, storage, distribution of gutkha, pan masala for one more year
 The Delhi government has extended the ban on manufacture, storage, sale and distribution of gutkha and pan
masala for one more year.
 Food Safety Commissioner D N Singh issued a notification on the ban of these products.
 The city government's Food Safety Department has been issuing notification on the ban of gutkha and pan
masala for the last four years.
Delhi government approves doorstep delivery ration in the state
 Delhi government approved a scheme for door step delivery of ration in the state.
 Under the Mukhyamantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna, poor and needy in the national capital will be delivered
packets of wheat flour at their doorstep.
 Those who want to buy ration from Fixed Price Shops can opt out of this scheme.
 The scheme is expected to be operational in the next 6 to 7 months.
Nagaland
 Capital: Kohima
 Chief Minister: Neiphiu Rio
 Governor:R N Ravi
 State formed in: December 1, 1963
GoI declares entire Nagaland as “disturbed area” for 6 months
 The Government of India has declared the entire Nagaland as “disturbed area”.
 The declaration has been made for a further period of six months i.e. till end December. Supporting the
declaration, Ministry of Home Affairs mentioned in its notification that the area comprising the whole
Nagaland is in a disturbed and dangerous condition and hence the use of armed forces for “the maintenance of
public order” is necessary.
 Nagaland has been placed under the coverage of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for almost
six decades.
 The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) empowers the armed forces to search and arrest, and to
open fire if it seems necessary for “the maintenance of public order”.
Nagaland govt bans import and sale of dog meat in the State
 The Nagaland government has banned the import and sale of dog meat in the State.
 Commercial import and trading of dogs and dog markets, and commercial sale of dog meat in markets and
dine in restaurants will be banned in the state.
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 Any person found violating the order shall be liable to be punished under Section 428 and 429 of the Indian
Penal Code and Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Odisha
 Capital: Bhubaneswar
 Governor :Ganeshi Lal
 Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
Odisha’s new initiative ‘Sabuja Odisha’
 Odisha government decided to implement a new initiative ‘Sabuja Odisha’.
 The initiative will increase green cover through extensive plantations over 1,30,264 Hectares of land.
 About 1.30 lakh hectares of land where these seedlings can be planted has been identified in 2,660 locations
for plantation.
 A web-based system will be set up or real-time monitoring and supervision of the programme.
 District level Committee will be formed under the chairmanship of Collector for successful coordination and
implementation of the programme.
 Divisional Forest Officer’s Headquarters will act as Plantation Officer in the district. All districts are directed
to have their own micro-level work plan for plantations.
 The seedling will be distributed to the people of their choice at Rs 1 per seedling. The plantation sites with
geographic information system integrations will be uploaded on the website for continuous monitoring
through satellite applications.
 The identified 1,30,264 hectares of land for plantation is nearly two times more than the last year’s plantation
within 68,358 hectares.
Odisha Govt launches ‘Balaram Yojana’ to provide crop loan
 Odisha government has launched ‘Balaram Yojana’ to provide crop loans to landless farmers. Under the new
scheme, the landless cultivators will get loans through joint liability groups (JLGs).
 Under ‘Balaram’ scheme, the government has set a target to provide farm loans to 7 lakh landless farmers in
the next two years.
 While the Institute on Management of Agricultural Extension (IMAGE) will coordinate to implement the
scheme at the state level, the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) will coordinate at the
district level.
 It has set aside Rs 1,040 crore for the purpose. In rural and small towns, around 7,000 branches of several
banks and Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies will coordinate the implementation.
 The interest rate and subsidy on the loan amount will be decided as per the guidelines of the State farm loan
rules.
 The scheme comes in collaboration with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.
State Finance Commission of Odisha Recommends Rs 23,848 crore for PRIs and ULBs in the state
 Over the period of next six financial year (2020-21 to 2025-26), an amount of Rs 23,848 crore for the
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the state of Odisha has been
recommended by the 5th State Finance Commission of Odisha on 7th July 2020.
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 These funds allocated will be for strengthening the ULBs and PRIs in the state financially so that various
developmental projects and maintenance of existing assets can be taken up by these institutes and bodies.
 Projects on which the funds will be invested by PRIs and ULBs: drainage networks, sanitation, drinking
water, solid waste management, maintenance of public Health Sub Centers and Anganwadis, construction of
roads, etc.
Breakdown of the Rs 23,848 crore funds
 Rs 15,715.60 crore for Panchayat Raj Institutions
 Rs 8,132.52 crore for Urban Local Bodies
 These funds will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of Panchayati Raj Institutions (Gram
Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishads) by using ‘PRIA Soft’- Panchayati Raj Institutions
Accounting Software.
 PRIA Soft for the fund transfer will be integrated with the IFMS- Integrated Financial Management System.
 This Funds to be transferred in two tranches in a financial year: The first tranche will be released in the
months on May-June while in the month of October-November the second tranche will be released.
 For the second tranche to be released, the ULBs and PRIs will have to complete 30 percent of the work they
had taken up under the first tranche provided in the financial year.
Odisha to use satellite technology to prevent encroachment of government land
 Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled Bhubaneswar Land Use Intelligence System (BLUIS) which would
monitor changes in all government lands in Odisha by leveraging high-resolution satellite imagery.
 With this, Odisha has become the first state in the country to use space technology and artificial intelligence
(AI) for safeguarding government lands.
 The aim is to prevent the encroachment of government land in the capital city of Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Highlights:
 Bhubaneswar Land Use Intelligence System is a geo-tagged repository of all the government lands in
Bhubaneswar.
 The new technology is introduced because the present mechanism of detection and enforcement lacks
adequate transparency and accountability.
 It is created through high-resolution satellite imagery to detect all changes taking place on government lands.
 BLUIS is a web and mobile-based solution that will raise alarm over attempts to change the land use.
 BLUIS will monitor changes in all government lands in Bhubaneswar by leveraging high-resolution satellite
imagery.
 This mobile application will alert the enforcement authorities of any new construction on government lands.
 The GPS on the application will guide the enforcement staff to the exact location and the evidence of
enforcement will be uploaded on the application as geo-tagged images and videos.
Odisha’s Swabhiman Anchal gets First-Ever Bus Service
 The first-ever Bus Service in history was started on 10th July 2020 for the people of Swabhiman Anchal
(located in Malkangiri district of Odisha).
 The Bus Service was flagged off by MLA of the Chitrakonda Vidhan Sabha constituency.
 The bus will be operated by Odisha Government’s-Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC).
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 At 9 am from Malkangiri (District Headquarter) the bus will leave for Jodamba (in Swabhiman Anchal) every
day, the return bus will leave Jodamba at 6 pm every day.
 The distance between Malkangiri and Jodamba is 190 Km.
Odisha CM inaugurates first plasma bank for the treatment of COVID-19 patients
 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on July 15 inaugurated the first plasma bank for the treatment of
serious COVID-19 patients at SCB Medical College.
 During the inauguration, Odisha CM announced that Plasma Therapy will be free of cost for the people of
Odisha.
 As SCB Medical College will be the nodal agency for Plasma Therapy, the KIIMS Hospital and SUM
Hospital in Bhubaneshwar and Ashwini Hospital in Cuttack will provide the Plasma Therapy treatment to the
COVID-19 patients.
Recent News related to Odisha
 Odisha government announced a 14-day lockdown in four districts
 Police Collect Rs 76,000 Fine For Not Wearing Masks in Odisha City
 The Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) signed an MoU with TimesPro (SAP Partner) for a digital
skilling project on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day
 The Odisha government has entered into a partnership with online learning platform Coursera to train around
50,000 youths unemployed due to the COVID-19 outbreak in technological skills
Odisha’s Madhu Babu Pension Scheme now include Transgenders
 Odisha Government announced that transgenders are to be included under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana.
 In order to avail the benefits of the scheme, the transgenders should have a certificate issued under Section 6
of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
 Also, the income of the beneficiary should not be exceeding Rs 40,000 per year.
Madhu Babu Pension Yojana
 The scheme was launched in the state of Odisha in 2008.
 It is a merger of two pension schemes namely Revised Old Age Pension Rules, 1989 and Disability Pension
Rules, 1985.
 Under the scheme, the state government will provide pension to the state beneficiaries.
 This includes persons with disabilities, widows and now transgenders have been included.
 Madhu Babu Pension Yojana is a social security scheme that was launched in the state of Odisha.
 Under the scheme, around 5,000 transgenders are to receive Rs 500, Rs 700 and Rs 900 per month as pension.
 The women currently fighting in divorce cases are also to be brought under the scheme.
Ladakh
 Lt Governor: Radha Krishna Mathur
 Commissioner Secretary: Rigzin Samphel
 Divisional Commissioner Ladakh: Saugat Biswas
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UT Administration of Ladakh launched “Ladakh Food Security Scheme”

 The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh launched the Ladakh Food Security Scheme (LFSS) and
the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme (MMSFES) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was
discontinued.
 The introduction of the LFSS will benefit around 6101 families under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana in addition
to the 43,916 beneficiary families covered under the MMSFES.
 The food grains will be provided to all the category of beneficiaries of LHSS at the same price of the food
grains provided to the beneficiaries of the Priority Household (PHH) and Non-priority Households (NPHH)
scheme of J&K.
 Under this scheme, beneficiaries of AAY will be provided 5 kg of food grains per member over and above the
National Food Security Act (NFSA) entitled scale of 35 Kgs per family, providing a maximum of 50 Kgs
(NFSA+LFSS) per family.
Gujarat
 Capital: Gandhinagar
 Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
 Governor: Acharya Devvrat
 State formed on: 1 May 1960
 National Park: Vansda NP, Blackbuck NP, Gir Forest NP, Marine NP, Gulf of Kutch
AMC launched Dhanvantri Rath to take Non-COVID healthcare services to doorsteps in Ahmedabad
 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has launched Dhanvantri Rath to take Non-COVID healthcare
services to peoples’ doorsteps amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
 The aim is to ensure that non-COVID essential services related to diabetes, blood pressure, heart ailment, etc.,
are also provisioned to people who cannot visit the hospitals as many of them were not operating the OPDs.
Highlights:
 Dhanvantri Rath is a mobile van that provides non-COVID essential healthcare services to the doorsteps of
the people in the city.
 These vans have an Ayush Doctor, paramedic, and nursing staff along with a local Medical Officer from the
Urban Health Centre of AMC.
 So far, AMC has deployed 120 Dhanvantri Raths across Ahmedabad and it has successfully conducted over
4.27 lakh OPDs consultations.
 The mobile vans carry all essential medicines including ayurvedic and homeopathic medicines, vitamin
supplements, basic testing equipment along with pulse Oxymeter.
 The deployment of Dhanvantri Raths has had a substantial impact on COVID-19 management also, as several
hidden cases could be identified in time.
Gujarat CM inaugurates various tourism & pilgrimage project during e-launching event organized in
Gandhinagar
 Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated various tourism and pilgrimage project worth 126 Crore
rupees during the e-launching event organized in Gandhinagar.
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 Union minister of state for tourism Prahaladsinh Patel was also present at the E launching through video
conferencing.
 the Chief Minister expressed dedication of making Gujarat a World Tourist Destination by setting up a
complete tourism circuit of various tourist centers in the state.
Ahmedabad Railway Division successfully introduces unique concept of Baggage Sanitization
 Ahmedabad Railway Division has successfully introduced a unique concept of Baggage Sanitization and
Wrapping at Ahmedabad Railway Station.
 It is a first of its kind across the Indian Railways.
 The Division has come up with baggage sanitization and wrapping machine to ensure safetravel amid the
pandemic.
 the baggage sanitization and wrapping machine ensure 360 degree sanitization of the luggage by using ultra
violate radiation.
 The machine has been installed by a private enterprise.
 This service will be voluntary for passengers for which they will have to pay charge upto 80 rupees depending
upon the size and weight of the luggage.
Karnataka
Karnataka launches Weavers' Sammaan Yojana
 Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa launched Weavers Sammaan Yojana today. Under this scheme,
19,744 handloom weavers in the state will get annual financial assistance of two thousand rupees through
Direct Benefit Transfer.
 The State Government has allocated 10.96 crore rupees under the programme. There are 40,634 handloom
weavers registered with Seva Sindhu software.
 Out of them 37,314 applications for financial assistance have been approved.
 Chief Minister said that all the eligible handloom weavers will be given financial assistance under Weavers
Sammaan Yojana.
Karnataka Govt Sets Up Helpline for Complaints on Hospitals Denying Covid-19 Treatment
 The Karnataka government has set up a toll-free round-the-clock helpline to lodge complaints about hospitals
refusing to accept suspected coronavirus cases.
 If denied admission, the patient can call 1912. It is a 24×7 helpline number. Whoever calls the number will
get immediate relief.
 Reminding people that at least 50 per cent beds in the private hospitals are reserved for COVID-19 patients
under state government’s quota to treat them free of cost.
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Nekar Samman Yojane launched by Karnataka Government

 The Chief Minister of Karnataka B.S. Yediyurappa has launched a scheme for the weaver’s community in the
state of Karnataka on 6th July 2020.
 The name of the scheme is ‘Nekar Samman Yojane’, which means Weaver Samman Yojana.
 As per the 4th All India Handloom Census (conducted in 2019-20), there are 54,789 handloom weavers
registered in the state of Karnataka.
Nekar Samman Yojane
 For becoming a beneficiary of the scheme, silk, cotton, woolen and other handloom weavers in the state of
Karnataka have to register themselves at the Seva Sindhu portal (an initiative to deliver the various schemes
and services of the Karnataka State Government at the doorstep of the citizens).
 Under the scheme, the state government is transferring Rs 2000 of financial support to all weavers in the state
registered with the Seva Sindhu portal.
 Under the first phase, the Chief Minister at the launch transferred Rs 2000 directly into the bank accounts of
19744 weavers in the state.
 Annually, the financial assistance will be provided once to all registered weavers under the Seva Sindhu
portal.
 The scheme will cost the State Government of Karnataka an amount of Rs 10.96 crore every year.
 The scheme is a part of the Rs 1610 crore of relief package announced by the Karnataka State Government on
6th May 2020.
Karnataka Cabinet approves Karnataka Digital Economy Mission
 Karnataka State Government approved the formation of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission.
 The Mission was aimed to promote over 7,000 start-ups, e-commerce, and other gig economy companies in
the State.
 Karnataka Digital Economy Mission or new company will be incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies
Act, 2013 with the Government of Karnataka holding 49% and the remaining 51% by the industries and other
stakeholders.
Karnataka to set up ₹5000 cr integrated biotech and life sciences park in Bengaluru
 The Karnataka government will soon lay the foundation stone for a life sciences park
 The nine million square feet park will be set up in 52.27 acres at a cost of ₹5,000 crore.
 The project is being built under a public-private partnership model between the state government and Labzone
Corp. Phase one of the new project of around 10 lakh square feet will be completed by December 2022.
 The life sciences park is estimated to house more than 150 companies and is expected to generate
around,50,000 jobs.
Karnataka CM Yediyurappa lays foundation stone of tunnelling work for phase 2 metro rail
 Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone for tunnelling work for phase 2 of the
metro rail work between Cantonment and Shivajinagar in Bengaluru today.
 Phase II includes a total length of 72 kms with 61 stations.
 The 72kms long phase two metro line project consists of 13.9 kms of underground corridor with 12
underground stations and 10.37 kms of twin tunnels.
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 The phase II will be built in four packages at a cost of 30,695 crore rupees.
 The line will greatly reduce travel time and ease traffic congestion on Bengaluru roads. Phase two will be
ready by 2024.
 The project cost for this line connecting the international airport is 9934.58 crore rupees.
Himachal Pradesh
 State formed on: 25 January 1971
 Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
 Chief Minister: Jai Ram Thakur
 Official language: Hindi
Himachal Pradesh becomes First State in India to have LPG Gas Connection in Every Household
 All households in the state of Himachal Pradesh have access to LPG Gas Connection, making Himachal
Pradesh the first state in the country to achieve the goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the
launch of Ujjwala Yojana for providing a cooking gas connection to every household in the the country.
 This was announced on 6th July 2020 by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur.
 Apart from the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the scheme of the Himachal Pradesh State Government
‘Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana’ has also played an important role for achieving the 100 percent household
cooking gas connection in the state.
Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana
 The Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana was launched back in May 2018 for providing LPG gas connection to
households that were left out under the UjjwalaYojana of the Central Government.
 All households in the state of Himachal Pradesh were eligible under the Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana,
except for households having pensioner, or any member of the household employed with the state or central
government, households with income taxpayers.
 To date, a total of 2,76,243 households were provided with a free LPG gas connection under the Himachal
Grihini Suvidha Yojana.
HP govt: high priority to enhance green cover and environmental protection
 The Himachal Pradesh government is according to high priority to enhance green cover and environmental
protection.
 In order to increase the forest cover and provide livelihood to the people, 'Himachal Pradesh Forest
Ecosystems Management and Livelihood Improvement Project' has been started in the state, which is yielding
positive results.
 Many schemes are being implemented by the Forest Department, which has resulted in an increase in the
green cover of the state.
 Funded by the Japan International Cooperation agency JIACA, Rs 800 crore is being spent by the forest
department on the project.
 The main aim of the 10-year project is forest growth, biodiversity conservation, strengthening institutional
capacity and improving the economy of rural people.
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 The project is being implemented in 16 forest circles of 18 forest divisions of 6 districts i.e Kinnaur, Shimla,
Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul Spiti.
West Bengal
 Established on: 26 January 1950
 Capital: Kolkata
 Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar
 Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee
First Plasma Bank for COVID-19 Patients in West Bengal
 Plasma Bank for the treatment of COVID-19 positive patients has been established at the oldest medical
college of India- Kolkata Medical College and Hospital.
 The Plasma Bank has been set up the Immunohematogy department of the Kolkata Medical College and
Hospital by the West Bengal State Health Department.
 This was informed by the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee on 6th July 2020.
 The Chief Minister further added that 12 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 have already
donated their Plasma.
 The Plasma Bank in Kolkata Medical College and Hospital is the first Plasma Bank in the State of West
Bengal.
 From 7th May 2020 onwards, Kolkata Medical College and Hospital is operating as a fully-fledged COVID-
19 Hospital with 500 beds.
Andhra Pradesh
 Capital: Amravati
 Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy
 Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
 National Park: Sri Venkateswara National Park, Sri Venkateswara National Park, Papikonda National Park
On 8th July Rythu Dinotsavam (Farmer’s Day) in Andhra Pradesh
 The birth anniversary of Former and the 14th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy is
celebrated as Rythu Dinotsavam meaning Farmer’s Day.
 The day was first celebrated in 2019 when the current Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S Jagan Mohan
Reddy issued a government order designating the day as Farmer’s Day in Andhra Pradesh.
Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy
 Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy was elected as a member of Lok Sabha for 4 consecutive terms.
 He served as the full term Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009 and was re-elected as the
Chief Minister in the 2009 Assembly Election.
 On 2nd September 2009, Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy died in a helicopter crash. In his career, he had never lost in
an election.
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Online Registration of Crops ‘E-Cropping’ Begins in Andhra Pradesh

 A Comprehensive exercise for mapping of crops under each of the Rythu Bharosa Kendra (RBK) in the state
has begun in Andhra Pradesh from 13th July 2020.
 This will help in preparing the State Government from crop planning to e-marketing of the crop.
 The officials of the Andhra Pradesh Governments Revenue and Agricultural Department have been tasked to
jointly online register the details of crops sown by each farmer in the state.
 Based on the data from the electronic crop registration, the Seeds for the crops will be provided or supplied.
 Also, this data from the online registration will help the State Government in schemes and initiatives such as
for providing interest-free loans, crop insurance, Rythu Bharosa, MSP- Minimum Support Price etc.
 Under the online portal, details of Farmers such as the name of the farmer, details of his/her village, bank
details, contact number, area of the land for farming, and the crop that the farmer will be cultivating will be
asked from the farmer by the officials.
HRD Minister launches NISHTHA programme for 1200 key resources persons of Andhra Pradesh
 Human Resources and Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched the first on-line
NISHTHA programme for one thousand 200 Key Resources Persons of Andhra Pradesh.
Highlights of the Programe
 NISHTHA is a national initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement at the elementary
stage under Samagra Shiksha -a flagship programme of the Ministry to improve learning outcomes.
 The Minister added that NISHTHA in face-to-face mode was launched on 21st August last year.
 33 states and Union Territories have launched this programme in collaboration under Samagra Shiksha.
 In 29 States and UTs, the NISHTHA training programme has been completed by the NCERT at the state
level.
 NISHTHA has been customized for online mode to be conducted through DIKSHA and NISHTHA portals by
the NCERT.
Andhra Pradesh Announces Renewable Energy Export Policy 2020
 The State Government of Andhra Pradesh announced the Andhra Pradesh Renewable Energy Export Policy
2020, which permits the sale of power to the other states of India.
 The policy will be in force for the five years.
 The Export policy of 2020 facilitates the establishment of solar, wind and solar-wind hybrid projects of
capacity up to 120 Giga Watts (GW) and renewable energy equipment manufacturing facilities in the state.
 The power generated from these projects will be exported to other states.
 The objective of the Policy is to utilize the unused potential and to attract private investments to boost the
economy and to generate additional revenue to the government.
Telangana
 Capital: Hyderabad
 Chief Minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao
 Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
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Telangana Police started a campaign named “CybHer”

 The Women Safety Wing, Telangana State Police has launched the “CybHer” campaign in association with
the Legal Aid Centre, Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad.
Highlights of the Campaign
 The campaign has been rolled out to tackle cybercrime against children and women in the state. “CybHer” is a
month long virtual campaign which will make cyberspace safe for both women and children.
 “CybHer” campaign will create awareness and offer proactive measures to help them stay alert and not
become a victim of cyberattacks.
 It will focus on incidents of paedophile activity, sexual harassment of minors and young adults under the
likeness of education activity online, malware and data theft of personal information.
Recent News related to Telangana
 Telangana government to hire 2,000 staff for municipalities
 Telangana Government’s TASK to provide online course to unemployed youth
 CO Helper app, provides real-time information related to corona
Sikkim
 Statehood Day: 16 May 1975
 Capital: Gangtok
 Chief Minister: Prem Singh Tamang
 Governor: Ganga Prasad
13th July: Bhanu Jayanti celebrated in Sikkim
 13th July 2020 marks the 206th Birth Anniversary of Bhanubhakta Acharya, he was the first writer to
translate the Great Epic of Ancient India- Ramayan from Sanskrit to Nepali. Bhanu Jayanti is also celebrated
across the state of Nepal on 13th July every year.
Bhanubhakta Acharya
 Bhanubhakta Acharya was born in Nepal’s Tanahu district. He was born on 13th July 1813 (29th Day of
Hindu Ashadh month). He received his education in Sanskrit initially from his Grandfather, later he moved to
Varanasi to further continue his education in Sanskrit.
 His translation of Ramayana in the Nepali language was one of the most notable contributions in Nepali
Literature and also made Ramayana understandable for the Nepali speaking community across the world.
Haryana
 Capital: Chandigarh
 Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
 Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
 National Park: Sultanpur National Park, Kalesar National Park
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Haryana to Reserve 75 percent Jobs with Less than Rs 50,000 Salary in the Private Sector of the State for
Locals
 Haryana Cabinet on 6th July 2020 has approved a proposal for drafting an Ordinance under which 75 percent
of the jobs with a salary of less than Rs 50,000 per month will be reserved for the locals of Haryana in the
state.
Highlights:
 The objective is to address the growing rate of unemployment in the state on a priority basis.
 In the month of June 2020, Haryana had the highest unemployment rate among all states in the country.
 The unemployment rate in June 2020 was 33.6 percent.
 The proposed draft Ordinance is named ‘Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Ordinance 2020’.
 The Ordinance will be presented before the Council of Ministers in the next meeting, after approval by the
Council of Ministers the Ordinance will require the assent of the Governor of the Haryana and then the
President of India for implementation or coming into effect.
 The Ordinance after coming into effect will be applicable for all privately managed Companies, Trusts,
Partnership Firms, Societies, etc that are situated in the state of Haryana.
 The Ordinance will also have an Exemption Clause for Industries and Businesses were suitable local
candidates are not available.
Haryana CM accords approval to set up 3 new medical colleges in state
 Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal has accorded approval to set up 3 new medical colleges in the State and
also to start DM Cardiology course at Pt. B.D Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS),
Rohtak.
The three Medical colleges are:
 The medical college in district Sirsa would be set up on the land of Haryana Agricultural University, Sirsa
 In district Kaithal, the medical college would be established in village Sarpankheri.
 In district Yamunanagar, the medical college would be set up on a panchayat land.
Maharashtra
 Capital: Mumbai
 Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray
 Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
 National Parks: Chandoli National Park, Nawegaon National Park, Gugamal National Park, Pench National
Park, Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park, Tadoba National Park
 Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amba Barwa WLS, Bor WLS, Great Indian Bustard WLS,
Lonar WLS, Melghat WLS, Gangewadi New Great Indian Bustard WLS, etc.
Maha Jobs Portal launched by Maharashtra Chief Minister, Domicile Certificate Mandatory for Registration
 The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray has launched a portal on 6th July 2020 that will bridge
the gap between the Industrial Units/Employers and the Workers (Domiciled: Skilled, Semi-Skilled and
Unskilled).
 The name of the portal is ‘Maha Jobs’.
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 Anyone can access the portal by visiting- ‘mahajobs.maharashtra.gov.in’For registration in the Maha Jobs
portal, a domicile certificate of the state of Maharashtra is compulsory for the workers.
Maha Jobs Portal
 Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) will be the nodal agency for the successful
functioning of the Maha Jobs portal.
 The portal is a joint venture between 3 Departments of the Maharashtra State Government.
 The departments are the Department of Labour, Department of Industries, and the Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship Department.
 The aim of the Maha Jobs portal is to address the rising unemployment and layoffs that the state has witnessed
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Jobs from a total of 17 sectors will be available under the portal, such as the Healthcare sector, IT, Logistics,
Engineering, textile, etc.
‘Healthcare Service At Your Doorstep’ initiative started in Nashik
 Maharashtra government has initiated a measure “HEALTHCARE SERVICE AT YOUR DOORSTEP” in
Nashik.
 The initiative taken by the state's public health department and district administration to deploy 556 squads in
predominantly tribal villages of Nashik is yielding positive results in containing the spread of Covid-19.
 Nashik which has 15 talukas has been affected due to the virus which has wreaked havoc in other parts of the
state as well.
 There are around 2,279 active cases in the district as of today. "Healthcare service at your doorstep” is a
unique concept as it comprises medical officers, health workers, ASHA workers and a social activist who visit
patients directly at their residence.
In a first, Maharashtra to use drones to inspect power lines
 ln a first, the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company (MSETCL) has started using drones for
inspection of power lines and transmission towers.
 After Maharashtra energy minister Nitin Raut proposed the use of drones — unmanned aerial vehicles for this
purpose, the Union home ministry and Director General of Civil Aviation gave the nod.
 Drones are now being used for aerial surveillance and inspection of Extra High Voltage (EHV) lines and
towers in remote areas of the state.
 These drones are equipped with ultra HD cameras which can take high-resolution close-up photographs and
videos of the towers and their components
Jharkhand
 Capital: Ranchi
 Chief Minister: Hemant Soren
 Governor: Draupadi Murmu
Jharkhand launches immunization drive for 44K kids of migrant workers
 The Jharkhand health department has launched a major campaign to immunize the deprived children.
 The Jharkhand Health Department identified the children during an intensive door-to-door survey.
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 The children between age group of zero to five who stayed with their parents at workplace in different states
were deprived of immunization due to ignorance or time crunch due to work pressure
 A senior official in the state health department, who monitors immunization said they have set a target to
immunize 8.30 lakh children between the age group of zero to five this year.
International News
Pakistan Army appoints Nigar Johar as 1st female Lt. General

 Pakistan Army has appointed Major General Nigar Johar as 1st female lieutenant general. She is the 1st
female officer to be promoted as Lieutenant General.
 The officer has been appointed as 1st female Surgeon General of Pak Army.
 Johar graduated from the Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, in 1985 and joined the army’s Medical Corps.
 In 2017, she became the third woman officer in the Pakistan Army to attain the rank of major general.
 The other two women major generals were Shahida Badsha and Shahida
Extra Shots:
Pakistan (Capital/Currency): Islamabad/Pakistani Rupee
 Prime Minister: Imran Khan
 President: Arif Alvi
 Official Languages: Urdu,English
Jayant Krishna to take over as first Indian CEO of UK India Business Council from August 3
 The UK India Business Council announced that Jayant Krishna will take over as its new Group Chief
Executive Officer from August 3.
 Krishna has previously led key initiatives of the Prime Minister's Skill India mission as CEO, and Executive
Director & Chief Operating Officer of the National Skill Development Corporation.
 He will be the first Indian CEO of UKIBC and the first CEO of the Council who shall be based in India.
Extra Shots:
The UK India Business Council is a membership-based, non-profit organisation founded in 2007 to foster trade and
business relations between the United Kingdom and India. The organisation works with businesses in both countries,
as well as the UK and Indian governments, to promote and increase bilateral trade.
 Founder: Karan Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria
 Founded: 1993
 Key person: Patricia Hewitt
 Type of business: Non-profit organisation
NAFTA 2.0 comes into effect from 1st July 2020
 A new free trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada comes into effect from 1st July
2020 onwards.
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 It replaced the earlier 26 years old free trade agreement between the three countries- North America Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The new free trade agreement has been ratified by all three countries.
 All three signatories of the new trade agreement have referred it by different names, United States called it
USMCA- the United States Mexico Canada Agreement, while the Canadian Government has referred to as
CUSMA, in Mexico by T-MEC.
 NAFTA 2.0 is not a wholly new agreement, it is a renegotiated version of the earlier NAFTA agreement with
certain changes,hence it has been referred to as NAFTA 2.0.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe resigns
 French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has resigned from his post ahead of a government reshuffle by
President Emmanuel Macron.
 As per the announcement made by the French Presidency, Edouard Philippe will handle the government
affairs until a new cabinet would be named.
 This is a part of the President Emmanuel Macron plans to strengthen his green credentials and refashion his
centrist government ahead of a possible re-election bid.
 He is planning to boost the two remaining years of his term by focusing on efforts to relaunch the French
economy post the COVID-19 crisis.
Extra Shots:
Russia (Capital/Currency): Moscow/Russian Roubl
 Prime Minister: Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin
 President: Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin records victory in Presidential polls
 President of Russia, Vladimir Putin has recorded a victory in the recently held Presidential polls.
 With a victory, he is set to stay in power until the middle of the next decade i.e. until 2036.
 Russians citizens went to the polls to cast ballots in a nationwide referendum on Constitutional Amendments.
 A preliminary tally of results was released by the Central Election Commission of Russia after processing
50% of ballot, and stated that 76.24% of the citizens voted in support of the amendments.
Extra Shots:
Russia (Capital/Currency): Moscow/Russian Rouble
 Prime Minister: Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin
 President: Vladimir Putin
ADB becomes “Observer” for Network for Greening the Financial System
 The Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) has been joined by
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as an observer.
 ADB has joined the network to fulfil its corporate strategy “the Strategy 2030” goals such as building climate
and disaster resilience, enhancing environmental sustainability, fostering regional cooperation and integration,
tackling climate change, and strengthening governance and institutional capacity.
 With this, ADB has joined the ranks of the International Monetary Fund, the Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development, World Bank and the International Finance Corporation as NGFS observers.
 Network for Greening the Financial System is a group of central banks and supervisors who are inclined to
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share best practices and contribute to the development of environment and climate risk management in the
financial sector.
Extra Shots:
ADB
ADB Becomes Observer for the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS)
 The Manila, Philippines based Asian Development Bank (ADB) has joined the Central Banks and Supervisors
Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) as an observer on 23 June 2020.
 ADB’s inclusion as Observer will help the institution to fulfill its corporate strategy, ‘the Strategy 2030’,
particularly in tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental
sustainability; fostering regional cooperation and integration; and strengthening governance and institutional
capacity.
NGFS
 NGFS was launched at the Paris One Planet Summit on 12 December 2017.
 It is a group of central banks and supervisors willing to share best practices and contribute to the development
of environment and climate risk management in the financial sector, while mobilizing mainstream finance to
support the transition toward a sustainable economy.
Other Observers of NGFS
 The other NGFS Observers are World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the International
Monetary Fund, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Extra Shots:
ADB:
Nepal becomes Lower-Middle Income Economy while Sri Lanka slips to Lower-Middle Income Economy
 As per the 2020-21 World Bank’s Country Classification based on Income level, Nepal’s economy has moved
to a higher category to become a Lower-middle Income economy while Sri Lanka’s economy has moved to a
lower category to become a Lower-middle Income economy.
 Every year, the World Bank classifies countries into four income groups- (i) Low (ii) Lower-Middle (iii)
Upper-Middle (iv) High Income.
 This classification of the economies of countries across the world is updated on the 1st of July every year by
the World Bank.
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 The classification of a country is done by using the Atlas Method by the World Bank.
 World Bank is using the Atlas Method since 1993 to estimate the the size of an economy. Under the Atlas
Method, Gross National Income (GNI) of a country is converted into the current U.S. Dollars.
 As per the 2020 Classification, India remains a Lower-Middle Income country.
U.S. GDP Expected to Contract 4.6% in 2020: Goldman Sachs
 The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economists have revised down their estimates for the U.S. economy which is
expected to contract 4.6% in 2000, worse than the earlier estimate of 4.2%.
 However, the growth is expected to rebound to 5.8% in 2021.
Extra Shots:
Goldman Sachs
 CEO: David M. Solomon
 Founders: Marcus Goldman, Samuel Sachs
Sanskrit Vidhyalaya built by India in Nepal Inaugurated
 Sanskrit Vidhyalaya built in Eastern Nepal’s Province No 1’s IIam district by India was inaugurated on 6th
July 2020 through video conferencing.
 The name of the Vidhyalaya is ‘Shree Saptmai Gurukul Sanskrit Vidhyalaya’.
 The inauguration event was attended virtually by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu (on behalf of
Government of India) and was attended by the Barbote Village Development Committee and the School
Management Committee of the Sanksrit Vidhyalaya.
About Sanskrit Vidhyalaya
 Shree Saptmai Gurukul Sanskrit Vidhyalaya was constructed under the Nepal-Bharat Maitri: Development
Partnership (a High Impact Community Development Partnership (a High Impact Community Development
Project of Indian Government in Nepal).
 The cost of building the Sanskrit Vidhyalaya is around Rs 31.13 million (Nepali Rupees).
 As a primary school, the Sanskrit Vidhyalaya was established back in 2009 which was later upgraded in the
year 2014 to Secondary Level School.
 For imparting Vedic and as well as Modern education in Sanksrit, the newly built infrastructure of the school
will provide a much-needed boost to the learning environment for the students.
Extra Shots:
Nepal (Capital/Currency): Kathmandu/ Nepalese rupee
 President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari
 Prime Minister: KP Sharma Oli
 Official Language: Nepali
MoU signed in June 2020 under Nepal-Bharat Maitri
 Under the Nepal-Bharat Maitri project, on 16th June 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was
signed between India and Nepal under which India will construct a sanitation facility at the iconic
Pashupatinath Temple Complex in Nepal’s capital city Kathmandu.
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 The cost of this project is Rs 2.33crore.

Extra Shots:
Israel successfully launched its Intelligence Satellite Ofek-16 into LEO
 On 6th July 2020, from Central Israel’s Palmachim Airbase Israel has successfully launched its intelligence
satellite ‘Ofek-16’ into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
 This is the 12th Satellite launched by Israel under its Ofek family of satellites.
 The Ofek-16 Satellite was launched as a payload of the rocket- Shavit 2.
Ofek-16 Satellite
 Ofek-16 is an optoelectronic reconnaissance (intelligence) satellite.
 The satellite is designed and built by the state-owned company of the Israel Government- Israel Aerospace
Industries.
 The camera and payload technology for the Ofek-16 satellite is developed by Israeli company Elbit Systems.
The rocket Shavit 2 is also manufactured by the Israel Aerospace Industries.
 The satellite will further improve the surveillance capabilities of Israel as the first images from it are expected
in a week.
 The main function of the new intelligence satellite Ofek-16 will be used for monitoring the developments by
Iran’s Armed Forces and its nuclear program.
 Further Ofek-16 will also be used for closely monitoring the developments along its Lebanon and Syria
borders.
 The previous Ofek Satellite, Ofek-11 was launched on 13th September 2016.
Extra Shots:
Israel (Capital/Currency): Jerusalem/ Israeli Shekel
 President: Reuven Rivlin
 Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
 Official Language: Hebrew
World’s Second Largest Tier IV Designed Data Centre ‘NM1’ Inaugurated at Navi Mumbai
 India’s & Asia’s Largest and World’s Second Largest Uptime Tier IV Designed Data Centre was inaugurated
virtually on 7th July 2020.
 The Data Centre is named ‘Yotta NM1 or NM1’ is located inside the 600-Acre Hiranandani Fortune City at
Navi Mumbai’s Panvel region.
 Inside the Hiranandani Fortune City, a Data Centre Park named Panvel Data Centre Park or Integrated Yotta
Data Centre Park has been developed, NM1 is located inside the Panvel Data Centre Park.
 The NM1 Data Centre was inaugurated virtually in the presence of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav
Thackeray and Ravi Shankar Prasad (Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology).
NM1 Data Centre
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 The NM1 Data Centre has been developed by Yotta Infrastructure Solutions LLP (a subsidiary of Hiranandani
Group. A total of five Data Centre Buildings will be developed at the Panvel Data Centre Park by Yotta
Infrastructure. NM1 is the first of the five such building. The five buildings at Panvel Data Centre Park will be
spread in over 18 acres of land.
 NM1 Data Centre has received certification from the United States-based Uptime Institute as the Largest Tier
IV Designed Data Centre in India & Asia and the World’s Second Largest. This certification is valid up to
27th April 2022.
Specifications of NM1 Data Centre:
 7,200 Racks
 50 MW Power
 4 Fibre Paths
 1.4 Design PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness)
Germany to become first major economy to phase out coal, nuclear power
 German lawmakers have finalized the country’s long-awaited phase-out of coal as an energy source, backing
a plan that environmental groups say isn’t ambitious enough and free marketeers criticise as a waste of
taxpayers’ money.
 Bills approved by both houses of parliament envision shutting down the last coal-fired power plant by 2038
and spending some 40 billion euros ($45 billion) to help affected regions cope with the transition.
 The plan is part of Germany’s ‘energy transition’ – an effort to wean Europe’s biggest economy off planet-
warming fossil fuels and generate all of the country’s considerable energy needs from renewable sources.
Extra Shots:
Germany (Capital/Currency): Berlin/ Euro
 Chancellor: Angela Merkel
United States submits notice to U.N Secretary-General to withdraw from WHO by 6th July 2021
 The United States Government has submitted its notice to the Secretary-General of the United Nations to
withdraw from the WHO by the 6th of July 2021.
 The withdrawal of membership from the WHO will be a yearlong process as several factors are likely to come
up in between in which the Donald Trump-led administration won’t have control.
Maldives & Sri Lanka eliminate measles & rubella, ahead of 2023 target
 According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO), South-East Asian Region (SEAR) office, Maldives
and Sri Lanka were verified for having eliminated measles and rubella.
 Now, Maldives and Sri Lanka are the first two countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve
measles and rubella elimination ahead of the 2023 target.
 The Maldives reported last endemic case of measles in 2009 and of rubella in October 2015, while Sri Lanka
reported last endemic case of measles in May 2016 and of rubella in March 2017.
 The announcement was made after the fifth meeting of the South-East Asia Regional Verification
Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination, held virtually.
 The Commission comprises of 11 independent international experts in the fields of epidemiology, virology
and public health.
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 A country is verified as having eliminated measles and rubella when there is no evidence of endemic
transmission of the measles and rubella viruses for over three years in the presence of a well-performing
surveillance system.
Extra Shots:
Sri Lanka(Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/ Sri Lankan rupee
 Official Languages: Sinhala and Tamil.
Malcives (Capital/Currency): Male/ Maldivian rufiyaa
 President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Bangladesh launches “Digital Haat” for sacrificial animals
 ‘Digital Haat‘ platform has been launched by the government of Bangladesh for online sale and purchase of
sacrificial animals ahead of the festival of Eid-Ul-Azha.
 The platform has been launched to save the cattle farmers and traders from financial loss amid the Corona
pandemic.
 It also aims to avoid crowding in order to stop further transmission of the COVID-19 in the country.
 People who are interested in buying and selling of the sacrificial animals are required to register on the
‘Digital Haat’ platform which is free for use by the interested people.
 The platform will be promoted by the Bangladesh government through its website and social networking sites
at its own cost.
Extra Shots:
Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka/Taka
 Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
 Official Language: Bengali
Broadcasting Ban on Indian News Channels in Nepal
 On 9th July 2020, except for the Indian State-owned Doordarshan’s news channel DD News, Nepal based
Multi-System Operators have issued a broadcasting ban on all other Indian News Channels in Nepal.
Reason:
 Earlier on 9th July 2020, the Spokesperson of Nepal Communist Party Narayan Kaji Shrestha had accused
Indian News Channels of broadcasting defamatory shows against the Nepali Prime Minister Khadga Prasad
Sharma Oli.
Extra Shots:
China launched Commercial Communication Satellite ‘APSTAR-6D’
 From the LaunchPad 3 of the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, China Great Wall Industry Corporation
(CGWIC- the sole commercial organization for provid ing commercial satellite launch services of the Chinese
Government) had successfully launched the communication satellite ‘APSTAR-6D’ on 9th July 2020.
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 CAST- China Academy of Space Technology (a subsidiary company of China Aerospace Science and
Technology Corporation) has developed the commercial satellite ‘APSTAR-6D’.
 From CAST, the satellite was purchased by APT Mobile SatCom Limited for providing satellite broadband
telecommunication services.
APSTAR-6D
 The lifespan of APSTAR-6D is of 15 years.
 Launch Mass of the Satellite was around 5,550 Kg.
 The Satellite was launched by Long March-3B carrier rocket and will be stationed at 134 degrees in in
Geosynchronous orbit.
 The APSTAR-6D Satellite will be used for providing optimized high-quality voice and broadband data
services for users and as well as aircraft and maritime routes in the Indo-Pacific region.
 APSTAR-6D is a part of Chin’s First Global High-Throughput Broadband Satellite Communication System.
Extra Shots:
China (Capital/Currency): Beijing/Renminbi
 President: Xi Jinping
 Official Language: Mandarin
India moves up a rank to become second-largest source of FDI for UK
 According to new UK government figures, India invested in 120 projects and created 5,429 new jobs in the
UK to become the second-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) after the US in 2019.
 The Department for International Trade (DIT) inward investment statistics for 2019-2020 found India moving
up from its previous third-largest spot, representing an overall 4 per cent FDI increase for the UK on 2018-
2019 with 1,852 new inward investment projects in the 2019/2020 financial year.
 The US remains the number one source of FDI for the UK, delivering 462 projects and 20,131 jobs, followed
by India, Germany, France and China and Hong Kong. Australia and New Zealand were responsible for 72
projects and the Nordic and Baltic region 134, an increase for both regions.
Extra Shots:
FDI: A foreign direct investment is an investment in the form of a controlling ownership in a business in one country
by an entity based in another country. It is thus distinguished from a foreign portfolio investment by a notion of direct
control.
India hands over outdoor fitness equipment for 61 islands across Maldives
 India handed over outdoor fitness equipment for 61 islands across Maldives under a cash grant of 8 million
US dollars.
 The equipments were formally handed over by Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Sunjay Sudhir in a
ceremony at Male.
 The installation of equipments would involve participation of all 61 island councils and further strengthen the
idea of decentralization
Extra Shots:
Maldives (Capital/Currency): Male/ Maldivian rufiyaa
 President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
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United Nations organises 2020 Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week from 6-10 July 2020
 The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism organised its Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week 2020 from 6-
10 July 2020.
 The theme of 2020 Counter-Terrorism Week was “Strategic and Practical Challenges of Countering Terrorism
in a Global Pandemic Environment”.
 This was the second edition of the UN Counter-Terrorism Week while the first time that the event was held
virtually due to covid-19 pandemic.
 Originally the second Counter-Terrorism Week was to take place from 29 June to 3 July 2020 at the UN
Headquarters, New York, but due to the COVID-19 crisis the entire 2020 Counter-Terrorism Week was
postponed.
Extra Shots:
United Nations
 Secretary general: António GuterresTrending
 Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
 Official languages: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish
China Successfully Launches High-throughput broadband communications satellite APSTAR-6D
 On July 9, 2020, China successfully launched the APSTAR-6D satellite– a high-power broadband
communications satellite into orbit, to provide broadband internet service.
 The APSTAR-6D telecommunication satellite was launched aboard a Long March 3B carrier rocket from
Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
 APSTAR-6D is designed and manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a
subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
 The geostationary satellite, APSTAR-6D is the first satellite of China’s global, high-throughput broadband
satellite communication system that will form a space-wide Internet communication network covering the
whole world, similar to GPS.
 It will be operated by the APT Mobile SatCom Limited to provide satellite broadband telecommunication
services for airborne, shipborne, vehicle-borne, and other mobile communication applications for users across
the Asia-Pacific region.
Extra Shots:
Xichang Satellite Launch Center
 Opened: 1984
 Alternative names: Base 27
 Province: Sichuan
 Location: Xichang, Liangshan, Sichuan
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Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh resigns

 The Tunisian PM Elyes Fakhfakh resigned. He presented his resignation to the President of Tunisia Kais
Saied.
 Bad weather delays launch of UAE's first mission to Mars
 The Hope mission launch was further delayed, again due to weather concerns.
 The UAE's Hope spacecraft was scheduled to blast off today (July 14) from Tanegashima Space Center in
Japan aboard an H-IIA rocket before the weather interfered.
 The launch is now targeting Thursday (July 16) at 4:43 p.m. EDT (2043 GMT),
 The $200 million spacecraft, also called the Emirates Mars Mission, represents the Arab region's first foray
into interplanetary space and an ambitious step for the UAE, which first participated in a satellite launch in
2009 by partnering with a South Korean company.
Extra Shots:
Tunisia (Currency/Currency): Tunis/Tunisian dinar, Dinar
India-Bhutan opens new trade route to ease connectivity between two countries
 India and Bhutan opened up a new trade route on July 15, 2020, between Pasakha in Bhutan and Jaigaon in
West Bengal.
 The land route will help to move industrial raw materials and goods destined for Pasakha Industrial Estate.
 The route will help boost trade and commerce and will lead to decongestion of vehicular traffic.
Extra Shots:
Bhutan (Capital/Currency): Thimphu/ Bhutanese ngultrum, Indian rupee
 Prime Minister: Lotay Tshering
An agreement signed by China and Pakistan for “Azad Pattan Hydel Power Project”
 Pakistan and China have signed an agreement for the construction of the Azad Pattan Hydel Power Project.
 Prime Minister Imran Khan signed the agreement with China’s Gezhouba for the Azad Pattan Hydropower
Project at a ceremony in Islamabad.
 The 700 MW Azad Pattan hydel power project will be on the Jhelum river in Sudhoti district of Pakistan
Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
 Objective: to enable the country to move towards cheaper and greener power while generating local job
opportunities.
 The project is expected to be completed in 2026.
 The $1.5-billion project is the second power project under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
 The first agreement, for the 1,100 MW Kohala project, was signed on June 23.
 That project, worth $2.3 billion, too will come upon the Jhelum near Muzaffarabad.
 The Azad Pattan Hydropower Project is a 700 MW hydroelectric power station on the Jhelum River roughly 7
km upstream of Azad Pattan Bridge in the Sudhanoti District, PoK and 90 km from Islamabad, the capital city
of Pakistan.
Extra Shots:
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Pakistan (Capital/Currency): Islamabad/Pakistani Rupee
 President: Arif Alvi
 Prime Minister: Imran Khan
First woman PM of Gabon - Ossouka Raponda
 Prior to holding this position, Ossouka Raponda served as Defence Minister since February 2019.
 Her appointment is the fourth cabinet reshuffle by the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba since January
2019.
 Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda has been appointed as the first woman prime minister of Gabon.
 She is the 12th PM of the country and succeeds Julien Nkoghe Bekale.
Extra Shots:
Gabon (Capital/Currency): Libreville/Central African CFA franc
 Prime Minister: Ossouka Raponda
India in partnership with Chile & UN’s FAO Co-Hosted Event, “On the road to the International Year of
Fruits and Vegetables 2021”
 India and Chile join the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) and co-hosted
the official launch of 2021 International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, the side event of 2020 High-level
Political forum – “On the road to the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021.
 Chile had championed to declare the year 2021 as an ‘International Year of Fruits and Vegetables’ by UN
General Assembly in 2019.
Extra Shots:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
 Headquarters: Rome, Italy
 Head: Qu Dongyu
 Founded: 16 October 1945, Quebec City, Canada
 Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council
 Formation: 16 October 1945
 Area: Europe
Extra Shots:
Chile (Capital/Currency): Santiago/Peso
 President: Sebastián Piñera
United Arab Emirates launches “Hope” mission to “Mars”
 A mission titled as “Hope” has been launched to “Mars” by the United Arab Emirates.
 With the help of mission, UAE aims to provide a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere for the first
time, studying daily and seasonal changes.
Highlights:
 An unmanned “Hope” Probe blasted off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center at 1:58 a.m. (UAE time) for
a seven-month journey to the red planet and is expected to enter Mars orbit by February 2021, which also
marks the 50th anniversary of the unification of the UAE, an alliance of seven emirates.
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 Rest of the journey of “Hope” would be tracked by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in
Dubai.
 The “Hope” mission to “Mars”, also called Emirates Mars Mission costed $200 million and is UAE’s first
foray into interplanetary exploration.
 With the launch, UAE is targeting to build a human settlement on Mars within the next 100 years.
 The Hope probe constitutes three different instruments namely an imager and two spectrometers.
 The “Imager” will facilitate detailed images of the planet’s surface while all three will provide data to the
scientists in order to track what ingredients are located where in the atmosphere of Mars.
 The probe will not land on the Red Planet, but instead orbit it for a whole Martian year i.e. for 687 days.
Extra Shots:
UAE (Capital/Currency): Abu Dhabi/ United Arab Emirates dirham
President: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
SpaceX launches South Korea’s 1st military satellite “ANASIS-II”
 SpaceX has successfully launched South Korea’s first military satellite “ANASIS-II”.
 The satellite was deployed into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) by a Falcon 9 rocket.
 It was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the US of Florida.
 With this launch, South Korea has become the 10th country to own a military-only communications satellite,
which will provide permanent and secured military communications.
 The satellite is expected to reach its orbit of 36,000 kilometres in 2 weeks.
 South Korea’s military will take over the system in October after testing.
Extra Shots:
SpaceX:
 CEO: Elon Musk
 Founder: Elon Musk
 Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, United States
Japan approves Dexamethasone as COVID-19 Treatment
 The Japanese Government recently approved Dexamethasone as a second treatment of COVID-19.
 The approval came in after Britain showed that the drug reduced death rates in COVID-19 patients.
 Dexamethasone has been approved for treatment along with Remdesivir. A clinical trial of UK proved that
Dexamethasone as the first drug saved lives of COVID-19.
 India had approved the use of Dexamethasone in June 2020.
 The Drug was found to reduce mortality by one-third of COVID-19 patients who are on ventilators and one-
fifth of patients on oxygen therapy.
So far, India has approved the following drugs to treat COVID-19
 Remdesivir - it was approved by the Central Drug Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for both children
and adult.
 Favipiravir - It is being used on patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 in India.
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 Dexamethasone
 Tocilizumab - The drug is expected to reduce the mortality of COVID-19 patients by 3.8%. Still India has
approved the drug to treat COVID-19.
 Itolizumab - This drug was approved by the Drug Controller General of India.
Extra Shots:
Japan (Capital/Currency): Tokyo/ Yen
 President: Shinzō Abe
'Ola Corporate' ride service enters Australia, New Zealand, UK
 Ola has rolled out its enterprise offering 'Ola Corporate' to Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
 Ola Corporate offers enterprise customers reduced travel expenses, and centralised billing system that
eliminates the need for paper-based reimbursement.
 The Bengaluru-based company operates in more than 250 cities across India, Australia, New Zealand, and the
UK.
Extra Shots:
OLA
 Founded: 3 December 2010, Mumbai
 CEO: Bhavish Aggarwal
 Headquarters location: Bengaluru
 Founders: Bhavish Aggarwal, Ankit Bhati
South Korea launched its first-ever military communications satellite
 South Korea launched its first-ever military communications satellite "ANASIS-II" by private operator
SpaceX on 21 July 2020.
 The information was passed by Seoul's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The move by
the country aims to build up its defence capabilities.
ANASIS-II:
 ANASIS-II is aimed to enhance the South's defence against the nuclear-armed North Korea, which invaded in
1950.
 The satellite was carried by Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
 ANASIS-II will reach its orbit of 36,000 kilometres and South Korea's military will take over the system in
October after testing.
 South Korea and the United States are security allies. The US has stationed 28,500 troops in the country.
Extra Shots:
South Korea (Capital/Currency): Seoul/ South Korean won
 President: Moon Jae-in
Dubai-based Indian girl Samridhi Kalia breaks world record in performing yoga poses
 A Dubai-based Indian girl has broken the world record for performing 100 yoga poses within minutes in a
confined space.
 This is 11-year-old Samridhi Kalia’s third world record entry and the second one in the last one month
Page 91 of 210
China successfully launched a rover to Mars

 China successfully launched a rover to Mars on 23 July 2020, which is another milestone for its space
programme.
Highlights:
 China's Mars probe was launched from the southern island of Hainan, China.
 The Mars mission was named Tianwen-1 meaning "Questions to Heaven" in a nod to a classical Chinese
poem that has verses about the cosmos.
 Under the mission, the probe aims to go enter into Martian orbit. It will land on the planet Mars and release a
small rover to conduct research on its surface.
 It is expected to reach the planet in February 2021.
 The spacecraft will travel at least 55 million kilometres to reach its destination.
 In its earlier attempt in 2011, China's partnership with Russia failed because the Russian launcher was unable
to get the craft into a transfer orbit to slingshot towards Mars
HIL India supplied 20.60 MT of DDT to South Africa for Malaria control program
 Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers stated that HIL (India) Limited, a PSU under the Ministry, has supplied
20.60 Metric tonnes (MT) of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) 75% WP to South Africa for their
Malaria control program on 22 July 2020.
Extra Shots:
South Africa (Capital/Currency): Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein/ South African rand
 President: Cyril Ramaphosa
Nicaragua becomes the 87th Country to sign ISA agreement
 The Central American country, Republic of Nicaragua became the 87th country to sign the International Solar
Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement.
 The agreement was signed by the Permanent Representative of Nicaragua to the United Nations Jaime
Hermida Castillo at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York.
Extra Shots:
Nicaragua (Capital/Currency): Managua/ Nicaraguan córdoba
 President: Daniel Ortega
Turkmenistan gets observer status in WTO
 World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council has granted the “Observer” status to the central Asian
country Turkmenistan.
 After receiving the observer status from WTO, Turkmenistan has become the last former Soviet republic to
establish formal ties with the trade body.
 Turkmenistan has become the 25th observer of the organization.
Extra Shots:
World Trade Organization (WTO)
 Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
 Membership: 164 member states
 Head: Pascal Lamy
Page 92 of 210
 Founded: 1 January 1995

 Purpose: Reduction of tariffs and other barriers to trade
Turkmenistan (Capital/Currency): Ashgabat/ Turkmenistan manat
 President: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
India extended medical assistance worth about USD 1 million to North Korea
 Government of India (GoI) has sent $1 million worth of anti-tuberculosis medicine to North Korea per a
request from the World Health Organization (WHO).
 India has extended medical assistance worth about $1 million to North Korea in response to a request received
from WHO.
 The information was announced by the Union Ministry of External Affairs.
Highlights:
 The consignment of medicines was handed over to DPRK authorities by Indian Ambassador to DPRK Atul
Malhari Gotsurve in the presence of a WHO representative.
 The move by India comes due to the shortage of medical supply situation in the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea (DPRK).
 India has also decided to grant humanitarian assistance of $1 million in the form of anti-tuberculosis
medicines.
 The medical assistance will be done under the aegis of an ongoing WHO anti-tuberculosis programme in
DPRK.
Extra Shots:
WHO:
 Heads: Tedros Adhanom, Soumya Swaminathan, Jane Ellison
 Founded: 7 April 1948
To study Cosmos using football stadium-sized balloon, NASA to Launch ASTHROS Mission
 NASA has planned to launch a new mission ‘ASTHROS’, to observe wavelengths of light invisible from the
Earth, in a bid to find answers about formation of giant stars in the galaxy.
 Under the mission NASA will send a telescope, on a football stadium-sized balloon, high into the
stratosphere.
 The telescope mission ASTHROS stands for Astrophysics Stratospheric Telescope for High Spectral
Resolution Observations at Submillimetre-wavelengths
 ASTHROS mission will spend about three weeks drifting on air currents above the icy southern continent to
observe far-infrared light, or light with wavelengths much longer than what is visible to the human eye at an
altitude of about 130,000 feet (40 km) roughly four times higher than commercial airliners fly.
 The mission is likely to be launched in December 2023 from Antarctica, and will be managed by NASA’s Jet
Propulsion Laboratory.
Extra Shots:
NASA:
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 Founder: Dwight D. Eisenhower
 Founded: 1 October 1958, United States
 Deputy Administrator: James Morhard
Maldives celebrates 55th Independence Day on 26 July 2020
 Maldives celebrated its 55th Independence Day on 26 July 2020.
 2020 also marks 55 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and the Maldives.
 Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Extra Shots:
Maldives (Capital/Currency): Male/ Maldivian rufiyaa
 President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Hichem Mechichi becomes new Prime Minister of Tunisia
 Tunisia’s interior minister, Hichem Mechichi has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of the country.
 He succeeded Elyes Fakhfakh, who resigned over allegations of a conflict of interest.
 He has a month to form a government.
 As well as being the interior minister in the outgoing government, Mechichi has been a counsellor to
President Saied, handling legal matters.
 He has previously been chief of staff at the Ministry of Transport and also served in the Ministry of Social
Affairs.
Extra Shots:
Tunisia (Capital/Currency): Tunis/Dinar
 Prime Minister: Hichem Mechichi
India-Indonesia Defence Ministers Dialogue
 Defence Ministers Dialogue was held in New Delhi between India and Indonesia.
 India and Indonesia were represented by their respective Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and Prabbowo
Subianto.
 They held discussions on strengthening the ties between the two maritime neighbours.
Extra Shots:
Indonesia (Capital/Currency): Jakarta/ Indonesian rupiah
 President: Joko Widodo
Indian government hands over 10 diesel locomotives to Bangladesh
 India handed over 10 diesel locomotives to Bangladesh on July 27, 2020.
 The move will provide the neighbouring country mobility solutions for both the intra-country and inter-
country movement.
 The virtual event of handing over the locomotives was flagged off in the presence of Railway Minister,
Piyush Goyal and his Bangladeshi Counterpart Md Nurul Islam Sujon, External Affairs Minister, S.
Jaishankar and his Bangladeshi counterpart, AK Abdul Momen and Suresh Angadi, Minister of State for
Railways.
Extra Shots:
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Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka/Bangladeshi taka

 President: Mohammad Abdul Hamid
India and UK to collaborate in anti-microbial resistance research worth 8 million pounds
 India and the United Kingdom will further extend their existing scientific research collaboration with five new
projects that are worth eight million pounds.
 The research will work on tackling anti-microbial resistance that will further lead to important advances in the
global fight against antibiotic-resistance bacteria and genes.
 The UK is India’s second-biggest research partner, with joint research that is expected to be worth 400 million
pounds by 2021.
PM Modi, PM Jugnauth to inaugurate new Supreme Court Building of Mauritius on July 30
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritius counterpart will jointly inaugurate the new Supreme Court
Building of Mauritius on 30th July through video-conference.
 The building has been constructed with Indian grant assistance and will be the first India assisted
infrastructure project within the capital city of Port Louis.
 The new Supreme Court building project is one of the five projects being implemented under the ‘Special
Economic Package’ of 353 million dollars extended by India to Mauritius in 2016.
 The project has been completed within schedule and below expected costs.
 The building is spread over an area of more than 4700 sqm with over 10 floors and a built-up area of around
25,000 sqm.
Extra Shots:
Mauritius (Capital/Currency): Port Louis/ Mauritian rupee
 Prime Minister: Pravind Jugnauth
Mahdi Mohammed Gulaid appointed as interim Prime Minister of Somalia
 Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has appointed country’s Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi
Mohamed Gulaid as the interim Prime Minister following the removal of Hassan Ali Khaire from the position
due to vote of no confidence against him.
 His appointment is effective from 25 July 2020, until the nomination of a permanent Prime Minister
Extra Shots:
Somalia (Capital/Currency): Mogadishu/ United States Dollar, Somali shilling
 President: Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo
SBI providing USD 16 million liquidity support for local businesses in Maldives
 The State Bank of India (SBI) is providing liquidity support of USD 16.20 million for local businesses and
deferred loan repayment for over 200 retail accounts, the Indian High Commission in the Maldives.
 Assistance of USD 400 million through an extended currency swap arrangement has been made available
already to tide over liquidity shortage.
Andrej Plenković re-elected as Prime Minister of Croatia
 Croatia’s parliament has approved a new government led by a conservative party that won a parliamentary
election earlier this month.
 Prime Minister Andrej Plenković’s government won support in the 151-member assembly in a 76-59 vote.
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 Plenković was the prime minister of the previous government which was also led by his Croatian Democratic
Union (HDZ) party.
Extra Shots:
Croatia (Capital/Currency): Zagreb/ Croatian kuna
 President: Zoran Milanović
NASA launches Mars rover
 The third and final mission to the red planet of the month lifted off on Thursday 30th July at 17:20 IST from
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
 After covering a huge distance of 300 million miles the Mars Perseverance Rover is expected to land on 18th
February 2021.
 The main objective of the Mars Perseverance Rover is to search for signs of ancient life and collect rock and
soil samples for a possible return to Earth.
Mars Perseverance Rover:
 It contains a car-size vehicle bristling with cameras, microphones, drills and lasers.
 The plutonium-powered, six-wheeled rover will drill down and collect tiny geological specimens that will be
brought home in about 2031 in a sort of interplanetary relay race involving multiple spacecraft and countries.
 The overall cost more than $8 billion.
Extra Shots
NASA
 Founder: Dwight D. Eisenhower
 Founded: 1 October 1958, United States
 Preceding agency: NACA (1915–1958)
 Deputy Administrator: James Morhard
300-year-old Kali temple reconstructed with Indian support in Bangladesh
 The High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das jointly inaugurated the reconstructed Sree
Sree Joykali Matar temple at Natore with the State Minister of ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak.
 The temple was built approximately 300 years back in the early 18th century by Shri Dayaram Roy
 The MoU for the reconstruction of the temple at Lalbazar, Natore was signed in 2016. The Government of
India provided a grant assistance of Taka 97 lakh for the reconstruction of the historic temple under its High
Impact Community Development Project (HICDP).
Extra Shots:
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Ranks & Indices
Unemployment Rate fell to 10.9 % in June from 23.5 % in May 2020

 As per the data for the month of June 2020 released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE),
the unemployment rate in June 2020 was 10.9 percent in India (Urban-12.02 % and Rural- 10.52%).
 The unemployment rate reached an all-time high of 23.52 percent in the country in the month of April due to
the nationwide lockdown. It remained similar in May 2020 with 23.48 percent.
 But with the significant fall in June 2020 and the GST collection for June 2020 reaching 91 percent of the
GST collection in June 2019, it can be suggested that the worst for the Indian economy has passed for now.
 With Unlock 2 beginning on 1st July 2020, it can be expected that the Unemployment Rate can further
normalize during the month.
Unemployment Rate in India has continuously declined
 As per data by CMIE, the unemployment rate in India on 8th June was 21.33 percent. Since then, this rate has
declined every day.
State-wise Unemployment Rate in June 2020
 Assam with 0.6 percent unemployment had the lowest unemployment rate in the country in the month of June
2020, while Haryana with 33.6 percent had the highest unemployment rate in June 2020 among all the states
in the country.
Tourism Sector Could Lose 1.2 Trillion USD Due To Covid Pandemic: UNCTAD Report
 The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) published the report, COVID-19 and
Tourism: Assessing the Economic Consequences stating that the World Tourism sector could lose around
1.2trillion USD or 1.5% of the Global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) because of the 4months lockdown due
to global pandemic situation.
 It is estimated that the global loss could rise to $2.2 trillion or 2.8% of the world’s GDP if the current situation
in international tourism continues for eight months.
 A 12 months break in international tourism is estimated to create a loss of 3.3trillion UDS or 4.2% of Global
GDP in the worst case scenario.
 It is estimated that for every $1 million lost in international tourism revenue, a country’s national income
could decline by $2 million to $3 million.
 The developing countries are predicted to suffer the steepest GDP losses, in the best case scenario, Jamaica
and Thailand could lose 11.0 % and 9.0 % of GDP respectively and Kenya, Egypt and Malaysia could lose
over 3.0% of the tier GDP.
Extra Shots:
UNCTAD
 Headquarters location: Geneva, Switzerland
 Head: Mukhisa Kituyi
 Founder: United Nations General Assembly
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 Parent organizations: United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Secretariat

India Ranked 31st in INFORM Risk Index 2020 for Humanitarian crises & Disasters; Somalia Tops
 In accordance with the “INFORM Report 2020: Shared evidence for managing crises and disasters” released
by research centre INFORM, operating under European Commission (EU), India has ranked at 31st place with
an inform risk of 5.4, means risk of humanitarian crises and disasters.
 The report ranked the countries based on “INFORM Risk Index” which has been topped by Somalia with an
inform risk of 8.9.
 The report has analyzed 191 countries.
 This report is produced by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-
OCHA)
 North Korea was rated as the 39th most dangerous place.
Top 3 Countries:
1. Somalia
2. Central African Republic
3. South Sudan & Yemen
NOTE: India ranked 31st.
Extra Shots:
UN-OCHA
 Head: Mark Lowcock
 Founder: United Nations General Assembly
 Formation: 19 December 1991
 Headquarters: New York, New York, United States, Geneva, Switzerland
 Parent organization: United Nations
India ranks 34th in JLL's Global Real Estate Transparency Index
 India's Global Real Estate Transparency Index ranking has improved by one notch to 34 on the back of
regulatory reforms, better market data and green initiatives, according to property consultant JLL.
 India was ranked 35th in the index during 2018 bi-annual survey, while the country was at 36th position in
2016 and 39th in 2014.
 The country's real estate market is currently placed in the 'semi-transparent' zone.
 The United Kingdom (UK) ranks first in the list of 99 countries, followed by the United States, Australia,
France, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden and Germany.
 Top 10 countries are categorised as highly transparent, while those in the 11th position to 33rd are termed as
transparent.
 This is the 11th edition of the Global Real Estate Transparency Index.
 It covers 99 countries and territories and 163 city regions.
Extra Shots:
JLL:
 Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
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 CEO: Christian Ulbrich

 Founder: Richard Winstanley
 Founded: 1783, London, United Kingdom
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson becomes Instagram’s highest-paid celebrity
 Wrestler-turned-actor, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has been named Instagram’s highest-paid celebrity.
 Dwayne has dethroned Kylie Jenner as Instagram’s highest-paid celebrity.
 According to social media marketing firm Hopper HQ, Johnson has 189 million followers while Jenner has
183 million followers.
 He can charge advertisers roughly $1,015,000 for a sponsored post.
 He was also named Hollywood’s highest-paid actor of 2019 by Forbes.
 Also on this year’s list were pro soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, who charged about $889,000 per post and
Jenner’s sister Kim Kardashian, who could charge $858,000. Ariana Grande rounds out the top five, charging
about $853,000.
India Ranks 117th in 2020 SDG Index, Sweden Tops
 India has been ranked at 117th position in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Index 2020, released on
30 June 2020.
 The overall score of India in SDG Index 2020 is 61.9.
 Sweden has topped the 2020 SDG Index with a score of 84.7.
 The 2020 SDG Index covers 166 countries, compared with 162 countries in 2019.
SDG Index
 The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and Bertelsmann Stiftung publishes the global
SDG Index and Dashboards every year since 2016.
 The SDG Index tracks the performance of a country on the 17 SDGs and equal weight is given to all 17 goals.
 The score gained by each country signifies their position between the worst (0) and the best or target (100)
outcomes.
Extra Shots:
SDSN:
 Headquarters location: New York, New York, United States
 Founded: August 2012
IIM Bangalore jumps 25 places to break into top 50 of QS EMBA Rankings
 From 61st position last year, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore has broken into the global
top 50 Executive MBA (EMBA) Rankings by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) this year at 36th position.
 There are also two new Indian entries into the EMBA Rankings this year, including Indian School of Business
(ISB) debuting at 81st position, while IIM Kozhikode ranks in the 101+ grouping.
 However, the Executive MBA sector is still one dominated by institutions in the United States (US) and
United Kingdom (UK) with 62 of the 141 single-provider programs ranked are offered by American or British
providers.
Extra Shots:
QS:
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 Headquarters location: London, United Kingdom

 Founded: 1990
From Air Pollution- New Delhi has the Most Economic Impact in the World in the First Half of 2020
 Environmental Groups has launched an Online Tool on 9th July 2020 as per which India’s Capital New Delhi
has the most Economic Impact (based on Per Capita) in the World from Air Pollution during the first half of
the year 2020.
Online Tool
 The online tool is named ‘Clean Air Counter’.
 To estimate the health impact due to Air Pollution, the Clean Air Counter tool uses models that have been
devised under the epidemiological observational study of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD).
 The tool was launched under a combined effort of the Regional South East Asia Office of the global
environmental organization- Greenpeace, Centre For Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA-
Headquartered at Finland’s Helsinki) and IQAir AirVisual.
 Clean Air Counter Tool has measured Smog Pollution in 28 major cities across the world.
India’s foreign exchange reserves 5th largest in world
 India’s foreign exchange reserves, which currently stand at more than USD 500 billion, are the fifth largest in
the world after China, Japan, Switzerland and Russia, as per the International Monetary Fund.
 India’s foreign exchange reserves are equivalent to almost one fifth of the country’s gross domestic product.
 They are considered to be enough to cover 13 months of imports.
Foreign exchange reserves
 Foreign exchange reserves are cash and other assets held by a central bank of a nation. The Foreign exchange
reserves can comprise bonds, banknotes, deposits, treasury bills and other government securities of the reserve
currency. Some nations hold a part of their reserves in gold, and special drawing rights are also considered
reserve assets.
 The foreign exchange reserves are held in one or more reserve currencies, currently mostly in US dollar and to
a lesser extent the Euro.
 The forex reserves are primarily available to balance payments of the country, influence the foreign exchange
rate of the nation’s currency and maintain confidence in financial markets.
World’s second-largest data centre inaugurated near Mumbai
 Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray e-inaugurated Asia’s largest certified tier IV data centre near
Mumbai. Located in Panvel, the Yotta NM1 data centre building, is the largest of its kind in India, as well as
the second largest in the world
 This world class infrastructure has been developed by the Hiranandani Group via its fully owned subsidiary,
the Yotta Infrastructure Group.
 The Yotta data centre is aimed at catering for engineering and real estate businesses.
Extra Shots:
Maharashtra:
 Capital: Mumbai
 Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray
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 Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari

 National Parks: Chandoli National Park, Nawegaon National Park, Gugamal National Park, Pench National
Park, Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park, Tadoba National Park
 Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amba Barwa WLS, Bor WLS, Great Indian Bustard WLS,
Lonar WLS, Melghat WLS, Gangewadi New Great Indian Bustard WLS, etc.
Nadaun Police Station of Himachal Pradesh declared as one of the best in India
 The Union Minister of Home Affairs announced the Annual Ranking of Police Stations for 2019 prepared by
the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in the Director General of Police’s (DGP’s) conference.
Nadaun Police Station of Hamirpur District in Himachal Pradesh is ranked as one of the best Police Stations
of India.
 Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs presented the Certification of Excellence to Jai Ram Thakur,
Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh during the ceremony on 9th July 2020 which was handed to Sanjay
Kundu, IPS, the Director General of Police (DGP), Himachal Pradesh.
 The ranking is made through data analysis, direct observation and public feedback.
Extra Shots:
Himachal Pradesh:
 State formed on: 25 January 1971
 Chief Minister: Jai Ram Thakur
 Governor: Bandaru Dattatraya
 Capital– Shimla (summer) & Dharamshala (Winter)
 Official language: Hindi
India's 2018 Tiger census sets new Guinness World Record for being largest camera trap wildlife survey
 The fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation 2018 has entered the Guinness World Record for being the
world’s largest camera trap wildlife survey.
 The country now has an estimated 2967 tigers as per the latest census.
 With this number, India is home to nearly 75 percent of the global tiger population and has already fulfilled its
resolve of doubling tiger numbers, made at St. Petersburg in 2010, well ahead of the target year of 2022.
 Camera traps were placed in 26,838 locations across 141 different sites and surveyed an effective area of 1
lakh 21 thousand 337 square kilometres.
 From the photographs, 2,461 individual tigers were identified using stripe-pattern-recognition software.
United States continues to be the Top Trading Partner of India in 2019-20
 As per the data from the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the United States remains as the top
trading partner of India during the Financial Year 2019-20.
 This is the second consecutive Financial Year that the United States has become the top trading partner of
India.
Highlights from the Data
 The Bilateral Ties between India and the United States have increased marginally in 2019-20 Financial Year
as Compared to the 2018-19 Financial Year.
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 In 2018-19 Bilateral Ties were at USD 87.96 billion, while in 2019-20 it was USD 88.75 billion.
 India continues to maintain a trade surplus over the United States as the trade deficit of the United States in
Financial Year 2019-20 was USD 17.42 billion.
 In 2018-19 United States trade deficit was USD 16.86 billion.
Extra Shots:
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry administers two departments, the Department of Commerce and the
Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade. The head of the Ministry is a Minister of Cabinet rank.
 Departments: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
 Officeholders: C.R.Chaudhary (Minister of State), Piyush Goyal (Minister), Hardeep Singh Puri (MOS
independent charge)
Mukesh Ambani becomes World’s 6th richest man
 The Bloomberg Billionaires Index has ranked Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd(RIL) as
the World’s 6th richest man with a worth USD 72.4 billion.
 He surpassed Elon Musk, co-founder & CEO of Tesla and Alphabet Inc co founders, Sergey Brin and Larry
Page.
Top Three World wise:
1. Jeff Bezos(US) - USD 184B
2. Bill Gates(US) - USD 115B
3. Bernard Arnault(France) - USD 94.5B
From India:
77. Azim Premji - USD 16.9B
89. Shiv Nadar - USD15.8B
According to UN Report, around 690 million people were found hungry in 2019, with highest population in
Asia
 As per the annual ‘State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World’ report, by United Nations, almost 690
million people (8.9% of overall population) went hungry in 2019.
Reports Highlights:
 This figure is up by 10 million from 2018, and by nearly 60 million in five years.
 This means that more people are going hungry while tens of millions have joined the ranks of the chronically
undernourished over the past five years, and countries around the world continue to struggle with multiple
forms of malnutrition.
 The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report was released on 13 July 2020.
 It is co-developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International
Fund for Agriculture (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food
Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report is the most authoritative global study tracking progress towards ending hunger and malnutrition.
 The report also states that the hungry are most numerous in Asia but expanding fastest in Africa.
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 Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic could tip over 130 million more people into chronic hunger by the end of
2020.
 High costs and low affordability are also the key reasons why billions cannot eat healthily or nutritiously.
Extra Shots:
United Nations
 Secretary general: António Guterres
 Official languages: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
 Head: Qu Dongyu
 Formation: 16 October 1945
International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD)
 Headquarters location: Rome, Italy
 Head: Gilbert Houngbo
 Founder: India
 Founded: December 1977, Rome, Italy
 Formation: 15 December 1977
World Food Programme (WFP)
 Founded: 1961
 Parent organization: United Nations General Assembly
 Heads: David Beasley, Ertharin Cousin
 Founders: Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations General Assembly
 Video games: Food Force, Freerice – Learn, Have Fun, Help End Hunger
World Health Organization (WHO)
India ranks tenth globally in intellectual property filings in 2018, China tops: WIPO Report
 India has emerged as the top tenth nation in the ranking of the total (resident and abroad) Intellectual Property
(IP) filing activity, as per World Intellectual Property Indicators-2019 Report.
Highlights about the Report:
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 The overall ranking has been topped by China, which was the main source of growth in worldwide IP filings
in 2018.
 China was followed by United States, Germany, Japan, and Republic of Korea as the top five nations in the
list.
 The report released by Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization analyzes IP activity around the
globe.
 The 2019 report presents data for 49 countries based on their 2018 filing, registration and renewals statistics,
collected from national and regional IP offices and WIPO.
 The Intellectual Property (IP) considered for ranking countries covers patents, utility models, trademarks,
industrial designs, microorganisms, plant variety protection and geographical indications.
Extra Shots:
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
 CEO: Francis Gurry
 Formation: 14 July 1967
India Ranks Third in Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2020, China Tops: Cushman & Wakefield Report
 India is the third top-most country among 48 nations, in the 2020 Global Manufacturing Risk Index (MRI),
for having the most-suitable locations for global manufacturing in terms of cost competitiveness and operating
conditions.
Highlights:
 The annual Global Manufacturing Risk Index (MRI) report was released by the US-based property consultant
Cushman & Wakefield, to rank the most suitable locations for global manufacturing among 48 countries in
Europe, Americas, and the Asia-Pacific.
 China and the United States retain the top two positions respectively in MRI 2020, while India has moved one
place higher from previous edition of the report, to rank third in MRI 2020.
 Each of the country has been assessed in four key areas: Bounce back ability, Conditions, Costs and Risks
 The MRI 2020 report also includes analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on the global manufacturing sector and
the ability of the countries to restart their manufacturing sectors once confinement measures are relaxed and
business starts to return to normal.
Extra Shots:
Cushman & Wakefield
 Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
 CEO: W. Brett White
At 273 million, India recorded the world’s largest reduction in poverty from 2005-16: Oxford-UN study
 About 273 million Indians were lifted out of multidimensional poverty, a period of 10 years, between 2005-
2006 and 2015-2016, according to a study conducted by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development
Initiative (OPHI) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme.
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 The study titled ‘Charting pathways out of multidimensional poverty: Achieving the SDGs’ was based on a
global multidimensional poverty index (MPI) which annually measures the complexities of poor people’s
lives, individually and collectively.
 The report noted that India has recorded the largest reduction in the number of people living in poverty,
among the 75 countries studied in MPI.
 Four countries namely India, Armenia, Nicaragua , and North Macedonia, have reduced their MPI by half or
more in 5.5 to 10.5 years.
 65 out of 75 countries significantly reduced their multidimensional poverty levels, and of these 65, 50 also
reduced the number of people living in poverty.
India Among 10 Worst Countries For Working People: ITUC Global Rights Index
 The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has released its Global Rights Index for the year 2020,
which ranks countries on the degree of respect for workers’ rights.
 This is the seventh edition of the annual report and ranks 144 countries.
 The ITUC Global Rights Index ranks countries on a scale from 1 (best) to 5+ (worst)
5+ - No guarantee of rights due to the breakdown of the rule of law
5 : No guarantee of rights
4 : Systematic violations of rights
3 : Regular violations of rights
2 : Repeated violations of rights
1 : Sporadic violations of rights
Highlights:
 Each country is analysed against a list of 97 indicators derived from ILO conventions.
 The index provides an opportunity to increase the visibility and transparency of each country’s record on
workers’ rights.
 India has been ranked among the 10 worst countries for working people. It is rated with 5 on the scale.
 The ten worst countries for workers in 2020 are Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Honduras, India,
Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Turkey and Zimbabwe.
 The Middle East and North Africa is the worst region in the world for working people.
 Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, Uruguay are
the best countries with rating of 1.
The most violated rights in the world includes:
 Right to strike
 Right to collective bargaining
 Right to establish or join unions
 Right to civil liberties
 Right to trade union activities
 Right to civil liberties
Extra Shots:
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
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 Headquarters location: Brussels, Belgium

 Office location: Brussels, Belgium
 Subsidiaries: AFL–CIO, Trades Union Congress
 Predecessors: International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, World Confederation of Labour
 Key people: Sharan Burrow, Ayuba Wabba, Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson
HDFC Bank MD Aditya Puri emerges highest paid banker for FY 2019-20 with Rs 18.92 crore salary
 HDFC Bank Managing Director Aditya Puri has emerged as the highest paid banker among the top lenders for
FY 2019-20, with a 38 per cent jump in salary and prerequisites to Rs 18.92 crore.
 Second largest private sector lender ICICI Bank's managing director and chief executive Sandeep Bakhshi's
gross earnings stood at Rs 6.31 crore in his first full year.
World will need at least 14 billion cooling appliances by 2050
 The United Nations Environment Programme and the International Energy Agency released a report on
“Cooling Emissions and Policy Synthesis”.
 The report cited benefits of cooling efficiency and Kigali Amendment report.
 He reports says that by 2050, the world will need at least 14 billion cooling appliances.
 Currently, there are 3.6 billion appliances in use globally.
India Ranks 3rd among top 10 countries gaining forest area in the world
 India has been ranked third among the top 10 countries that have gained in forest areas in the last decade
(2010-2020) as per the latest Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) released by the United Nations Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
 FRA is a comprehensive assessment brought out by FAO after every five years since 1990 to assess the state
of forests, their conditions and management for all member countries.
 Top 10 countries which recorded the maximum average annual net gains in forest area during 2010-2020 are
China, Australia, India, Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, France, Italy and Romania
 India accounts for two percent of total global forest area.
Extra Shots:
FAO:
 Head: Qu Dongyu
 Formation: 16 October 1945; 74 years ago
 Area: Europe
Hyderabad is 16th most surveilled city in the world
 Telangana’s capital Hyderabad has found a place among the top 50 CCTV-surveilled cities in the world.
 Chennai, ranked 21st overall, comes a close second in Indian surveilled cities, while Delhi is a distant third at
33rd.
Page 106 of 210

 According to a report published by the UK tech firm Comparitech, Hyderabad ranks 16th in the list and is the
top-ranked Indian metropolis.
 With nearly 3 lakh CCTVs for a population of over one crore (2020 estimates), Hyderabad has 30 CCTVs per
1,000 people.
 Eighteen of the top 20 cities in the list are located in China, while third-ranked London is the only city
situated outside of China apart from Hyderabad.
 In the top 50 rankings, 34 cities are in China, two – Moscow and St Petersburg – are in Russia, and Baghdad
is located in strife-torn Iraq.
Environment Minister releases All India Tiger Estimation Report-2018 on eve of Global Tiger Day 2020
 Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar released the All India Tiger Estimation Report-2018.
 He also released a poster on small wild cats of India at the event.
 India has nearly 70 percent of the global tiger population and it leads the world.
 The Heads of the governments of Tiger range countries had resolved to double the tiger population by the
year 2022.
HRD Minister launched 2020 India Report on Digital Education
 Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually launched
"India Report on Digital Education, 2020".
 The report elaborates on the innovative methods adopted by Ministry of HRD, Education Departments of
States and Union Territories (UT) to ensure accessible and inclusive education to children at home and
reducing learning gaps.
India Report on Digital Education 2020:
 The report highlights the central Initiatives State/UT Governments that managed the critical task of providing
digital education at the doorstep of the students.
 The report include the initiatives that were taken to facilitate remote learning and education for all by taking
schools to the students.
 The report stated the quality digital education that has acquired the new urgency in the present context of
globalization.
Reliance Industries has entered the list of 50 most valued companies
 Reliance Industries has entered the list of 50 most valued companies in the world.
 The market cap of Reliance now stands at over $173 billion.
 Reliance's shares saw a huge surge of 18.40% in the past one month.
 The company has been successful in bagging huge investments from some top firms including Facebook in
the recent past.
Extra Shots:
RIL:
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Reliance Industries has overtaken ExxonMobil to become the world's second most valuable energy firm
 Reliance Industries has overtaken ExxonMobil to become the world's second most valuable energy firm with
market capitalization scaled to a record high of over Rs 14 trillion.
 Reliance is now ranked 46th globally on market cap, according to stock market data. Meanwhile, Reliance
chairman Mukesh Ambani overtook Steve Ballmer to become the fifth richest person in the world with a net
worth of $77.4 billion
Extra Shots:
RIL:
Apple, Google, Microsoft topmost valuable brands in Forbes' list
 With a brand value of $241.2 billion (a 17% increase year-over-year), Apple has topped the Forbes' annual list
of the World's Most Valuable Brands, which looked at the top 100 companies from the fiscal year 2019.
 Google with $207.5 billion and Microsoft with $163 billion were the first and second runners-up,
respectively.
 The top 100 most valuable brands in total were worth $2.54 trillion, up from $2.33 trillion last year.
Extra Shots:
Forbes:
 Company: Forbes Media, LLC (51%); Forbes family (49%)
 Editor-in-chief: Steve Forbes
 Editor: Randall Lane
 First issue: September 15, 1917
Summits and Conferences
New Zealand cancels the APEC Summit 2021

 New Zealand has cancelled the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2021, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
 This summit to be held in Auckland, New Zealand.
 The 2019 leaders’ meeting was cancelled by Chile due to violent anti-government protests and the virtual
APEC meeting of 2020 is being hosted by Malaysia. Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters
announced that for planning and security reasons the 2021 APEC summit is cancelled and the summit will be
hosted as a virtual event.
 New Zealand has closed its borders of every nation except for the returning citizens and residents.
Extra Shots
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific
Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Page 108 of 210
 Headquarters: Singapore
 Founder: Bob Hawke
 Founded: November 1989, Canberra, Australia
 Chairperson: Muhyiddin Yassin
 Type of business: Economic meeting
4th edition of the virtual Ministerial on Climate Action held
 The fourth edition of the virtual Ministerial on Climate Action was co-chaired by European Union, China and
Canada.
 In the meeting, India was represented by the Union Environment Minister, Shri Prakash Javadekar.
 The meeting witnessed the countries deliberating on how countries are aligning economic recovery plans with
the Paris Agreement as well as the critical enabling conditions to ensure continued climate action.
 The virtual Ministerial on Climate Action was held with prime objective of demonstrating the continued
political commitment to global climate action.
 It also aimed to further the discussions on the full implementation of the Paris Agreement under the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
 It was attended by Ministers and representatives of about 30 countries and was held virtually in view of the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
th
15 meeting of the India-European Union Summit
 The 15th meeting of the India-European Union Summit will be held in virtual mode.
 The summit will deliberate on India-EU cooperation by covering various aspects such as political and
security relations, trade and investment and economic cooperation.
 The developments around the COVID-19 pandemic and contemporary global topics of interest to both sides
would be discussed during the summit.
 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and
President of European Council Charles Michel will co-chair the 15th meeting of the India-European Union
Summit to be held virtually.
Extra Shots:
European Union (EU)
 Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
 Founded: 1 November 1993, Maastricht, Netherlands
 Unemployment rate: 6.2% (Jan 2020) Eurostat
 Founders: Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg
NITI Aayog presented second Voluntary National Review of India at United Nations HLPF
 NITI Aayog presented India’s second Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations High-level
Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2020.
 The HLPF is the foremost international platform for follow-up and review of progress on the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
Highlights:
 The India VNR 2020 report titled "Decade of Action: Taking SDGs from Global to Local".
Page 109 of 210
 VNR is presented by Dr.Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog and was released by Dr.Rajiv Kumar,
Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Dr V.K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog,
and Smt. Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (SDGs), NITI Aayog.
 VNRs are a critical component of the review of the progress and implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 The reviews are voluntary and state-led. The aim of the report is to facilitate the sharing of experiences,
including successes, challenges and lessons learned
 The HLPF annually meets in the month of July for eight days under the Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC) of the UN.
Extra Shots:
NITI Aayog
 Website: niti.gov.in
 Formed: 1 January 2015
 Objectives: Foster involvement and participation in the economic policy-making process by the State
Governments of India
 Jurisdiction: Government of India
 Chairperson: Narendra Modi
UN HLPF: The United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is a subsidiary body of both
the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Economic and Social Council responsible for the entire
organization's policy on sustainable development.
 Formation: 9 July 2013; 6 years ago
 Parent organizations: United Nations Economic and Social Council, United Nations General Assembly
India-European Summit held via video conferencing
 On July 15, 2020, the 15th India-European Union Summit was held through video conferencing. The summit
aims to strengthen ties between India and European Union.
 The fourteenth India-European Union Summit was held in New Delhi in 2017.
Highlights of the Summit:
 Under the Summit, India and European Union agreed to boost their ties in the areas of defence, trade and
investment.
 They agreed to launch a dialogue on maritime security.
 The leaders at the summit decided to strengthen India-EU strategic partnership.
 They affirmed their determination to promote multilateralism with United Nations and World Trade
Organization (WTO).
A Roadmap to 2025
 The Roadmap to 2025 was created during the 15th India-EU Summit. The roadmap does not give rise to any
financial commitments and does not create any legally binding rights or obligations.
Page 110 of 210
Clean Energy and Climate Partnership

 India and EU discussed the ongoing cooperation under the “Clean Energy and Climate Partnership”.
Bilateral Cooperation
 They also reinforced their cooperation in International Solar Alliance (ISA), International Platform on
Sustainable Finance (IPSF). These platforms will help in environmentally sustainable investments.
India-EURATOM Agreement
 The leaders at the summit welcomed the signing of India-EURATOM agreement on research and
development in nuclear energy.
Cyberspace
 The leaders confirmed their full support to an open, free, stable and secure cyberspace, and their commitment
to foster the responsible and liable behaviour of all the actors in the cyberspace.
Extra Shots:
European Union (EU)
World Trade Organization (WTO)
 Membership: 164 member states
 Head: Pascal Lamy
 Purpose: Reduction of tariffs and other barriers to trade
Conference on Defence Manufacturing Technologies and Aerospace inaugurated
 The Union Minister of State for Defence Shri Shripad Naik inaugurated the conference on Defence
Manufacturing Technologies and Aerospace.
 The conference is being held to promote Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and Make in India initiative.
 The conference is held under the theme: Empowering India with Atma Nirbhar Bharat Mission
 The event was jointly organized by Tamil Nadu Technology Development Promotion Centre, Confederation
of Indian Industry and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers.
 The Technology promotion centre of Tamil Nadu participated as one of the two defence industrial corridors of
the country is located in the state. The other is located in Uttar Pradesh.
 The conference will help India achieve its defence target of 26 billion USD of domestic production by 2025.
Extra Shots:
The Ministry of Defence is charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government
relating directly to national security and the Indian armed forces. The President of India is the ceremonial
commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the country.
 Founded: 15 August 1947
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 Officeholders: Rajnath Singh (Minister), Subhash Bhamre (Minister of State)

Indo-Italian Business Mission on Food Processing inaugurated
 On July 15, 2020, the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated the
Digital Indo-Italian Business mission on Food Processing.
Highlights:
 The Mission will focus on key areas such as fruits and vegetables, milk, cereals, dairy processing, bottling and
packaging.
 The event is to be held for two days.
 During the event, trade fairs, digital conferences and back to back meetings are to be conducted.
 Around 23 Italian companies are to exhibit their products and services.
 India is to invest in mega food parks and agricultural export zones in the future.
 Also, GoI will link these parks with Industrial estates, industrial parks and clusters in the country.
Extra Shots:
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is a ministry of the Government of India responsible for formulation
and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to food processing in India.
 Departments: National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management
 Founded: 1947
 Officeholders: Niranjan Jyoti (Minister of State), Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Minister)
India, China Military Level meeting held
 India and China hold discussions through established military and diplomatic channels to address the
prevailing situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
 On 14th July, Commanders from People's Liberation Army (PLA) and Indian Army held a meeting at
Chushul, on the Indian side, for the fourth round of talks.
Highlights:
 The engagement of the military in both the countries were consistent with the consensus reached between the
Special Representatives of China and India earlier, on 5 July, to discuss complete disengagement.
 The Senior Commanders reviewed the work on the implementation of the first phase of disengagement and
discussed further steps to ensure complete disengagement.
 Both sides reaffirmed the commitment to the objective of complete disengagement.
 This process is intricate and requires constant verification. They are taking it forward through regular
meetings at the diplomatic and military levels.
Extra Shots:
Prime Minister to address High-Level Segment of ECOSOC on 17 July
 A High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) session is to be held
on 17 July 2020.
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 Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi is expected to deliver a keynote address virtually at the United
Nations in New York.
 PM Narendra Modi will be speaking at the valedictory session along with the Prime Minister of Norway Erna
Solberg and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
India:
 This is the first opportunity for PM to address the broader UN membership since India’s overwhelming
election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council on 17th June, for the term 2021-22.
 The theme of the High-Level Segment of the ECOSOC resonates with India’s Security Council priority,
wherein it calls for ‘reformed multilateralism’ in a post-COVID-19 world.
 PM had earlier delivered the keynote address virtually at the 70th anniversary of ECOSOC in January 2016.
Highlights:
 The annual High-level Segment convenes a diverse group of high-level representatives from the Government,
the private sector, civil society, and academia.
 The theme of the 2020 High-level Segment, on the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the UN, is
"Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary”.
 The session is to focus on critical forces shaping the course of multilateralism and explore ways to bolster the
global agenda through strong leadership, effective international institutions, a broadening of participation and
enhanced significance of global public goods, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Extra Shots:
United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
 Headquarters location: New York,United States
 Head: Mona Juul
 Founded: 1945
CII to hold virtual Tea Conclave from September 1
 The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will organise a virtual Tea Conclave from 1st September to 30th
November.
 digital conferences, exhibition of different varieties of tea, products related to tea industry, and have a buyer-
seller meet spread over a period of 90 days.
 The CII in the past has organized eight tea conclaves – five in Siliguri and two in Guwahati.
 This tea conclave will be a virtual one and will have virtual stalls similar to regular exhibitions. Producers and
manufacturers will be able to display their products in the stalls. Buyers and tea connoisseurs can visit the
stalls.
 This platform will also be an opportunity to launch new products as well as for start-ups & innovators.
 Theme of the Conference: Chai Piyo Swasth Raho (Drink tea and remain healthy).
Note: 21st May- International Tea Day
Extra Shots:
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
 President: Uday Kotak
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 Founded: 1895
 Members: Direct 9,000+; Indirect 300,000
 Purpose: Create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India
PM Modi Virtually addresses UN ECOSOC on UN’s 75th anniversary
 Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi deliver a keynote address virtually at the valedictory session of
High-Level Segment of UN ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) on July 17 in New
York, on the eve of 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
 The year 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, in 1945.
 The theme of the High-level Segment was “Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at
the 75th anniversary”.
 This was Prime Minister Modi’s first speech at the UN after India’s election to the UN Security Council as a
non-permanent member on 17th June 2020 for the term 2021-22.
 PM was joined by his Norwegian counterpart Erna Solberg as well as UN Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres.
 The High-Level Segment is held annually by ECOSOC for discussing international economic and social
issues and formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and United Nations system.
Extra Shots:
UN ECOSCOC
 Head: Mona Juul
 Founded: 1945
India attends third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meet
 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman participated in third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors
meet.
 The meet was presided by Saudi Arabia.
 During the first meeting, India shared its G20 Action plan in response to COVID-19 that was endorsed by all
the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors.
 During the third meet, India shared global economic outlook amid evolving COVID-19 crisis.
Extra Shots:
Saudi Arabia (Capital/Currency): Riyadh/ Saudi riyal
 Price: Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud
India Business Council to host India Ideas Summit 2020
 India Business Council will host the 45th India Ideas Summit 2020 on July 22nd.
 The Summit convenes business and government leaders for discussions on the future of the U.S.-India
Partnership and the trends shaping globalization, trade and investment, and the future of work in the COVID-
era and beyond.
 This year’s focus is on “Building a Better Future”.
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 The Summit will feature a high-powered line up of both public and private sector speakers. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will deliver the keynote addresses.
 Among others, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will address the summit.
3-day long Air Force Commanders’ Conference to begin from Wednesday in Delhi
 The three-day long Air Force Commanders’ Conference will begin.
 The theme of the conference is "Indian Air Force in the Next Decade".
 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to inaugurate the conference on Wednesday.
 The Defence Secretary and Secretary Defence Production are also expected to be present during the
inauguration.
Extra Shots:
Indian Airforce
 Helicopter: Apache AH-64E, CH-47 Chinook, Dhruv, Chetak, Cheetah, Mi-8, Mi-17, Rudra, Mi-26, Mi-25/35
 Founded: 8 October 1932, India
 Attack: Jaguar, Harpy
 Role: Aerial warfare
 Fighters: Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Dassault Rafale, Dassault Mirage 2000, Mikoyan MiG-29, HAL Tejas,
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
Indian Air Force Commanders Conference inaugurated on 22 July
 The Air Force Commanders’ Conference (AFCC) was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Defence Rajnath
Singh on 22 July 2020 at Air Headquarters, Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi.
 The AFCC conference will be held for 3 days.
 The theme of the AFCC is ‘IAF in the Next Decade’.
Highlights:
 It aims in enhancing efforts towards indigenization in the future.
 IAF is proactively bolstering its operational capabilities over the past few months.
 Amid the pandemic, IAF is supporting the nation’s response to COVID-19 pandemic and the role played
during several HADR missions.
 IAF has enhanced the synergy and integration within the three services since the appointment of Combined
Defence Services (CDS) and the creation of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA).
 IAF has adapted to changes in technology and adopting emerging capabilities in Nano Technology, Artificial
Intelligence, Cyber and Space domains.
India to participate in G20 Digital Ministers Meet
 Union Minister of Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad is to address the G20 Digital Minister's
meeting on 22 July 2020.
 The Digital Economy Ministers meeting will be held as a part of the Sherpa Track for the G20 Leaders’
Summit 2020, which is to be hosted by Saudi Arabia at the end of 2020.
 The theme of G20 Digital Minister's meeting "Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century For All".
The annual G20 meeting are conducted through three tracks:
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 Government discussions take place under the Finance

 Sherpa Tracks
 Civil society organisations participate through engagement groups.
The Ministers will address three key agenda are:
 To empower people, by creating the conditions in which all people - especially women and youth - can live,
work and thrive
 To safeguard the planet, by fostering collective efforts to protect our global commons
 To shape New Frontiers, by adopting long-term and bold strategies to share benefits of innovation and
technological advancement.
Extra Shots:
G20: The G20 is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the
European Union.
 Leader: Salman of Saudi Arabia (2020)
 Chairman: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2020)
 Founder: Group of Seven
 Formation: 26 September 1999; 20 years ago; 2008 (heads-of-state/heads-of-government summits)
United Nations General Assembly to go virtual for the first time
 The 75th United Nations General Assembly is to be conducted virtually in 2020 for the first time in its
history.
 The 2020 session is to begin on September 15.
The main highlights of the 2020 UNGA are as follows
 Biodiversity Summit
 A high-level meeting to celebrate 25th anniversary of fourth world conference on women Climate Week
Extra Shots:
United Nations General Assembly
 President: Tijjani Muhammad-Bande
 Headquarters: New York, United States
 Founder: United Nations
 Founded: 1945, New York, United States
Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda inaugurates e-Symposium on Handicrafts
 Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda today inaugurated an e-Symposium on Handicrafts organized by Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis, Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.
 The e-symposium was titled 'Emergent North-East India: Strategic and Developmental Imperatives in
Handicrafts'.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan represents India at SCO Health Ministers Digital Meet
 Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, virtually participated in the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) Health Minister's Digital Meet on 24th July.
 The meeting was chaired by Mr. Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation.
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Highlights:
 The Ministers discussed the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, as it was the key topic of discussion.
 India proposed to set up a Sub-Group on Traditional Medicine under the existing Institutional Meetings of the
SCO Health Ministers to fulfill the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023.
 India also suggested to reinforce the effective implementation of the joint statement on cooperation in
combating epidemics signed at the Qingdao Summit in 2018.
Extra Shots:
SCO
 Deputy Secretaries General: Sabyr Imandosov; Wang Kaiwen; Aziz Nosirov; Vladimir Potapenko
 Founded: 15 June 2001
 Secretary General: Vladimir Norov
 Official language: Chinese and Russian
 Founders: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
India-UK affirm shared commitment to FTA at 14th Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting
 India and the United Kingdom virtually held the 14th Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting on 24
July 2020. It was co-chaired by Minister for Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of
State for International Trade, HE, Ms Elizabeth Truss.
Highlights:
 The Co-chairs of Business led Joint Working Groups on Life Science and Health, ICT and Food and Drink set
up during the last JETCO made their recommendations to the Ministers.
 Both the countries shared commitment to revive and revitalize the long-standing trade and economic linkages
between India and the UK.
 The countries also resolved to cooperate in health Sector especially in view of the present Pandemic of
COVID-19.
“2nd Empathy e-Conclave” organised by ILBS
 Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) has organised “2nd Empathy e-Conclave” in collaboration with
Airport Authority of India (AAI).
 The conclave was held on the occasion of “World Hepatitis Day”.
 The theme of 2nd Empathy e-Conclave is “Keep your Liver Safe in COVID times “.
Extra Shots:
Airport Authority of India (AAI)
 Parent organization: Directorate General of Civil Aviation
 Number of employees: 17,535 (As on 31.03.2018)
 Key people: Arvind Singh (Chairman), B.S. Bhullar, DGCA (Ex-Officio)
FM Nirmala Sitharaman attends 5th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors of AIIB
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 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the 5th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) through video conference in New Delhi.
 Theme of the conference ‘AIIB 2030-Supporting Asia’s Development over the Next Decade’.
 Sitharaman mentioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of creating a COVID-19 Emergency
Fund for SAARC Nations and India's efforts in supplying critical medical health kits to tackle the COVID-19.
Extra Shots:
AIIB:
 Region served: Asia and Oceania
 Membership: 102 Members
 Main organ: Board of Governors; Board of Directors
Agreements and MoU Signed
Indian Oil, NTPC Ltd, and SDMC signed MoU for Waste to Energy plant in Delhi
 A Memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Waste to Energy plant at Okhla, Delhi, between
Indian Oil, NTPC Ltd and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on 30 June 2020.
MoU Provisions:
 Under the MoU, Indian Oil, SDMC, and NTPC will jointly develop a demonstration Waste-to-energy Plant at
Okhla landfill site in Delhi, using Gasification technology.
 The Plant will process 17,500 tons per annum of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) produced from combustible
components of Municipal Waste to generate syngas which shall in turn be used to generate electricity.
 This Energy plant is expected to bring solutions to the management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in
Delhi.
 The gas generation from waste will also help in cutting imports of petroleum products and saving foreign
exchange.
 The technology that is used in the Delhi plant will result in less emission and also provide usable residues.
Extra Shots:
Indian Oil
 Chairperson: Sanjiv Singh
NTPC
 Founded: 1975
 Headquarters: New Delhi, India
 Organization type: State-owned enterprise
 Purpose: Electricity generation and distribution natural gas exploration, production, transportation and
distribution
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India-Bangladesh sets up 50:50 Joint Venture Company for LPG business in Bangladesh
 The State-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Bangladesh’s Beximco LPG have entered into an agreement for
the formation of a 50:50 Joint Venture Company (JVC) for importing liquefied petroleum gas in Bangladesh.
 The agreement was signed in this regard on 30 June 2020 between IOC Middle East FZE, Dubai, a wholly-
owned subsidiary of IOC, and RR Holdings Ltd, UAE, the holding company of Beximco LPG of Bangladesh.
 The Joint Venture Company will help reduce the cost of import of LPG in Bangladesh and make it more
affordable for the consumers of the country.
Extra Shots:
ICICI bank Launched a Facility, ‘Insta Loans against Mutual Funds’, in Partnership with Computer Age
Management Services
 ICICI Bank in partnership with Computer Age Management Services(CAMS) launched ‘Insta Loans against
Mutual Funds’, a facility for retail customers to avail loans upto Rs 1 crore instantly by pledging their
holdings in both debt and equity Mutual Funds(MFs).
Highlights:
 The facility is an extension of the Insta Loan Against Shares(LAS).
 It is a full digital and paperless facility.
 It empowers customers to get this loan as an overdraft (OD) within a few minutes without having to visit a
branch and submit physical documents.
 It paves way for the customers to get access to instant liquidity by leveraging their existing mutual fund
portfolio, without selling them.
 Customers can avail the loan against a vast range of debt and equity schemes of mutual funds serviced by
CAMS and approved by the Bank
 Minimum loan amount for debt and equity schemes of MFs is Rs. 50,000. Maximum loan amount for debt
schemes of MFs is Rs 1 crore and for equity schemes of MFs is Rs. 20 lakh.
Extra Shots:
ICICI bank:
 MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi
Maharashtra Government and UKIBC signs MoU
 A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed virtually on 4th July 2020 between the non-profit
organization UKIBC- UK India Business Council and the MIDC-Maharashtra Industrial Development
Corporation. MIDC is the Maharashtra Government’s premier agency for industrial infrastructure
development.
 The MoU will help in strengthening the collaboration of Maharashtra Government with the businesses in the
United Kingdom (UK), also it will proactively improve the business environment in the state.
 A virtual roundtable discussion was also conducted in which the future investment plans in Maharashtra by
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UK based businesses, post COVID-19 plans to re-grow the economy in the state, for achieving Atma Nirbhar
Bharat the importance of international trade, etc were discussed.
 Maharashtra was found as a top destination for Improved Business Environment in its annual Doing Business
in India report by the UKIBC.
Extra Shots:
The UK India Business Council is a membership-based, non-profit organisation founded in 2007 to foster trade and
business relations between the United Kingdom and India. The organisation works with businesses in both countries,
as well as the UK and Indian governments, to promote and increase bilateral trade.
 Founder: Karan Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria
 Founded: 1993
 Key person: Patricia Hewitt
NLC and Coal India to form JVC for Developing Solar and Thermal Power Assets
 A Navratna Company of Government of India- NLC India Limited has signed an agreement with a Maharatna
Company- Coal India Limited to form a Joint Venture Company (JVC) for developing Solar and Thermal
power assets.
 In the Joint Venture Company, both NLC and Coal India will have equal 50:50 equity.
 This was informed on 3rd July 2020 by NLC India.
 Solar and Thermal power assets of 5000 megawatts (5 GW) will be developed by the joint venture company.
 The Joint Venture Company will be set up under the Ministry of Coal.
Extra Shots:
Coal India Limited
 CEO: Anil Kumar Jha
 Headquarters: Kolkata
 Owner: Government of India (70.96%)
 Number of employees: 2,72,445 (1 April 2020)
 Director: Pramod Agrawal
NLC India Limited
 Founded: 1956
 Headquarters: Chennai, India
 Purpose: Lignite mining and power generation
 Power stations: Neyveli New Thermal Power Station, Barsingsar Thermal Power Station
KKR to buy 54% Stake in JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals
 The United States-based global investment firm- Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) & Co. Inc. will buy the
majority of 54 percent stake in JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals.
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 54 percent stake of Mumbai based JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals is worth Rs 3,109 crore.
 In India, this will be the second investment by KKR in a space of two months. Earlier in May.
 KKR has invested Rs 11,367 crore for a 2.32 percent stake in Reliance Industries Limited’s Jio Platforms.
 The investment in Jio Platforms was the largest Investment of KKR in Asia to date.
 For the deal, investments will be made by KKR through its 3 subsidiary companies.
 The companies are Tau Investments Holdings Pte. Ltd, Tau Holdco Pte.
 For the 54 percent stake deal, KKR will be acquiring 41.7 million equity shares of JB Chemicals and
Pharmaceuticals.
Extra Shots:
JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals
 Founded: 1976
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR)
 Founded: 1976
 Parent organization: KKR Group Partnership L.P.
 CEO: Henry Kravis (1 May 1976–), George R. Roberts
 Founders: Henry Kravis, George R. Roberts, Jerome Kohlberg Jr.
CBSE partners with Facebook to launch free virtual training program for teachers and students
 The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has partnered with social media giant Facebook to launch
free and comprehensive training program in virtual mode for teachers and students of its affiliated schools.
 The first phase of the training program is scheduled from August 2020 to November 2020.
 The registration process for the first phase of the training program will be held from 6th to 20th July 2020.
 Schools have to online nominate their teachers and students for the training programs.
 The participants will also receive a joint e- certificate from CBSE and Facebook on successful completion of
the course.
Details about the teachers training program
 Topic for teachers training program – Augmented Reality
 Total teachers to participate – 10,000
 Date of launch of Teachers training program – 10th August 2020
Details about the students training program
 Topic for students – Digital Safety and online well- being.
 Total students to participate – 10,000
 Date of launch of Teachers training program – 6th August 2020
Phase II
 In the second phase, CBSE will introduce the training program on digital safety and augmented reality for 30
thousand students in each category.
Extra Shots:
CBSE:
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 Headquarters location: Delhi

 Founded: 1962
 Parent organisation: Ministry of Human Resource Development
 Affiliations: 21,499 schools (2019)
 Chairperson: Manoj Ahuja, IAS
 Type of business: Government
Indian railways and RailTel signs MoU to provide video surveillance at 6,049 stations across country
 The Indian Railways and RailTel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for installation of an IP-
based video surveillance system at 6,049 railway stations across the country.
 This is a part of Digital India initiative.
Highlights:
 The Video Surveillance System (VSS) will be provided by RailTel, a public sector undertaking.
 The VSS will work in 6,049 stations under A1, A, B, C, D and E of Indian Railways.
 The Scope includes integration of existing standalone CCTV networks of the railways into VSS systems for
centralised monitoring.
 Railtel has provided CCTV cameras at the entry and exit points of 54 railway stations to facilitate the running
of Shramik trains.
 The video recorded from the CCTV cameras will be stored for 30 days for analysis and investigation
purposes.
 The cameras are covered with inclusion analytics and facial recognition systems.
Extra Shots:
Indian Railways:
 Minister of Railways: Piyush Goyal
RailTel:
 Head Office: New Delhi
 Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) : Puneet Chawla
5 MoUs Signed between India and Afghanistan for Developing Educational Infrastructure
 In Afghanistan’s Capital City Kabul, on 5th July 2020, 5 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were
signed under the High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) programme.
 The 5 MoUs consisted of Tripartite Agreements that were signed between the Government of India,
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education.
 The MoUs are as per the commitments of the Government of India in taking forward the bilateral relationship
with Afghanistan.
 In the last 2 decades, development projects worth USD 3 billion has been undertaken by India at Afghanistan.
 The 5 MoUs signed on 5th July 2020 is worth USD 2.6 million.
 These funds will be used towards the development of educational infrastructure in 5 provinces of Afghanistan.
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 The provinces are Kapisa, Farah, Nuristan, Parwan and Badakhshan.

HICDP Programme
 This programme was signed in the year 2005 under which the Government of India has committed to
providing financial support to more than 550 HICDP across Afghanistan. The financial support extended
under HICDP was of USD 200 million.
 To date, under the support of the programme, 587 HICDP have been completed across various provinces of
Afghanistan.
Railways, BHEL tie up for solar power generation
 Indian Railway in collaboration with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has set up a 1.7 Megawatt
solar power plant at Bina, Madhya Pradesh.
 The project involves the adoption of innovative technology for converting Direct Current to single-phase
Alternating Current for feeding directly to Railway’s overhead traction system.
 The solar power plant has been established near the Bina Traction Sub Station (TSS).
 It can produce approximately 25 lakh units of energy annually and will save around Rs1.37 crore for
Railways every year.
 The project was undertaken by BHEL under its Corporate social responsibility (CSR) scheme.
Extra Shots:
BHEL:
 CEO: Nalin Singhal
 Founded: 1964
Payments Platform Paytm to Acquire Raheja QBE General Insurance For $76 million
 Indian e-commerce payment system Paytm & QorQl Pvt. Ltd, a Healthcare startup company with majority
shareholding of Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, is set to acquire Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based private
sector general insurer Raheja QBE General Insurance Company Limited in a deal worth around $76 million
(or Rs 570 crore).
 Raheja QBE is a joint venture of India’s Prism Johnson (51%) and QBE Australia (49%).
 Following the acquisition, Sharma, who owns 51% stake in QorQI, will hold the same stake in Raheja QBE,
with the remaining 49% owned by Paytm.
 The acquisition will require further approvals other than the approval of Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
Extra Shots:
Raheja QBE General Insurance:
 Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
 CEO: Pankaj Arora
Paytm:
 Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh
 President: Amit Nayyar
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NMPB signs MoU with ICAR-NBPGR to conserve Germplasm on long-term basis

 National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) under the AYUSH Ministry signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - National Bureau of Plant
Genetic Resources (NBPGR) under Department of Agricultural Research and Education on 6 July 2020.
 The agreement aims to conserve the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Genetic Resources (MAPGRs).
 It will be preserved at ICAR-NBPGR's designated space in the long-term storage module in the National Gene
bank and Regional Station for a medium-term storage module, as per the availability.
Highlights:
 The MoU aims to acquire hands-on training on the conservation techniques of plant germplasm to the NMPB
working group.
 NMPB and ICAR-NBPGR will serve the National interests through conservation of germplasm on a long-
term basis, safely and cost-effectively for present and future generations.
 The move also aims to ensure social and economic security.
 Under the MoU, NMPB and the ICAR-NBPGR will develop modalities for seed storage of MAPGRs in detail
and submit a periodic progress report to their respective organizations.
Extra Shots:
AYUSH Ministry
 Founded: 9 November 2014, India
 Officeholder: Shripad Naik (MOS independent charge)
India, Indonesia Coast Guards sign MoU to boost maritime relations
 The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Bakamla RI (Indonesian Coast Guard) have signed a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) on ‘Maritime Safety and Security’ to boost maritime relations.
 India and Indonesia are historically connected through the Indian Ocean and it has been the resolve of both
nations to ensure safe and secure sea passage for all seafarers in the region.
 This MoU will strengthen cooperation by augmenting information exchange mechanisms.
 This real-time Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) will then be the foundation for controlling and
responding to incidents of piracy, smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal migration and other such maritime
crimes which will bring safety and security to the region and also result in protection of our precious marine
environment.
 The MoU will also provide avenues to improve our interoperability and carry out joint search and rescue
when required.
Extra Shots:
Indonesia (Capital/Currency): Jakarta/ Indonesian rupiah
 President: Joko Widodo
Microsoft partners NSDC to provide digital skills
 Microsoft has partnered with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to offer digital skills to
India’s youth in the next 12 months amid the COVID-19 crisis.
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 Microsoft will provide free access to learning resources and conduct digital skilling awareness drives by
collaborating with eSkill India portal of NSDC.
 This partnership will help in creating a digital skills ecosystem which will prepare India’s workforce for jobs
of the future.
 As a part of the partnership, “Microsoft Learn” a learning resource center of Microsoft will be integrated with
the eSkill India digital platform and offer access to personalized learning paths and resources that are required
in today’s economy and expected to continue to grow in the future. e-skilling events, webinars and virtual
sessions would be co-hosted across the country by eSkill India and Microsoft in order to support students,
training partners and higher-education trainees enrolled under NSDC’s skill training programs.
Extra Shots:
Microsoft
 CEO: Satya Nadella
 Founded: 4 April 1975, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
 Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States
 Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen
Ola partners with PhonePe for digital payments
 Mobility platform Ola has entered into a partnership with digital payments platform PhonePe to expand
payment options for riders.
 The partnership will help the mobility platform enable better digital payments experience on its Ola app.
 Ola customers across the country can now pay for their ride using PhonePe.
 It will also benefit the digital payments platform in order to help it expand its user base.
 Ola’s customers can use all of PhonePe’s payment options, including the PhonePe wallet, to make payments
in addition to UPI.
 Ola had recently launched its Ride Safe India encouraging customers to opt for digital payment channels amid
Covid-19 to minimise the risk of exposure and avoid physical contact.
Extra Shots:
Ola:
 Founded: 3 December 2010, Mumbai
 CEO: Bhavish Aggarwal
 Founders: Bhavish Aggarwal, Ankit Bhati
PhonePe
 Parent organization: Flipkart
 Founded: December 2015
 CEO: Sameer Nigam
 Founders: Sameer Nigam, Burzin Engineer, Rahul Chari
CBDT, SEBI signs MoU for data exchange between the organizations
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 Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for data exchange between the two organizations.
 The MoU was signed by Smt. Anu J. Singh, Pr. DGIT (Systems), CBDT, and Smt. Madhabi Puri Buch,
Whole Time Member, SEBI in the presence of senior officers from both the organizations via video
conference.
Highlights:
 The MoU marks the initiation of cooperation and synergy between SEBI and CBDT.
 The MoU will facilitate data sharing and information sharing between SEBI and CBDT on an automatic &
regular basis.
 It will facilitate regular exchange of data between the two organizations for the purpose of carrying out their
functions under various laws. The data will be shared on request and suo moto basis.
 The MoU came into effect from the date it was signed and is an ongoing initiative of CBDT and SEBI, who
are already collaborating through various existing mechanisms.
 Under this, a Data Exchange Steering Group has been constituted for the initiative.
 The group will meet periodically to review the data exchange status and take steps to further improve the
effectiveness of the data-sharing mechanism.
Extra Shots:
CBDT: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is the authority vested with the responsibility of the
administration of laws related to direct taxes through the Department of Income Tax.
 Chairman: Pramod Chandra Mody
SEBI:
 Sector: Securities market
 Chairperson: Ajay Tyagi
USAID & MNRE announce new partnership to develop clean energy
 The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and US Agency for International Development
(USAID) have partnered on 7th July 2020 to increase India- US collaboration for clean energy development.
 Under the partnership, the USAID-supported South Asia Group for Energy (SAGE), a US government
consortium, will provide advanced technical knowledge on clean energy development from America’s
national laboratories to MNRE’s National Technical Institutions and other public institutes.
 SAGE will provide a formal platform for collaboration on clean energy development to make MNRE National
Institutions act as a powerhouse of science, engineering, and technology for India and the entire South Asia
region.
Extra Shots:
USAID
Page 126 of 210
 Employees: 3,893 career U.S. employees (FY 2016)

 Agency executives: John Barsa, Acting Administrator; Bonnie Glick, Deputy Administrator;
 Founder: John F. Kennedy
 Subsidiaries: Office of Transition Initiatives, Food for Peace, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Agency for
International Development
IIT Alumni Council signs Agreement with CSIR-IGIB
 On 8th July 2020, an agreement has been signed between the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-
Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) and IIT Alumni Council.
 As per the Agreement Signed, joint research work on COVID-19 will be conducted and data of COVID-19
positive patients will also be analyzed jointly by the CSIR-IGIB and the IIT Alumni Council.
 The imaging data of 8500 patients are from the temporary COVID Care Facility at the National Sports Club
of India Dome (NSCI Dome) at Southern Mumbai’s Worli.
 The imaging data will be provided in the de-identified form by the CSIR-IGIB.
IIT-H, NVIDIA tie-up to establish joint AI research centre
 Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) is tie-up with a multinational technology company, NVIDIA
to establish India’s 1st ‘NVIDIA AI Technology Centre’ (NVAITC).
Highlights:
 This centre is established to accelerate research on Artificial Intelligence and its commercial adoption.
 The projects to be taken up include, Increasing crop yields using AI algorithms and applying AI-based
solutions to support safe transportation systems and better ways to manage traffic among others.
 The collaboration focuses on improvising AI research in the aspects of agriculture, smart cities and language
understanding.
 The NVAITC will accelerate research for the 220 faculty at IITH, which is already among India’s foremost
research institutions.
 This will build on the strong AI capabilities IITH has built, including the country’s first B.Tech in AI
programme.”
ADB renewed MoU with IEA for Energy Sector Sustainability and Resilience
 Manila based Asian Development Bank (ADB) has renewed its 3-year Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) signed in 2017 with the Paris based International Energy Agency (IEA).
 The renewed MoU was signed on 9th July 2020 for a period of 3 years.
 The regional development bank-ADB signed the MoU with International Organization-IEA back in March
2017 for promoting advance clean energy development in the developing member countries under the ADB.
Renewed 2020 MoU
 The 2020 MoU signed for a period of 3 years will focus on developing resilience in the sustainable energy
sector in the developing countries under the ADB.
 This will be achieved through sharing knowledge and best practices in the energy sector by analyzing the data
from ground engagement, technology, capacity building, etc.
Extra Shots:
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ADB:
Flipkart Signs MoU with Government of Karnataka to Promote Local Arts, Crafts And Handlooms
 Flipkart and the Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Mines of Government of
Karnataka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
 Objective: to promote the arts, crafts and handloom sector of Karnataka by providing market access through
e-commerce platform and to increase the local business.
 The MoU focuses on increasing the business and trade inclusion opportunities by creating avenues for these
underserved sectors like crafts, arts and handloom, contributing towards the efforts of Made in India.
 This MoU will unite the Flipkart Samarth Programme with the brands based in Karnataka like Cauvery and
Priyadarshini Handlooms, part of Karnataka Handlooms Development Corporations.
 This will promote the local handlooms and handicrafts to the consumers across the nation.
Samarth Programme of Flipkart:
 The programme benefits the artisans with extended time bound incubation support.
 The benefits of the programme includes onboarding, free cataloguing, ,marketing, account management and
business insights and warehouse support.
Extra Shots:
Flipkart:
 Chief Executive Officer: Kalyan Krishnamurthy
 Chief Operating Officer: Sriram Venkataraman
 Head Office: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Karnataka:
 Governor: Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala
EESL Inked Agreement with NOIDA authority to Install EV Charging Units and Related Infrastructure
 Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) inked an agreement with the New Okhla Industrial Development
Authority (NOIDA) to install public Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations & related infrastructure in order
to promote the usage of electric vehicles.
 The objective of this partnership is to create an infrastructural ecosystem to accelerate e-mobility post
COVID-19 pandemic.
 NOIDA is responsible for the provision of space for the charging infrastructure while EESL for deployment
of public charging stations in NOIDA City.
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Extra Shots:
EESL:
 Chairman: Rajeev Sharma
 Managing Director: Saurabh Kumar
 Headquarter: New Delhi
New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA)
 Chairman: Alok Tandon
 Headquarter: Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Karur Vysya Bank partners with Tata Motors to offer car loans
 Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) entered into an arrangement with Tata Motors to fund buyers of Tata passenger
vehicles.
 Both existing and new customers will be eligible to avail loans from KVB, which seeks to leverage the vast
new car retail network of Tata Motors across India.
 KVB is offering a special product for buyers of Tata Motor passenger vehicles under which 100 per cent on-
road finance with a six-month holiday period is provided at attractive interest rates
 The scheme is applicable only for three models - Tata Tiago, Tata Nexon and Tata Altroz and the loans are
available to both the salaried and self-employed.
Extra Shots:
Karur Vysya Bank
 Headquarters: Karur, Tamil Nadu.
 Tagline: Smart Way to Bank.
 Chairman: N. S. Srinath
Jharkhand Govt signs MoU with HDFC to Offer Digital Payment Solutions to its Traffic Dept
 Jharkhand government signed Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with HDFC Bank to provide digital
payment solutions to the state’s transport department.
 The MoU was signed in the presence of Transport Secretary K Ravi and the bank’s Circle Head, Abhishek
Kumar.
 The Digital solution solution will enable the traffic police to equip themselves with Point of Sale
(POS)machines to collect traffic- related penalties.
 The traffic rules violators can also use this online payment facility to pay a fine.
Extra Shots:
Jharkhand:
 Capital: Ranchi
 Chief Minister: Hemant Soren.
 Governor: Draupadi Murmu
HDFC Bank
 CEO: Aditya Puri
 Founded: August 1994, India
Page 129 of 210
 Parent organization: Housing Development Finance Corporation

Qualcomm becomes 12th Foreign Investor in Jio Platforms in Last Three Months
 The United States-based Multinational Corporation-Qualcomm has informed on 12th July 2020 that it has
invested Rs 730 crore in Reliance Industries’ subsidiary company- Jio Platforms.
 Rs 730 crore of investment will translate to 0.15 percent of an equity stake for Qualcomm in Jio Platforms.
Complete list of Investors of Jio Platforms
(in crores)
1 Facebook, Inc. Rs 43,573.62 9.99%
5 KKR Rs 11,367.00 2.32%
6 Mubadala Rs 9,093.60 1.85%
Authority
9 TPG Rs 4,546.80 0.93%
0.39%
11 PIF Rs 11,367.00 2.32%

12 Qualcomm Rs 730 0.15%
Extra Shots:
RIL
 Chairman & Managing Director: Mukesh D. Ambani
Qualcomm
 Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
 CEO: Steven Mollenkopf
 Founded: July 1985, San Diego, California, United States
 Founders: Irwin M. Jacobs, Andrew Viterbi, Adelia A Coffman, Klein Gilhousen, Andrew Cohen, Harvey
White, Franklin Antonio
MoU Signed between National Medicinal Plants Board and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
Page 130 of 210

 National Medicinal Plants Board, NMPB and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources signed an
MoU to to conserve the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Genetic Resources,
 Medicinal Plants are regarded as rich resources of traditional medicines and are being used for thousands of
years in the health care system. India has rich diversity of medicinal Plants.
 The conservation will be done at designated space of ICAR-NBPGR in long-term storage module in the
National Gene bank and or at Regional Station for medium term storage module and acquire hands-on
training on plant germplasm conservation techniques to the working group of NMPB.
UNICEF India tied up with FICCI for its #Reimagine Campaign
 UNICEF INDIA has tied-up with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI),
Socio-Economic Development Foundation (SEDF) to jointly develop UNICEF’s #Reimagine Campaign.
 The campaign aims to support the most vulnerable populations and children during the COVID-19 response
and its after-math in India.
 It will also help in avoiding the potential long-term damage to business operations as well as employment
pipeline.
Extra Shots:
UNICEF
 Head: Henrietta H. Fore
 Founded: 11 December 1946, New York, New York, United States
 Founders: United Nations General Assembly, Ludwik Rajchman
 Parent organizations: United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Economic and Social Council
FICCI
 Founded: 1927
 Members: over 250,000 companies
BSE signs MoU with IIT Alumni Council to encourage listing of startups
 The BSE has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IIT Alumni Council to encourage listing
culture for startups and develop a ‘high investor depth’ startups platform.
 The newly-formed partnership will ensure a complete end-to-end ecosystem for the proposed social stock
exchange.
 This alliance between BSE and IIT Alumni Council will ensure entity transparency, governance improvement
and market discovery of share price, provide liquidity for PE investors and enable retail participation.
Extra Shots:
BSE
 Location: Mumbai, India
 Chairman: Just. Vikramajit Sen
Page 131 of 210
 MD & CEO: Ashishkumar Chauhan

 Indices: BSE SENSEX; S&P BSE SmallCap; S&P BSE MidCap; S&P BSE LargeCap; BSE 500
Google partners with CBSE to help 1 mn teachers run online classes

 Google has announced its partnership with CBSE to help 1 million teachers conduct classes online by the end
of the year.
 Google will help teachers from 22,000 schools across India to run classes via YouTube, Google Classrooms,
and GSuite.
 G Suite for Education includes Google’s usual tools, like Google Docs, Sheets and more. It also includes
ways for teachers to give assignments to students and use Google Forms.
Extra Shots:
CBSE
 Founded: 1962
 Parent organisation: Ministry of Human Resource Development
 Type of business: Government
AAI & BEL signs MoU for co-operation in civil aviation sector
 The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Defence Pubic Sector Unit (PSU) Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL)
has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
 The MoU aims to tap the emerging global markets in the airport business, including the ones in the Asia-
Pacific region.
 The partnership between the two companies will support each other in addressing the emerging global
opportunities in the airport business.
 The MoU will also provide a common platform for both the companies to work together and hence, will give
a major lift to the civil aviation industry in the future.
 AAI will help BEL in its domain of expertise while playing the role of a development partner.
 This will enable BEL in execution of the MEA projects outside India.
 Hence, the partnership will help BEL in tapping the domestic civil aviation market as well into the South-East
Asian, African and Latin American civil aviation markets.
Extra Shots:
Airports Authority of India (AAI)
 Parent organization: Directorate General of Civil Aviation
 Chairman: Arvind Singh
Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL)
Page 132 of 210

 Founded: 1954, Bengaluru
 CMD: M V Gowtama
UNICEF India and SAP India partner to improve employability of young people
 On World Youth Skills Day, UNICEF India today announced its partnership with SAP India to provide career
counselling to young people in the country that will improve their employability skills in a COVID and post
COVID era.
 UNICEF is collaborating with the initiative named ‘ YuWaah’ (Generation Unlimited).
 Under this initiative they decided to provide digital education and occupational skillset to the underserved
young people of the country.
Under the collaboration UNICEF – YuWaah – SAP will strengthen the following:
 Improve digital skills and life skills for young people
 Provide young people with career options.
 Reimagine the model in other states with the Government of India
 Impacting one million young people by the end of 2022
Extra Shots:
UNICEF
SAP India Pvt. Ltd.
 Founded: 1996
 Parent organization: SAP
Google to pick 7.7 per cent stake in Jio for Rs 33,737 crore
 Reliance Jio has raised $4.5 billion ( Rs 33,737 crore) from the search giant, Google for a 7.77% stake.
 This marks the end of the successful $20.6 billion ( Rs 1,52,056 crore) funds raise cycle from 13 investors by
Reliance Jio- India’s largest digital company for a 33% stake in the firm.
 The Reliance-Google partnership is stated to be making cheap data, affordable smartphones beyond the
current 500 million internet customers across India.
 Google has also entered into a commercial agreement with Reliance to build entry level-affordable 4G/ 5G
smartphones.
Complete list of Investors of Jio Platforms
(in crores)
1 Facebook, Inc. Rs 43,573.62 9.99%
Page 133 of 210


5 KKR Rs 11,367.00 2.32%
6 Mubadala Rs 9,093.60 1.85%
Authority
9 TPG Rs 4,546.80 0.93%
0.39%
11 PIF Rs 11,367.00 2.32%

12 Qualcomm Rs 730 0.15%
13 Google Rs 33,737 7.7%
Extra Shots:
Google
 CEO: Sundar Pichai
 Founded: 4 September 1998, Menlo Park, California, United States
 Parent organization: Alphabet Inc.
 Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States
 Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin
RIL:
 Owner: Mukesh Ambani (47.35%)
CCI approves acquisition by Aceso Company Pte. Ltd. in HCG
 The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved acquisition by Aceso Company Pte. Ltd. (Aceso)
in HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG).
 CCI has approved acquisition under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.
 Aceso Company Pte. Ltd. (Aceso) is an entity which forms part of the CVC Network.
 The CVC Network consists of three entities which are privately owned and offers investment advice to and /
or managing investments on behalf of certain investment funds as well as platforms.
 HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG) is engaged in the business of offering services via cancer
treatment clinics, multi-specialty hospitals, and fertility treatment centres.
Extra Shots:
Page 134 of 210
Competition Commission of India (CCI)

 Website: cci.gov.in
 Founded: 14 October 2003
 First executive: Dhanendra Kumar
HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG)
 Founded: 1989
 CEO: B S Ajai Kumar
Aceso Company Pte. Ltd. (Aceso)
 Founded: 2009
NTPC partnered with NIIF to explore business opportunities in India
 NTPC Ltd, a central PSU under the Ministry of Power and Country’s largest power generation company,
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)
on 16 July 2020.
 The aim of the MoU is to explore opportunities for investments in areas like renewable energy, power
distribution among other areas of mutual interest in India.
Highlights:
 With this MoU, NTPC and NIIF will collaborate to further help India’s vision of building sustainable and
robust energy infrastructure in the country.
 The agreement will bring together NTPC’s technical expertise and NIIF’s ability to raise capital and bring in
global best practices by leveraging its existing relationships with leading players.
 NTPC targets to have nearly 30 GW of its overall power generation capacity from renewable energy sources
by 2032.
 As of now, NTPC has a total installed capacity of 62110 MW, 70 Power stations comprising of 24 Coal, 7
combined cycle Gas/Liquid Fuel, 1 Hydro, 13 Renewables along with 25 Subsidiary & JV Power Stations.
 Also, NIIF Limited manages over $4.3 billion of equity capital commitments across its three funds namely
Master Fund, Fund of Funds, and Strategic Opportunities Fund, each with its distinct investment strategy.
 NIIFL is a collaborative investment platform for the international and Indian investors, anchored by the
Government of India.
 It is the largest infrastructure fund in the country and invests in core infrastructure sectors such as
transportation and energy.
Recent News related to NTPC:
 NTPC Limited wins prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Award 2019
 NTPC rating: Retain ‘outperform’ on strong growth visibility
 NTPC to Provide Consultancy Services for a 500 MW Solar Park in Africa’s Mali
 SDMC, NTPC Ltd. and Indian Oil sign MoU for Waste to Energy Plant in Delhi
 NTPC and Indian Oil to Set Up a Waste-to-Energy Project in Delhi
Page 135 of 210
Extra Shots:
NTPC
 Founded: 1975
 CMD: Gurdeep Singh
 Purpose: Electricity generation and distribution natural gas exploration, production, transportation and
distribution
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)
 Headquarters: Mumbai, India
 Founded: February 2015
 Type of business: Sovereign Wealth Fund
 Key people: Sujoy Bose, CEO
India inks agreement with Israel to collaborate in dealing with cyber threats
 India and Israel signed an agreement on July 15 to expand collaboration in dealing with cyber threats.
 The agreement was signed between Sanjiv Singla, India’s ambassador to Israel, and Yigal Unna, Director-
General of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate (INCD).
 The MoU has been signed between the INCD and Indian Computer Emergency Response Team. It is a unit of
the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
 The agreement will further deepen the operational cooperation between two sides and will also expand the
scope of exchange of information on cyber threats to raise the level of protection in the field.
Extra Shots:
Cochin Shipyard signs contract to build autonomous electric ferries for Norway
 Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has signed a contract with ASKO Maritime AS, Norway for the construction
and supply of the two autonomous electric ferries along with an option to build two more identical vessels.
 the project will put the company into a league of premier shipbuilding yards in the world, which will be
known capable of handling high tech vessel construction.
 The project aims at emission-free transport of goods across the Oslofjord.
Extra Shots:
Norway (Capital/Currency): Oslo/ Norwegian Krone
 Prime Minister: Erna Solberg
India signs MoU with US to store strategic reserves of petroleum
 On July, 17, 2020, India and United States signed Memorandum of Understanding to begin discussions on
storing petroleum reserves in the US soil.
 A virtual US-India Strategic Energy Partnership Ministerial was held between the Union Minister of
Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Energy Secretary of US Dan Brouillette.
Page 136 of 210
 The countries signed Memorandum of Understanding to begin discussions on cooperation and maintenance of
strategic petroleum reserves.
 This includes exchange of information and best practices as well.
 US-India Strategic Energy Partnership works to support sustainable energy development. Under this, the
countries collaborate on smart grids, renewable energy, clean energy and unconventional sources of energy.
 Under the partnership, India-US has increased their hydrocarbon trade in the last three years.
 The bilateral hydrocarbon trade was 9.2 billion USD between 2019-20.
 India and US are currently working on carbon capture, utilization and storage.
Indo-US Strategic Energy Partnership meeting
 The Virtual Ministerial meeting of Indo-US Strategic Energy Partnership was held on July 17, 2020.
 India and the United States have announced new areas of research on transformational power generation
based on supercritical CO2 (sCO2) power cycles and advanced coal technologies, including carbon capture,
utilization, and storage (CCUS).
Highlights:
 During the meeting, the Ministers discussed new areas of research on transformational power generation
based on supercritical CO2 (sCO2) power cycles and advanced coal technologies, including CCUS.
 They discussed the implementation of Smart grids and energy storage by a consortium comprising of 30
Indian and US entities
 They also discussed the common priorities for collaboration evolved in Clean Coal Technologies, sCO2
Power Cycles, and CCUS technologies.
 They also discussed the policy directions for the societal acceptance of smart grid concepts, Distributed
Energy Resources, impact and value of the integrative solutions and the emerging role of utilities as
Distributed System Operators.
CBSE ties up with IBM to integrate AI curriculum
 The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has integrated a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) course
for class XI and XII in the current academic year (2020-2021).
 The curriculum was developed in collaboration with IBM (International Business Machines Corporation).
 The IBM AI curriculum is a part of CBSE’s Social Empowerment through Work Education and Action
(SEWA) program.
 This curriculum will be launched in around 200 schools across Delhi-NCR, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Orissa,
Kerala, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan
and Punjab (13 states of India).
 The AI curriculum was co-developed by the Macquarie University of Australia and Learning Links
Foundation and 1M1B of India to fulfil the requirements of CBSE.
Extra Shots:
CBSE:
 Founded: 1962
 Parent organization: Ministry of Human Resource Development
Page 137 of 210

IBM:
 CEO: Arvind Krishna
 Founder: Charles Ranlett Flint
 Founded: 16 June 1911, Endicott, New York, United States
 Headquarters: Armonk, New York, United States
Defence Ministry signed contract with BEML
 Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) for procurement of
1,512 Mine Plough (MP) for Tank T-90 S/SK.
 The move comes as a major boost to the Make in India initiative of the Government of India. The contract
was approved by the Acquisition Wing of MoD.
Highlights:
 The contract was signed at an approximate cost of Rs.557 crore.
 The contract has Buy and Make (Indian) categorization with a minimum of 50% indigenous content in
making a portion of the contract.
 Under this contract, the mine ploughs will be fitted on T-90 Tanks of the Indian
 The contract will enhance the combat capability of the Indian Army.
Extra Shots:
BEML
 Founded: May 1964, Bengaluru
 Subsidiaries: Vignyan Industries Limited, BEML (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
CBDT signed MoU with MoMSME for data sharing
 The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India (MoMSME) and the Central
Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 20 July 2020.
 The MoU is aimed at the sharing of data by CBDT to MoMSME.
 The MoU comes into force from 20 July 2020, the date it was signed.
Highlights:
 The MoU will facilitate the seamless sharing of certain Income-tax Return (ITR) related information by the
Income Tax Department to MoMSME.
 The shared data will enable MoMSME to check and classify enterprises in Micro, Small, and Medium
categories.
 Under the MoU, both the organizations will appoint Nodal Officer and Alternate Nodal Officers to facilitate
the process of data exchange.
 It is expected that the MoU will mark the beginning of a new era of cooperation and synergy between the
CBDT and MoMSME.
Extra Shots:
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
Page 138 of 210
GoI partners with UNICEF to achieve Atma Nirbhar Bharat

 The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports have partnered with UNICEF to strengthen the youth volunteers in
the country to achieve Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
 The GoI has signed a statement with YuWaah of UNICEF.
 It is a multi-stake holder platform formed by UNICEF.
The partnership is to work on the following:
 Collaboration on supporting young people in entrepreneurship
 Upskilling young people
 Promoting change making
 Creating linkages with aspirational socio-economic opportunities
 To provide career guidance support to young people
 To establish a feedback mechanism between young people and policy stakeholders.
Extra Shots:
UNICEF
India-Maldives sign agreement to establish “Emergency Medical Services”
 India and Maldives have signed an agreement for the establishment of ‘Emergency Medical Services’ in
Male, Maldives.
 The Emergency Medical Service is financed by India under grant assistance of 20 million USD for
neighbouring countries.
 This will help to increase the collaboration between the countries, especially in the areas of health care
facilities, disaster responses during critical times, etc.
Extra Shots:
Maldives (Capital/Currency): Male/Maldivian Rufiyaa.
 President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
CBIC signed MoU with CBDT to facilitate smoother bilateral exchange of data
 Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 21 July 2020 with immediate effect.
 The MoU aims for data exchange between the two organizations.
Highlights:
 The MoU aims to facilitate data sharing and information between CBDT and CBIC on an automatic and
regular basis.
 Apart from this, CBDT and CBIC will exchange with each other, on request and spontaneous basis, any
information available in their respective databases which may have utility for the other organization.
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 The MoU is an ongoing initiative of CBDT and CBIC, who are already collaborating through various existing
mechanisms.
 Under the MoU, a Data Exchange Steering Group has been constituted for the initiative.
 The group will meet periodically to review the data exchange status and take steps to further improve the
effectiveness of the data-sharing mechanism.
Extra Shots:
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC)
 Chairperson: M. Ajit Kumar
 Elected officer responsible: Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister of India
 Governing body: Government of India
 Subsidiary: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
Punjab Govt tie-up with IIT-Ropar for skill development
 The Punjab government has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, in the area
of skill development.
 The institute will help the state in developing a model ITI and a model polytechnic.
 The IIT to help the state in the manufacture of small devices for controlling water wastage in irrigation.
 Punjab Government helps to resolve the IIT’s land acquisition-related issues, while urging the institute to
develop its campus as a green campus, with extensive landscaping and afforestation.
Flipkart acquires Walmart India's wholesale business
 Flipkart announced the acquisition of Walmart India.
 It will launch 'Flipkart Wholesale' next month, as the homegrown e-commerce major looks to tap into the
USD 650 billion B2B retail market in India.
 Walmart India runs 28 Best Price wholesale stores in the country. Flipkart Wholesale is a new digital
marketplace focusing on addressing the business-to-business (B2B) segment in India.
 The acquisition will help strengthen the capabilities to address the requirements of kirana and MSMEs.
Extra Shots:
Flipkart
 Founded: October 2007
 CEO: Kalyan Krishnamurthy
 Founders: Sachin Bansal, Binny Bansal
 Parent organization: Walmart
LIC signs agreement with UBI to distribute latter’s policies
 Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and Union Bank of India, after its amalgamation with Corporation
Bank and Andhra Bank, have announced a corporate agency agreement to distribute LIC policies.
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 The bank will market LIC products of term insurance, pension, plan, children plan, ULIPs, and endowment
schemes.
Extra Shots:
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
 Chairperson: M R Kumar
Airtel Payments Bank partners NSDC to train rural youth
 Airtel Payments Bank Ltd and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) have collaborated in order to
train and skill young people in rural areas on financial services and helping them in finding jobs and become
entrepreneurs in the sector.
 The collaboration has an objective to design & conduct focused skill development programs for rural youth
and enabling them to adopt the tools to boost online banking and digital financial services.
Extra Shots:
Airtel Payments Bank Ltd
 CEO: Anubrata Biswas
 Founded: January 2017
 Subsidiary: YTS Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
 Parent organizations: Bharti Airtel, Kotak Mahindra Bank
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
 CEO: Manish Kumar
 Founded: 2008
Amazon Pay ties up with Acko to sell auto insurance
 Digital payments major, Amazon Pay has launched vehicle insurance in partnership with Bengaluru-based
startup Acko General Insurance.
 Amazon Pay, which is the payments unit of Amazon India, will help customers purchase insurance
effortlessly and Amazon Prime members will get extra benefits including additional discounts.
Extra Shots:
Amazon
 CEO: Jeff Bezos
 Founder: Jeff Bezos
 Founded: 5 July 1994, Bellevue, Washington, United States
 Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
India, Israel jointly develop ultra-rapid testing kit for COVID-19
 India and Israel have jointly developed an ultra-rapid testing kit for COVID-19.
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 The testing kit which has proven its efficacy in lab results will now be subjected to broader trials.
 Indian DRDO scientists along with Defence Research Wing of Israel have been conjointly working on the
COVID testing kit.
 The rapid testing kit can generate preliminary COVID results within 30 seconds.
Extra Shots:
TRIFED partnered with IIT-Delhi for Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
 Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has entered into a partnership with
IIT-Delhi (on behalf of the UBA, as the National Coordinating Institute) and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA, a
Swadeshi Science Movement) at IIT, Delhi for the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), a flagship national
programme of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) , Government of India (GoI).
 The MoU will Introduce Tribals to Newer Processing Technologies, Product Innovation, Mentorship and
Transformational Digital Systems.
 Over 2600 Institutions will partner with TRIFED for Skilling Tribals for Livelihoods
 The partnership can help promote enhancing livelihoods through the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras established
under the Van Dhan Yojana.
 Under the Mou, the tribal forest dwellers who are engaged in Minor Forest Produces will get an exposure to
newer processing technologies, product innovation, mentorship, transformational digital systems and
handholding.
 The MoU will pave ways for the best of brains in the country to attend to the problems of sustainable tribal
livelihoods.
Adani Ports signs up for Science-Based Targets initiative
 Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has signed up for the Science-Based Targets initiative
(SBTi) becoming the first Indian port to commit to set science-based emissions reduction targets across their
entire value chain that are consistent with keeping global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
 The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global
Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
 It encourages the best practices in science-based target setting and independently evaluates the companies’
targets.
 APSEZ has join the group of 43 Indian companies who have signed a commitment letter to SBTi.
India and EU renew Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation
 India & the European Union have renewed its Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for the
next five years, 2020-2025, at the 15th India-EU Summit, held on 15 July 2020.
 The Agreement was initially signed in on 23 November 2001 and renewed two times in past in 2007 and
2015.
 The agreement will help both the sides to expand the cooperation in scientific and technological research,
strengthen the conduct of cooperative activities in areas of common interest and application of the results of
such cooperation to their economic and social benefit.
Page 142 of 210
Extra Shots:
European Union:
DST launches Rs. 15 crore funds to support India-Russia collaboration
 The Department of Science and Technology has launched ‘India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and
Accelerated Commercialisation Programme’.
 The objective of this program is to connect the Indian and Russian science and technology (S&T) led SMEs
and start-ups for joint R&D for technology development and for cross-country technology adaptation
 The programme has been jointly launched in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE)
of the Russian Federation.
 FICCI will implement the programme in India, on behalf of DST and same will be done by FASIE in Russia.
 The programme will run over a period of two years and up to five projects will be funded each year.
 DST will fund up to Rs 15 crores to 10 Indian SMEs/start-ups and FASIE will provide similar funding to the
Russian projects.
Extra Shots:
FICCI:
 Founded: 1927
 Members: over 250,000 companies
India and Maldives sign contract for development of Geydoshu Mas Plant in Maradhoo and Hulhudhoo
 India and the Maldives signed a contract to set up Geydoshu Mas Plant (Neighborhood Fish Processing
Plants) at two of the islands – Maradhoo and Hulhudhoo in the Maldives.
 These projects are undertaken under the MoU signed on 17 March 2019 for “Indian Grant Assistance for
Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects through local bodies” and will cost a total
of $5.5 million.
IRCTC & SBI Card launches Co-branded Contactless Credit Card
 Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and SBI Card has launched a new Co-branded
Contactless Credit Card on RuPay Platform.
 The card was revealed by Union Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal.
 The newly launched card aims to ensure a safe, convenient and improved travel experience for the rail
passengers.
Page 143 of 210

 The new RuPay credit card is empowered with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which will
enable users to expedite their transactions at the POS machines by just tapping the card on the machines
instead of swiping.
Extra Shots:
IRCTC:
 CMD: Mahendra Pratap Mall
SBI Card:
 Headquarters: Gurgaon, Haryana.
 MD& CEO: Hardayal Prasad(will retire on July 31, 2020 and Ashwini Kumar Tewari to take charge from
August 1, 2020)
GAIL tied up with CCSL to partner in Compressed BioGas projects in India
 GAIL(India) limited and Carbon Clean Solutions Limited (CCSL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to explore the project development opportunities in the Compressed Biogas (CBG) value chain in
India to build a closer strategic partnership by jointly working on the CBG projects in India.
 The partnership promotes the technological advancements in the production of CBG from organic waste.
 The CBG projects will support India’s future energy access, efficiency, sustainability and security.
Extra Shots:
GAIL (India) Ltd:
 Chairman & Managing Director: Manoj Jain
 Head Office: New Delhi
Carbon Clean Solutions Limited (CCSL):
 CEO: Aniruddha Sharma
KKR to merge NBFC with InCred’s retail franchise
 Global private equity firm KKR is set to back Mumbai-based InCred Finance, a retail and MSME-focused
non-banking finance company (NBFC).
 The equity infusion is understood to be effectively a merger of KKR’s NBFC with InCred’s retail franchise.
 KKR will pick up a large minority stake in InCred
Extra Shots:
Incred Finance
 Founder: Bhupinder Singh
 Founded: 2016
A tripartite MoU signed between CSIR, UBA-IIT Delhi & Vijnana Bharati
 A tripartite MoU signed between CSIR, UBA-IIT Delhi & Vijnana Bharati to offer access to CSIR rural
technologies for UBA.
 It will also lay the foundation for cooperation as well as joint action in the area of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
(UBA) for rural development of India.
Page 144 of 210
 Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) is Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)’s flagship national
program which aims to bring the transformational change in rural development processes by enabling
knowledge institutions to help build the architecture of an inclusive India.
PFC signs agreement with IIT-Kanpur in smart grid technology
 Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology- Kanpur
for Training, Research, and Entrepreneurship Development in Smart Grid Technology.
 The agreement was on a virtual platform.
 The objective of the pact is to provide support to IIT-Kanpur in developing infrastructure for research and
development on smart grid technology.
 Under the agreement, PFC will provide financial assistance of worth Rs 2,38,97000 to IIT-Kanpur.
 As part of the project, IIT-K will also provide training on smart grid technology to 90 participants and provide
fellowship to 9 selected candidates.
Extra Shots:
Power Finance Corporation (PFC)
 CMD: Ravinder Singh Dhillon
Cabinet approves MoU signed between India & Zimbabwe on Traditional Systems of Medicine
 The Union Cabinet today gave ex-post facto approval to Memorandum of Understanding signed between
India and Zimbabwe on Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy.
 The MoU was signed on 3rd November, 2018.
 It will provide a frame work for the cooperation between the two countries for the promotion of traditional
systems of medicine and homeopathy.
 The main objective of the MoU is to strengthen, promote and develop co-operation in the field of traditional
systems of medicine between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
Extra Shots:
Zimbabwe (Capital/Currency): Harare/ United States Dollar, RTGS dollar
 President: Emmerson Mnangagwa
Andhra Pradesh government and Amazon partner to train, assist women entrepreneurs
 Andhra Pradesh government and Amazon partner to train, assist women entrepreneurs to make toys and other
items, and help them market the products.
 This initiative will come under Amazon’s 'Saheli' programme to empower women by making them
entrepreneurs.
 Under this initiative women in Andhra Pradesh will be trained in making toys and other products, and will be
given marketing facilities to sell the products.
 An Amazon Centre of Excellence will be set up in one of the 30 skill development college (SDCs).
Extra Shots:
Andhra Pradesh:
 Capital: Amravati
Page 145 of 210
 Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy

 Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
 National Park: Sri Venkateswara National Park, Sri Venkateswara National Park, Papikonda National Park
Amazon:
 CEO: Jeff Bezos
 Founder: Jeff Bezos
 Founded: 5 July 1994, Bellevue, Washington, United States
CCI clears Adani Power's 49% stake buy in Odisha Power Generation Corporation
 The Competition Commission it has approved Adani Power's proposed purchase of 49 percent stake in Odisha
Power Generation Corporation Ltd (OPGC).
 Adani Power announced acquiring US-based The AES Corporation's 49 percent stake in OPGC for USD 135
million (around Rs 1,019 crore).
 OPGC operates a 1,740 MW thermal power plant at Banharpalli in Jharsuguda district, Odisha.
 Odisha government holds 51 per cent stake in OPGC.
Extra Shots:
Odisha Power Generation Corporation Ltd (OPGC)
 Founded: 1984
 Headquarters: Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India
 Owner: Government of Odisha
 Purpose: Electricity generation
 Power stations: Ib Thermal Power Station
Appointments
Name Appointed as Other Info

Ramnath Krishnan President of Ratings.
Indra Mani Pandey Ambassador and Permanent Mr Pandey, a 1990 batch IFS officer
Representative of India to the United is presently additional secretary in
Nations and other International the External Affairs ministry.
Organisations in Geneva.
Ravinder Bhakar Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of He succeeds Anurag Srivastava.
Central Board of Films Certification
(CBFC)
Sanjay Dwivedi Director General of the Indian He is presently serving as the
Institute of Mass Communication Registrar of Makhanlal Chaturvedi
(IIMC). National University of Journalism
Page 146 of 210
and Communication, Bhopal.

Shrikant Madhav Vaidya chairman of Indian Oil Corporation He will replace Sanjiv Singh
(IOC).
Nuka Srinivasulu Director (Finance) of Bharat
Dynamics Limited (BDL),
Hyderabad
Parminder Chopra Director of Finance in the She will replace Shri N.B. Gupta
Government-owned Power Finance
Corporation (PFC)
V Suryanarayanan New MD of Chola MS General
Insurance
Rajeeva Swarup Additional Chief Secretary (Home) replacing D.B. Gupta
as the new Chief Secretary (CS) of
Rajasthan
Injeti Srinivas 1st Chairman of the International Injeti Srinivas has retired as the
Financial Services Centre Authority Secretary of the Ministry of
(IFSCA) Corporate Affairs on 31st May 2020.
Sukhbir Singh brand ambassador of Luxury Ride
Gyanendro Ningombam Officiating President of Hockey Ningombam had served as the CEO
India. of Manipur Hockey between 2009 to
2014, He has also served as the vice
president of the sports governing
body till 2018.
Dr. Vidhu P. Nair Ambassador of India to Dr Nair, who is a 2002 batch IFS
Turkmenistan. officer, is presently Director in the
External Affairs Ministry.
Rudrendra Tandon Ambassador of India to Afghanistan. He will replace Vinay Kumar
Hemang Amin interim CEO of BCCI He will replace Rahul Johri
Vikram Doraiswami Ambassador of India to Bangladesh He will succeed Riva Ganguly Das
Ashok Lavasa Vice president of Asian Development He has now been appointed as Vice
Bank President of ADB for Public-Private
Partnerships and Private Sector
Operations.
Brett Lee Brand ambassador of SportsAdda
Chandrikapersad ‘Chan’ Santokhi President of South American country He will succeed Desi Bouterse
“Suriname”.
Roshni Nadar Chairperson of HCL Tech succeeds Shiv Nadar
Priyanka Chopra Jonas Ambassador of the Toronto
International Film Festival (TIFF)
Page 147 of 210

2020.
Shyam Srinivasan Managing director and chief
executive officer (MD & CEO) of
Federal Bank
P Praveen Siddharth Personal secretary to the President of He will replace Vikram Singh
India
Ashwini Kumar Tewari Managing director (MD) and chief Replace Hardayal Prasad
executive officer (CEO) of the SBI
Cards & Payment Services
Kulmeet Bawa Managing Director for SAP Indian He will replace the incumbent Deb
Subcontinent. Deep Sengupta
Ramesh Babu Boddu Managing Director & Chief He will succeed PR Seshadri
Executive Officer of Karur Vysya
bank.
Sumit Deb Chairman and Managing Director He will succeed N Baijendra Kumar
(CMD) of National Mineral
Development Corporation (NMDC)
Prakash Chandra Kandpal Managing director and chief He will replace Pushan Mahapatra
executive officer of the Non-life
insurer SBI General Insurance
Arun Kumar Vice-Chairman of UIC (Union
Internationale Des
Chemins/International Union of
Railways)
Riva Ganguly Das Secretary East, in the Ministry of
External Affairs.
Alok Misra Chief Executive Officer & Director
of Microfinance Institutions Network
(MFIN)
Partha Pratim Sengupta Managing Director (MD) & Chief He will replace Karnam Sekar
Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian
Overseas Bank (IOB)
Rajesh Bhushan Health Secretary in the Union Health He will succeed Preeti Sudan
Ministry.
Anandiben Patel Governor of Madhya Pradesh. Presently, she is also the Governor of
Uttar Pradesh.
Naveen Tahilyani MD & CEO of Tata AIA Life Tahilyani will take over from current
Insurance Chief Executive Officer, Rishi
Page 148 of 210

Srivastav
MA Hampiholi Commandant, Indian Naval
Academy (INA).
Varun Sridhar CEO of Paytm Money He will replace former MD and CEO
Pravin Jadhav
Hardik Satishchandra Shah Private Secretary (PS) to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi
N Sivaraman Managing director and group chief He succeeds former MD and Group
executive officer of ICRA CEO Naresh Takkar.
Fabindia appoints former Indigo president Aditya Ghosh to board of directors

 Fabindia, which operates a chain of stores selling a range of artisans products, announced former Indigo
airlines president Aditya Ghosh has been appointed as a member of its board of directors.
 Ghosh will be guiding the management teams with strategy and new initiatives.
 Ghosh is a seasoned professional with over 22 years of experience and has had multiple roles including
leading IndiGo and also OYO Hotels & Homes.
 Fabindia operates 327 stores across 118 cities in India and 14 international stores selling a wide range of
products produced by artisans living largely in rural areas.
Extra Shots:
Fab India
 CEO: Viney Singh
 Founder: John Bissell
 Founded: 1960
 Successor: William Nanda Bissell
Rajkiran Rai G, Union Bank of India MD & CEO Term Extended for 2 years
 Government extends the term of Rajkiran Rai G as the Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive
Officer(CEO) of Union Bank of India(UBI) by 2 years till May 31, 2022.
Rajkiran Rai G
 The 3 year term of Rajkiran Rai G as MD & CEO of UBI was to end on June 30, 2020. He took charge of
UBI on July 1, 2017.
 Prior to the appointment in UBI, he was an executive director at Oriental Bank of Commerce.
 He has over 3 decades of experience in the banking field.
Extra Shots:
UBI:
 Headquarters:Mumbai, Maharashtra
 Chairman & Part-Time Non-Official Director: Kewal Handa
Karnam Sekar retires as MD & CEO of IOB
Page 149 of 210

 The Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Karnam
Sekar has retired on 30th June 2020.
 He joined the State Bank of India(SBI) as the Probationary officer in December 1983.
 Sekar joined IOB as an officer on special duty and a Director on 1st April 2019 after the merger of Dena Bank
and Vijaya Bank into Bank of Baroda.
 He was promoted as the MD and CEO succeeding Subramaniam Kumar on 1st July 2019.
Extra Shots:
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB):
 Tagline: Good People to Grow With.
 Headquarter: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Airtel’s Ajai Puri appointed Chairman of telecom body COAI, Jio’s PK Mittal appointed vice-chairman
 Telecom industry body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has appointed Bharti Airtel chief
operating officer for India and South Asia, Ajai Puri, as its new Chairman for 2020-21.
 Puri has replaced Vodafone Idea CEO Ravinder Takkar as the chairman of the COAI on rotation basis.
 Apart from this, Reliance Jio President P K Mittal has been appointed as the vice-chairman of the industry
body.
Extra Shots:
Airtel:
 CEO: Gopal Vittal
 Founder: Sunil Bharti Mittal
 Founded: 7 July 1995, India
 Parent organizations: Bharti Enterprises (64%), Singapore Telecommunications Limited (36%)
Centre Extends Tenure of Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as NHAI Chairman for 6 Months Till January 2021
 The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of the tenure of senior bureaucrat
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as the Chairman of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for a period of six
months, beyond July 21, 2020, up to January 21, 2021.
 Sandhu, a 1988 batch IAS officer of Uttarakhand cadre, took charge of the post in October 2019.
Extra Shots:
NHAI:
 Founded: 1988
 Chairman: Sukhbir Singh Sandhu
Shashank Manohar quits as ICC Chairman
 International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman, Shashank Manohar has stepped down as the head of the
cricket body after two-year tenures.
Page 150 of 210
 ICC Board has decided that Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja will take the charge until Manohar’s successor
is elected.
 The process for the Chairperson election is likely to be approved by the ICC Board within the next week.
 As per the ICC rules, Manohar could have stayed for another two-year-term as a maximum of three terms is
allowed.
 But, he decided not to continue ahead of the all-important ICC meeting.
 As per reports, England’s Colin Graves is the frontrunner to succeed Manohar but recently, former Cricket
West Indies chief Dave Cameron has also joined the race recently.
Extra Shots:
ICC:
 Chairperson: Shashank Manohar Trending
 Membership: 104 members
 CEO: Manu Sawhney
 Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
MCA extends tenure of Justice Bansi Lal Bhat as acting chairperson NCLAT by three months
 The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has extended the term of Justice Bansi Lal Bhat as the acting
chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) by three months.
 His extended term will begin from 15 June 2020, or until a regular chairperson was appointed.
 Bhat was appointed as the acting chairperson of the appellate tribunal on March 15, 2020 after the completion
of the term of Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya.
Extra Shots:
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
 Officeholder: P. P. Chaudhary (Minister of State)
Sijo Kuruvilla George appointed to Centre’s committee on science and tech policy
 The founding CEO of Startup Village and founder of Re-think Foundation, Sijo Kuruvilla George, has been
selected as member of Central Government’s Expert Committee on Science and Technology Policy.
 It was the Department of Science and Technology and Principal Scientific Advisor of the Union government
that formulated the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2020 (STIP 2020).
 The expert committee team is tasked with updating the existing 2013 policy with a thrust to be given to
scientific innovations.
Union Bank of India CMD Rajkiran Rai gets 2-year extension
 Union Bank of India’s managing director and CEO, Rajkiran Rai an extension of two-year given in its
ongoing merger process with Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank.
 Rai, whose term would have ended yesterday, will now be serving till May 31, 2022.
 Rai was appointed as the managing director of Union Bank on July 1, 2017, for a period of 3 years until June
30, 2020.
Page 151 of 210
 The extension of Rai’s tenure implies to facilitate the merger properly.

 The merged entity is now India’s fifth-largest public sector bank.
Extra Shots:
Union Bank of India
 CEO: Rajkiran Rai G.
 Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank were merged into Union Bank of India on April 1
Saba Karim resigns as BCCI General Manager Cricket Operations
 Former India wicket-keeper batsman Saba Karim has resigned from his post as the BCCI General Manager
Cricket Operations.
Extra Shots:
BCCI:
 President: Sourav Ganguly
 Secretary: Jay Shah
 Founded: December 1928
 Vice president(s): Mahim Verma
 Sponsors: BYJU'S, Paytm, Nike, Dream11, Hyundai Motor Company, Ambuja Cements
Rahul Bajaj steps down as Chairman of Bajaj Finance
 Rahul Bajaj will step down as Non-Executive Chairman of Bajaj Finance on July 31, after being at the helm
of the company for over three decades.
 He will be succeeded by Sanjiv Bajaj, currently Vice Chairman.
 Rahul Bajaj, however, will continue to serve the company as a non-executive non-independent director.
 The company's board "has approved the appointment of Sanjiv Bajaj as Non-Executive Chairman of the
company with effect from August 1, 2020, in place of Rahul Bajaj.
Extra Shots:
Bajaj Finance
 CEO: Sanjiv Bajaj
 Founder: Jamnalal Bajaj
Sahil Seth appointed as advisery for BRICS CCI
 the Deputy Commissioner of Mumbai Customs Sahil Seth was appointed as the honorary adviser of steering
committee for BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI).
 The role is on voluntary basis.
 There is no remuneration involved for the post. Also, there are no financials involved.
 The BRICS CCI mainly aims to reach out young entrepreneurs. It proposes to champion their business and act
as voice of young entrepreneurs.
Page 152 of 210

BRICS CCI
 The BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a parent organization that promotes commerce and
industry in BRICS. It was founded in 2012.
 The main objective of the BRICS CCI is to create support system to MSME segment.
Archana Soreng added by UN to its new advisory group
 Indian climate activist, Archana Soreng along with six other young climate leaders has been named by UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to his new advisory group comprising young leaders.
 This group will provide perspectives and solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis, as the global body
mobilizes action as part of the COVID-19 recovery efforts.
Extra Shots:
United Nations:
 Official languages: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish;
Former Coal India chief Anil Kumar Jha appointed member of key green panel
 The government has appointed former chairman of Coal India, Anil Kumar Jha, as the chairman of a key
panel that deals with violation of environment rules.
 Jha will head an Expert Appraisal Committee formed by the environment ministry. The panel appraises
projects that are commissioned without obtaining prior environmental clearance and have been termed as
cases of violation.
 The panel was earlier constituted in June 2017 for three years.
 Its tenure has now been extended till June 2021.
Extra Shots:
Coal India
 CMD: Pramod Agrawal
 Headquarters: Kolkata
Committees in News
NHAI to set up InvIT, Committee formed to select best talent for the Board
 National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is to set up an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) with an
aim to facilitate investment in the highway sector.
 As part of the structure, a new company will be set up to act as the Investment Manager to the proposed
InvIT.
Highlights:
 InvIT will be the first-of-its-kind to be sponsored by any government/semi-government entity in India.
 It is important to have a professional management structure for the investment manager.
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 The aim of setting up of InvIT is to professionally run the Infrastructure Trust to mobilize resources from the
market for monetizing completed highway projects of NHAI.
 NHAI has set up a committee in order to select the best talent for the appointment of two Independent
Directors and one Chairman for the Investment Manager Board.
 Dr.Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Chairman, NHAI will be the Convenor of the Committee and other members
include:
1. Shri Deepak Parekh, Chairman, Housing Development Finance Corporation

2. Shri Girish Chandra Chaturvedi, Chairman, ICICI Bank
3. Shri Sanjay Mitra, Ex-Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
Extra Shots:
NHAI
 Founded: 1988
 Agency executive: Sanjeev Ranjan (Chairperson)
IRDAI sets up nine-member Working Group
 IRDAI sets up nine-member Working Group Headed by G Srinivasan, to study the suitability of offering of
Surety Bond by Indian Insurance Industry
 Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has decided to examine the feasibility of
introducing surety bonds by insurance companies for road contracts in the country.
 For this, the insurance regulator has set up a nine-member working group to study the legal framework and
suitability of the Indian insurance industry or any other sector to offer such bonds.
 The Working Group will be headed by G Srinivasan, Director, National Insurance Academy.
Responsibility of the WG
 To study the current Indian legal and regulatory framework with reference to Surety Bonds.
 To assess the suitability of the Indian Insurance Industry or any other sector to offer Surety Bonds.
 To provide justification for the recommendations being made by the group, with special reference to the legal
and regulatory perspective.
 The insurance legal/regulatory framework does not permit underwriting of bonds that guarantee performance
and bid securities as they are financial instruments and not conventional insurance products.
Extra Shots:
IRDAI:
 Website: irdai.gov.in
 Founded: 1999
 Sector: Insurance
 Headquarters: Hyderabad
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 Chairperson: Subhash Chandra Khuntia
NHRC sets up panel, headed by Dr K S Reddy, to assess Covid-19 impact on human rights
 The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has constituted an 11-member expert committee to study
the impact of Covid-19 on human rights and future response of the government.
 The expert panel would be headed by Dr K S Reddy, president of Public Health Foundation of India.
Key Functions of the expert committee:
 Assess the impact of Covid-19 on human rights of people, especially marginalised and vulnerable sections of
the society, including migrant labourers.
 Suggest the future policy for the Centre and state governments based on the best practices being followed
abroad and even in India.
Extra Shots:
NHRC:
 Website: nhrc.nic.in
 Formed: 12 October 1993
 First executive: Ranganath Misra
 Preceding executive: K. G. Balakrishnan
IRDAI forms panel for creation of ‘Indian Pandemic Risk Pool
 The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has formed a working group to study
and make recommendations on formation of an “Indian Pandemic Risk Pool”.
Role of the Panel
 The panel has been tasked to examine the possibility of addressing the different risks which have arised out of
a COVID-19 pandemic with the help of a “Pandemic Risk Pool”.
 These risks includes Business Interruption losses without concurrent Material damage loss, loss of
employment would result in huge losses much beyond the capacity of Government /Insurers /Reinsurers.
Members of the Panel
 Executive Director of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), Suresh Mathur
will be the Chairman for the 9-member working group. Members of the group are: Suchita Gupta, Hitesh
Kotak, Ankur Nijhawan, Susilendra Rao, Shilpa Yadav, M.N.Munshi, Ajay Kumar, and Saba Talukdar.
Extra Shots:
IRDAI:
 Website: irdai.gov.in
 Founded: 1999
 Sector: Insurance
 Chairperson: Subhash Chandra Khuntia
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WHO sets up independent panel to review its handling of COVID-19 pandemic

 The World Health Organization (WHO) has set up an independent panel to review its handling of the COVID-
19 pandemic and the response by governments.
 The panel will be co-chaired by former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and former Liberian
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
 The co-chairs will select the other members.
 The decision to form the panel has been taken by WHO following strong criticism by US President Donald
Trump, which accused the WHO of being China-centric.
 The panel will provide an interim report to an annual meeting of health ministers in November and present a
substantive report in May 2021.
Extra Shots:
WHO:
HRD Ministry forms committee on retaining students in India, to be headed by UGC chairman D. P. Singh
 The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has set up a “Stay in India and Study in India”
committee to form guidelines and recommend measures to make sure that more students study in India and
there is a smooth transition for students returning from abroad due to COVID-19 situation.
 The committee will be headed by chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Prof. D. P. Singh.
 This initiative is a part of Governments plan to retain aspiring students, who wants to study abroad, by
providing appropriate opportunities for education in premier Indian institutions and addressing concerns of
students returning from abroad, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Defence News
MoD approves purchase of 33 fighter aircraft for IAF, 248 indigenous missiles
 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) cleared the purchase of 21 MiG-29 and 12 Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft
along with 248 indigenous long-range air to air missiles, Astra, among others on 2 July 2020.
 The move by the Ministry is to boost the Indian armed forces.
 It was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Highlights:
 MoD has cleared the purchase of platforms and equipment for the armed forces to the tune of Rs 38,900 crore.
 The Ministry also approved the upgrade of the existing 59 MiG-29 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
 Out of the 248 indigenous Astra missiles, 200 is for IAF, and 48 for the Indian Navy.
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 The estimated cost of the procurement is Rs.2,700 crore.

 Also, the MiG-29 procurement and upgrade from Russia has been estimated to cost around Rs.7,418 crore.
 And, the Sukhoi-30 MKI which is to be procured from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been
estimated at the cost of Rs.10,730 crore.
India and Japan conduct PASSEX naval exercise in Indian Ocean Region
 The Indian and Japanese navies conducted a small exercise PASSEX (passing exercise), towards the Malacca
Strait in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
 From India, Rajput-class destroyer INS Rana and Kora-class missile corvette INS Kulish, took part in the
exercise and from Japan, JS Shimayuki and JS Kashima participated.
Akash Missile: BDL signs licence agreement & ToT with DRDO
 Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has signed License Agreement and Transfer of Technology (ToT) with
Defence Research and Development Organisation–Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDO–
DRDL) for Akash Missile Weapon System (Indian Army Variant).
Akash Missile:
 Akash Missile is the first medium-range Surface to Air missile produced in India which can engage multiple
targets from multiple directions.
 The missile flies at a speed of nearly 860 meters per second at a maximum altitude of 18 km.
 The Akash missile was designed and developed by DRDO and manufactured by BDL.
 The aerial targets like jets, drones, air to surface missiles at a distance of 30 km can be targeted using Akash.
 The missile can be launched from mobile platforms like tanks and trucks.
Extra Shots:
BDL:
 Founder: India
 Founded: 1970, Hyderabad
 Parent organizations: Government of India, Ministry of Defence
INS Kesari covered 14,000 Km in 49 Days under ‘Mission Sagar’ to Extend India’s Helping Hand across the
Indian Ocean
 ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ –Following this vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the
Indian Navy began ‘Mission Sagar’ to extend India’s helping hand across the Indian Ocean.
 The Mission Sagar was launched on 10th May 2020, and after 49 days, the mission was successfully
completed on 28th June 2020 when INS Kesari returned to India.
Mission Sagar
 The Mission was launched to deliver assistance to our maritime neighbors in combating the COVID-19
pandemic. Indian Naval Ship INS Kesari was deployed for the Mission Sagar.
 On 10 May 2020, with COVI-19 related essential Medicines (including Hydroxychloroquine tablets and
Ayurvedic Medicines), Medical Assistance Teams, and about 600 tonnes of food items, INS Kesari embarked
for the Mission
 Over the next 49 days, INS Kesari traveled 7,500 nautical miles, which is more than 14000 kilometers.
Page 157 of 210
Highlights from Mission Sagar

 At Mauritius and Comoros Islands, Medical Assistance Teams were deployed
 About 600 tonnes of Food Items were delivered at the Maldives
 Special Consignment of Ayurvedic Medicines delivered at Mauritius
 Essential COVID-19 related medicines delivered at Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Comoros Islands
 Hydroxychloroquine delivered at Madagascar and Comoros Islands
Indian Navy Completes ‘Operation Samudra Setu’ by bringing 3,992 Indian Citizens back to Homeland
 ‘Samudra Setu’ meaning ‘Sea Bridge’, In an effort to repatriate Indian Citizens from overseas, the Operation
Samudra Setu was launched on 5th May 2020 by the Indian Navy.
 The Operation Samudra Setu lasted over 55 days in which 3,992 Indian Citizens were brought back to their
homeland by the sea route by the Indian Navy.
 Evacuation Operation like Samudra Setu was last conducted by the Indian Navy back in 2015 during
Operation Rahat when 5600 people (960 were Foreign Nationals, Remaining Indian Citizens) were evacuated
from Yemen.
Naval Ships participated in Samudra Setu
 Amphibious transport dock -INS Jalashwa, and 3 Landing Ship Tanks- INS Airavat, INS Shardul, and INS
Magar.
 Under the Operation, these 4 Indian Navy Ships have streamed more than 23,000 kilometers to bring back the
Indian Citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic from Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Iran.
Operation Samudra Setu
 The Evacuation Operation Samudra Setu began on 8th May with INS Jalashwa evacuating 698 Indian
Citizens from the capital city of Maldives- Male.
 While on 25th June, INS Jalashwa made the last evacuation drive under the operation by bringing 687 Indian
Citizens back to India from Iran’s Bandar Abbas port.
 The greatest challenge for the Indian Navy was to ensure that there was no incident of the outbreak of the
COVID-19 infection on any of the onboarded ships during the entire Operation.
 The Indian Navy has successfully completed the entire Operation by strictly taking the planned measures and
safety protocols.
Extra Shots:
Indian Navy
 Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS): Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, AVSM, VSM
 Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS): Vice Admiral M. S. Pawar, AVSM, VSM
 Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM
 Headquarters: Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy)
 Roles: Naval warfare, Power projection, Sealift, Massive retaliation
Six Strategic Bridges in Jammu & Kashmir e-Inaugurated by Defence Minister
 On 9th July 2020, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has e-Inaugurated 6 strategic bridges in sensitive border
areas of Jammu & Kashmir.
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 All the six bridges with strategic importance along the International Border and Line of Control were
constructed in record time by working in extremely difficult weather conditions and terrains by the Border
Roads Organisation (BRO).
About the Bridges
 2 bridges out of the 6 are on the Tarnah Nallah of the Kathua district
 In Jammu district’s Akhnoor-Pallanwala road, 4 bridges are located
 All these 6 bridges were constructed by Borders Roads Organisation under Project Sampark
 The length of the 6 bridges ranges from a minimum of 30 metres to a maximum of 300 metres
 Total cost for the construction of the 6 bridges was Rs 43 crore
 The 6 bridges are constructed by focusing on the strategic importance of the region as all these bridges will
help in facilitating the movement of the
Extra Shots:
BRO:
 Director General: Lt. Gen.Harpal Singh
 Motto: Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam; (everything is achievable through hardwork)
 Budget: 73.2 crores USD
 Founder: Jawaharlal Nehru
IAF Received Last 5 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from US Aerospace company Boeing
 United States (US) based Aerospace Company Boeing, has delivered the last 5 AH-64E Apache attack
helicopters to Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Air Force Station, Hindan, Uttar Pradesh.
Highlights:
 This final 5 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters were part of a deal that was signed by Indian Government &
Boeing in the year 2015 to deliver 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
 These Apaches were deployed at the Leh air base amid stand-off with China in Ladakh.
 AH-64E Apache is equipped with the latest communications, navigation, sensor and weapon systems.
 It has an improved Modernized Target Acquisition Designation System
 The helicopter provides day, night and all-weather target information, as well as night vision navigation
capability.
Extra Shots:
Boeing:
 Headquarter :Chicago, United States (U.S.)
 Director : Robert A. Bradway
Indian Army to acquire Raven and Spike Firefly
 The Indian army is to acquire hand-launched, remotely controlled unmanned aerial vehicle Raven from the
US and state-of-the-art Israeli Spike Firefly.
 The aim is to add lethality to its ground infantry apart from long-range precision artillery shells with a range
of over 40 kilometres.
Page 159 of 210
Highlights:
 The first batch of acquisition comprises 4-6 jets are likely to touch down in India on 27 July.
 Indian Army is set to acquire 200 pieces of RQ-11 UAV. RQ-11 UAV can fly up to 10 kilometers at an
altitude of 500 feet and speed up to 95 km per hour. It will help infantry troops conduct reconnaissance of the
battle theatre ahead and placement of enemy troops.
 The Spike Firefly can deliver a precision strike on enemy troops hiding within a range of 1 kilometre.
 It has the ability to locate a target and will be called back if the target has moved beyond ranger.
 It is developed under a joint venture (JV) of Israeli company- Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel’s
Ministry of Defence.
Extra Shots:
Indian Army:
 Founded: 1 April 1895, India
 Commander-in-Chief: President Ram Nath Kovind
 Transport: HAL Dhruv
 Role: Ground warfare
Indian Navy Conducts Naval Exercises in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
 Indian Navy conducted major Naval exercises in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands led by Sanjay Vatsayan,
Chief Rear Admiral of Eastern naval fleet as a display of strategic intents against China amid the current
military conflicts in the Northeastern borders in Ladakh.
 The exercise was conducted with warships and aircrafts from the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC)
and the Eastern Naval Command (ENC).
India-US conduct PASSEX Exercise
 The US Navy carrier USS Nimitz conducted maritime drills with Indian warships in the Middle East.
 The PASSEX exercise comes during a period when India and China are locked in tensed border.
 The Indian Navy has conducted similar PASSEX with Japan Maritime Self Defence Force and French Navy.
 PASSEX is a passage exercise. A passage exercise is normally conducted when there is an opportunity in
contrast to pre-planned maritime drills.
Indian Army gets ‘Bharat’ drones
 Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has provided drones named ‘Bharat’ to the Indian
Army.
 The indigenously developed drones are sent in order to provide accurate surveillance along the Line of Actual
Control in high altitude and mountainous terrains of Eastern Ladakh.
 It can also detect humans who are hidden in deep forests.
 Bharat drones are equipped with artificial intelligence which helps the drone to detect friends from foes and
helps take any action accordingly.
 It has been made in a way that ensures its survival in extreme cold weather temperatures.
 Bharat Drones a series of drones that are one of the world’s lightest and agile drone
Extra Shots:
Page 160 of 210
DRDO
 Founded: 1958
 Subsidiaries: Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Defence Scientific Information & Documentation centre
India successfully test fires Dhruvastra anti-guided missiles
 The Indian armed forces successfully test-fired the helicopter-launched Nag Missile Dhruvastra anti-tank
guided missile, erstwhile called Helina, indirect and top attack mode.
 The flight test trials were done without a helicopter on 15th and 16th July at ITR Balasore, Odisha.
HELINA:
 HELINA is a third-generation fire and forget class anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system. It is mounted on
the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
 The missile has all-weather day and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with a conventional armour
and explosive reactive armour. The HELINA missile can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top
attack mode.
 HELINA Weapon Systems is being inducted into the Indian Army.
Dhruvastra:
 A variant of HELINA Weapon System called Dhruvastra.
 The Dhruvastra missile system is being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF).
 The missile has a maximum range capability of 7 km in Lock On Before Launch (LOBL) mode. 8 such
missiles can be attached to the Helicopter with the help of 4 twin launchers.
 It can be fired in two modes namely Direct and Top attack.
 It has a warhead penetration capability of 800 mm, the missile can defeat futuristic armour and inflict
maximum damage to the tank and crippling its crew.
 The fire and forget capability has been imparted by an indigenously developed Imaging Infra-Red seeker.
Defence Ministry signs Rs 557 crore contract with BEML to procure 1512 mine ploughs for T-90 tanks
 The Ministry of Defence has signed Rs 557 crore contract with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) for
procurement of 1,512 mine plough (MP) for the Indian Army.
 These Mine ploughs will be fitted on main battle Tank T-90 S/SK of Indian Armoured Corps.
 Mine ploughs help tanks to clear minefields and minimize risks to men and machines.
 The Mobility of Tank Fleet will enhance manifold, and would enable the Armoured Formation to reach deep
into enemy territory without becoming mine causality.
 These 1,512 mine ploughs project is planned to be completed by 2027.
Extra Shots:
BEML:
 Founded: May 1964, Bengaluru
Page 161 of 210

 Subsidiaries: Vignyan Industries Limited, BEML (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

Largest Solar Power Plant of Indian Navy Commissioned in Ezhimala
 Largest Solar Power Plant at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala has been commissioned by the Vice Admiral
Anil Kumar Chawla.
 It is a 3 MW Solar Power Plant which has been set-up in line with the Indian Government’s initiative of
‘National Solar Mission’ which aims to achieve 100GW of solar power by 2022.
 The 3 MW Solar Power Plant established at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala is the largest in the Indian
Navy and has an estimated life of 25 years
All Five Rafale Fighter Jets landed at Ambala air base
 All five Rafale combat aircraft landed at the Ambala air base in India at around 3 pm on July 29, 2020.
 They were flagged off by the Indian Ambassador to France from an airbase in Merignac in France.
 The Indian Ambassador to France, Jawed Ashraf met and interacted with the crew piloting the fighter jets.
The aircraft were refuelled once midair by a French Air Force tanker aircraft while they are on their way to an
airbase in the UAE before leaving for India.
 The five Rafale aircraft include 3 single-seater and 2 twin-seater jets. The aircraft were flown to India in two
stages.
 The Indian government had signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with France in September 2016
to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets in fly-away condition for €7.8 billion.
 The deal is termed as the biggest-ever in monetary terms in India.
Sports News
Ravindra Jadeja named India’s ‘most valuable player’ by Wisden

 India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was named as the country’s ‘Most Valuable Player’ (MVP) of the 21st
century by Wisden.
 He made his debut in 2009 and represented India in 49 test matches, 165 ODIs and 49 T20Is as of 2020.
 Jadeja’s MVP rating is around 97.3 which is second only to Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka making him
the second most Valuable Test Player of the 21st Century.
 Wisden used CricViz, a detailed analysis tool in cricket to analyse his performance.
Extra Shots:
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, or simply Wisden, colloquially the Bible of Cricket, is a cricket reference book
published annually in the United Kingdom. The description "bible of cricket" was first used in the 1930s by Alec
Waugh in a review for the London Mercury.
 Editor: Lawrence Booth
 Country: United Kingdom
 First issue date: 1864
 Total circulation: 50,000 (2006)
 Category: Cricket
Page 162 of 210
 Based in: London, England

Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry will launch TOPS for Junior Athletes
 In order to groom young athletes in the country for the upcoming Olympics of 2024 (Paris) and 2028 (Los
Angeles), the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will launch- Target Olympic Podium Scheme
(TOPS) for the junior athletes.
 This was informed on 3rd July 2020 by Kiren Rijiju (Union Minister of State I/C for Youth Affairs and
Sports) during the launch of the ‘Fit Hai to Hit India’ program.
 The objective of the scheme will be to ensure that the efforts are being made so that India finished in the top
10 of the overall medals tally at the 2028 Olympics.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
 This scheme was formulated in the month of July 2014.
 The aim of the scheme was to identify individuals with medal prospects from across the country, further
groom and prepare them for the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics.
 For assisting the athletes selected under the TOPS, within the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Mission
Olympic Cell was constituted as a dedicated body.
 Now, the TOPS will be implemented for the Junior Athletes in the country, 10 to 12-year-old talents will be
chosen under the scheme through various talent identification programs by the authorities.
 Further, the chosen individuals will be provided with all possible facilities such as top coaches in the world,
customized training, etc.
 The National Programme for the development of sports from the grass-root level in the country- Khelo India
will help by providing a base for talent identification.
Extra Shots:
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is a branch of the Government of India, which administers Department
of youth affairs and Department of Sports in India. Kiren Rijiju is the current Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports,
who is in the capacity of Minister of State.
 Officeholder: Kiren Rijiju (MOS independent charge)
 Annual budget: 1,943.21 crores INR (2017-18 est., US$270 million)
 Departments: Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Department of Youth and Sports
Development
Two-time Olympic badminton champion Lin Dan retires
 Former world number one badminton player and the two-times Olympic badminton champion from China,
Lin Dan has announced his retirement from the sport.
 During his 20-year glorious national team career, he won the Olympics singles titles in Beijing in 2008 and
the 2012 London Games.
 Former world number one badminton player and the two-times Olympic badminton champion from China,
Lin Dan has announced his retirement from the sport.
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 During his 20-year glorious national team career, he won the Olympics singles titles in Beijing in 2008 and
the 2012 London Games.
Lt Col Bharat Pannu Secures Podium Position At VRAAM 2020
 Lt Col Bharat Pannu, a serving Indian Army Officer has created history by successfully securing a podium
place at the first edition of the Virtual Race Across America (vRAAM) 2020.
 With this, he has become the first Indian ever to win a podium place at an international ultra-cycling race.
 Pannu is an army officer posted with the Army’s Aviation Test Team.
Valtteri Bottas wins Austrian Grand Prix 2020
 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) has won the Austrian Grand Prix 2020.
 This was the first race of 2020 Formula One season and was held on 5th July 2020.
 Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari while McLaren’s Lando Norris came third.
Akash Become India’s 66th Grandmaster
 The 23 year-old G. Akash from Chennai, Tamil Nadu becomes the country’s 66th Grandmaster with rating of
2495.
 The title was confirmed at the recent meeting of International Chess Federation (FIDE) Council
 M Pranesh, from Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Ameya Audi, from Goa earned International Master Titles.
Sumit Nagal wins PSD Bank Nord Open tournament in Germany
 Rising tennis star Sumit Nagal has become the first Indian to win an international tournament in the Covid-19
era after he lifted the PSD Bank Nord Open trophy, a locally organised clay court tournament in Germany.
 Nagal, , who is currently India’s highest-ranked singles player at 127, recently defeated second seed German
Daniel Masur 6-1, 6-3 in the final match at the tournament held at the Pinneberg tennis club.
Manipur’s Gyanendro Ningombam named as new Hockey India president
 Manipur’s, Gyanendro Ningombam named as the new Officiating President of Hockey India.
 He will replace Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad.
 This was following the resignation letter of Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad received by Hockey India on 7 July
2020 due to his personal and family commitments.
 Ningombam has been associated with Manipur Hockey and has impressed with his work at the grassroots
level.
 He also served as the editor of Meeyam, an evening daily in Manipur.
 He had served as the Chief Executive Officer of Manipur Hockey between 2009 to 2014.
Asia Cup Cricket tournament 2020 postponed till June 2021
 The 2020 edition of the Asia Cup Cricket tournament has been postponed till June 2021 by the Asian Cricket
Council (ACC) due to ongoing increase in COVID-19 cases in the region.
 The tournament was earlier scheduled to be held in September 2020.
 Originally Pakistan was to host the Asia Cup 2020, but due to security reasons amid coronavirus pandemic,
the tournament was later rescheduled to be held in Sri Lanka, since it is the least affected country in the
region.
 Now Sri Lanka will host the Asia Cup in 2021 while Pakistan have been awarded the hosting rights in 2022.
Extra Shots:
Page 164 of 210
Asian Cricket Council

 Headquarters: Colombo, Sri Lanka
 President: Nazmul Hassan Papon
 Membership: 24 associations
 Parent organization: International Cricket Council
Egyptian world squash champion Raneem al-Welily announces retirement
 World’s top-ranked women’s squash player, Raneem El Welily from Egypt has announced her retirement on
9 July 2020.
 The 31-year-old was the first Arab woman to be world No. 1 in any sport.
 El Welily first took the top ranking in 2015 and after that again since December 2018.
 She was officially named world champion in Manchester in 2017.
Extra Shots:
Egypt (Capital/Currency): Cairo/ Egyptian pound
 President: Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi
Amit Panghal, Manju Rani and Mary Kom take top spot at latest AIBA rankings
 Indian boxer and World Championship silver medallist Amit Panghal has climbed up the leaderboard to the
first spot in the rankings released by Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA), after a gap of almost
18 months.
 He competed in the 52 kg categories and one of the finest boxers in the Indian contingent.
 Asian championship silver-medallist Kavinder Bisht ranked fourth in the 63 kg category. Deepak (49kg) and
Worlds bronze medal winner Manish Kaushik (63kg) were placed ranked sixth in their respective category.
 In the rankings, Mary Kom is world no.3, behind North Korean Pang Chol-mi (1st) and Turkey’s Busenaz
Cakiroglu (2nd).
 Also, World silver medallist Manju Rani (48kg) is at second spot.
Extra Shots:
AIBA:
 Headquarters location: Lausanne, Switzerland
 President: Mohamed Moustahsane (Interim President)
 Founded: 1946
 Main organ: Congress
 Type of business: Sports governing body
IOA adopts new identity on its 100-year milestone at Olympic Games
 The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) adopted a new branding and visual identity, including an institutional
and a commercial logo, to celebrate a century of participation of the country’s athletes at the Summer
Olympics.
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 The IOA said the decision to adopt a new identity was taken “on the occasion marking 100 years of
participation of Indian athletes at the Olympic Games, the new identity celebrates a century of passionate
work, and contribution of the athletes and officials from across the nation in building Team India.
 The new logos have been approved by the International Olympic Committee and the IOA is planning to have
a special launch event of the logo on this year’s Independence Day on August 15.
Extra Shots:
IOA: Indian Olympic Association
 Founded: 1927
 President: Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra
 Secretary General: Rajeev Mehta
 Recognized: 1924
 Founders: Harry Buck, Arthur Noehren
Lewis Hamilton Wins Styrian Grand Prix 2020
 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) has won the Styrian Grand Prix 2020, held on 12 July 2020 in
Spielberg, Austria.
 It was the second race of the 2020 Formula One World Championship and the first running of the Styrian
Grand Prix.
 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) finished second while Max Verstappen ( Red Bull- Belgium) was third.
West Indies win first cricket test match against England by four wickets
 West Indies won the first international cricket match since the sport's return after the coronavirus outbreak by
defeating England.
 Jermaine Blackwood top-scored with 95 as West Indies overcame an early wobble to win by four wickets in
the final session of the 5th and final day of the match.
Former Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak announced his retirement
 Former Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak has announced his retirement from the sport. Socceroos is the official
nickname of the Australia national soccer team that represents Australia in international men’s soccer.
 He made his national team debut in 2008 and made 79 appearances for Australia.
 He also won the 2015 Asian Cup title for the team.
 He has appeared for his national side in three World Cups.
2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar
 The Federation Internationale de Football Association announced that the 2022 World Cup is to be held in
Qatar.
 The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be the first world cup to be held in Arab World and also the first in a muslim-
majority country.
 NOTE: Indian National Team ranks 108 in the latest FIFA rankings that was released in 2019.
Extra Shots:
FIFA
 President: Gianni Infantino
 Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland
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 Founded at: Paris, France

 Founded: 21 May 1904, Rue Saint-Honoré, Paris, France
 Senior Vice-President: Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (AFC)
2022 Dakar Youth Olympics postponed by IOC to 2026
 The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar will be celebrated in 2026 after Senegal and the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) “mutually agreed” to postpone the Games from 2022.
 Earlier, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed to next year. Now the event will be held from July 23
to August 8, 2021.
Details about Upcoming Olympics
Olympics Venue
2020 Summer Olympics (2021) Tokyo,Japan
2024 Summer Olympics Paris,France
2028 Summer Olympics Los Angeles, California, US
2022 Winter Olympics Beijing, China
2026 Winter Olympics Milan and Cortina d’ Ampezzo, Italy
Recent News related to International Olympic Committee (IOC)

 The IOC’s new headquarters in Lausanne has been awarded the European 2020 US Green Building Council
(USGBC) Leadership Award.
 The IOC joins global un dialogue, reiterates role of sport in post-covid world
Extra Shots:
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
 Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
 President: Thomas Bach
 Honorary President: Jacques Rogge
 Founded: 23 June 1894, Paris, France
 Director General: Christophe De Kepper
 Founders: Pierre de Coubertin, Demetrios Vikelas
Real Madrid clinch record 34th La Liga title
 Spanish professional football club, Real Madrid has been crowned La Liga Champions for the 34th time after
defeating Villarreal 2–1 at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid, with one match remaining.
 Karim Benzema was the leading scorer for a 2-1 victory against Villarreal.
 Real Madrid, who are standing at the top spot with 26 wins from 37 matches, will lock horns with Leganes in
their last game of the 2019-2020 La Liga season on July 20.
Germany forward & World Cup winner Andre Schurrle retires
 The Germany forward player & World Cup winner, Andre Schurrle has announced retirement from the sport.
 He helped his country to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He represented Germany in 57 matches, scoring 22
goals.
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 He also played for Chelsea from 2013-15 and also won a Premier League winners medal in 2015.
Extra Shots:
Germany (Capital/Currency): Berlin/Euro
 President: Frank-Walter Steinmeier
 Chancellor: Angela Merkel
Lewis Hamilton wins 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix
 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes’ – Great Britain) won the 2020 Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix held on 19 July
2020.
 This is his straight second win of the season.
 Hungarian Grand Prix 2020 was the third race of the 2020 Formula One World Championship.
 Max Verstappen (Dutch-Red Bull) was second, followed by Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes- Finland) at third spot.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup postponed to 2022
 International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) announced, the T20 Men’s World Cup, scheduled to be played in
Australia in October-November 2020, has formally been postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19.
 Besides rescheduling the T20 World Cup to October-November, 2022 the ICC Board also decided to push the
2023 ODI World Cup in India to October-November 2023 from its designated window in February-March,
2023.
Extra Shots:
International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s)
 Chairperson: Shashank Manohar
 CEO: Manu Sawhney
 Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
 Motto: Cricket for good.
Sripali Weerakkody retires from International Cricket
 Sri Lankan bowling allrounder, Sripali Weerakkody has announced her retirement from International Cricket
with immediate effect.
 She made her international debut in 2006 and played 89 ODIs (One Day International) and 58 T20Is
(Twenty20 International) from Sri Lanka.
Bengal - Top Performer Under AIFF Performance Assessment of States
 Bengal was named as the best performing state by the All India Football Federation under its performance
assessment system based on various criteria like grassroot development, conduct of leagues and other
competitions.
 Maharashtra and Kerala were declared second and third respectively under the point-based assessment system
that indicates the performance of the states on the various operational verticals.
Haryana to host 2021 Khelo India Youth Games
 Haryana will host the 4th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
 The announcement was made by the state’s chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Union sports minister
Kiren Rijiju via video conference.
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 The Games will be held in Panchkula.

Sri Lankan Bowler Sripali Weerakkody retires from international cricket
 Sri Lankan woman medium-pace bowler, Sripali Weerakkody has announced to retire from international
cricket with immediate effect.
 The 34-year-old Sripali Weerakkody, represented Sri Lanka in 89 Women’s One Day Internationals and 58
Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
 Weerakkody was also a member of the 2014 Asian Games bronze medal winning Sri Lankan team.
Extra Shots:
Sri Lanka (Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/Sri Lankan Rupee
 Prime Minister: Mahinda Rajapaksa
India won Silver medal at 2018 Asian Games upgraded to Gold
 The silver medal which was won by the Indian 4×400 mixed relay quartet of Mohammed Anas, M.R.
Poovamma, Hima Das and Arokia Rajiv at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta has been upgraded to gold.
 This decision was taken following the disqualification of original winners Bahrain on account of a four-year
doping ban handed to Kemi Adekoya by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for failing a dope test.
 Now India has become the first winner of the 4x400m mixed relay event, which was introduced in the Asian
Games in 2018.
Microsoft partnered with NBA to put Virtual Fans in Basketball Arenas
 Microsoft Corp and the NBA said they have joined forces to put “virtual” fans in the stands of each game
using Microsoft’s Teams app and giant screens.
 The two will equip each game court with 17-foot-tall (5.2 m) LED screens that wrap three sides of the arena.
 The virtual stands will be filled with fans who use the Teams app to log in and sit alongside each other using a
new feature of the app called “Together mode” meant to simulate a group of people sitting in a room.
Extra Shots:
Microsoft Corp
 CEO: Satya Nadella
 Founded: 4 April 1975, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
 Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States
 Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen
NBA:
 Current champion: Toronto Raptors
 Founded: 6 June 1946, New York, New York, United States
 Commissioner: Adam Silver
Allrounder Rajat Bhatia announces retirement
 Veteran Indian domestic allrounder, Rajat Bhatia has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
 He started his career with Tamil Nadu in 1999-2000 but played most of his cricket for Delhi.
 Bhatia has also been a regular in the IPL having played for Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata
Knight Riders and Rising Pune Supergiants.
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World Athletics approve new dates for postponed series due to COVID-19 pandemic
 World Athletics has approved the new dates on July 30 for the World Athletics Race Walking Team
Championships Minsk 2020 and World U20 Championship Nairobi 2020.
New Dates:
 As per the World Athletics, the World U20 Championship Nairobi 2020 will now be held from August 17 to
22, 2021, one week after the Tokyo Olympics Games.
 According to the competition’s rules, athletes who will be aged between 16-19 years as on December 31,
2021, will eligible to compete in the games.
 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Minsk 2020 has been rescheduled for 23-24 April 2022
in Minsk, Belarus.
 The World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Yangzhou 2022 has also seen a small date change by
moving back one week from March 20, 2022, to March 27, 2022.
Extra Shots:
World Athletics:
 Headquarters: Monaco
 President: Sebastian Coe
 Founded: 17 July 1912, Stockholm, Sweden
 Membership: 214 member federations
 Nominations: Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of Emojis
 Type of business: Sports governing body
Stuart Broad becomes 7th bowler to take 500 Test wickets
 Stuart Broad joined one of cricket’s most exclusive clubs when he took his 500th Test wicket as England
completed a series-clinching win over the West Indies at Old Trafford.
 The 34-year-old became fourth pacemen to reach the landmark when he had opener Kraigg Brathwaite plumb
lbw for 19 on the fifth day of the third Test.
Awards & Honours
Name Award
Chakravarthi Rangarajan Prof. P C Mahalanobis Award in Official Statistics for
lifetime achievements.
MyGov Corona Helpdesk CogX 2020 award
Ratnakar Matkari Natvarya Prabhakar Panshikar award for lifetime
contribution to theatre by the Maharashtra government.
Freya Thakral 2020 Diana Award for her “Recycler App”.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) 2020 US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership
Award.
NTPC Ltd CII-ITC Sustainability Award 2019
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Kezang D Thongdok Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2020

Institute for Human Development (IHD) ‘Development Marketplace Award 2020:Innovations to
Address Gender-Based Violence’
Kailasavadivoo Sivan Von Karman Award 2020
Chhattisgarh “Elites Excellence Awards-2020”
Edappadi K Palaniswami Paul Harris Fellow recognition
Hockey legend Gurbux Singh and former first-class Mohun Bagan Ratna Award 2020
cricketer Palash Nandy
Ved Parkash Dudeja ‘Infra Business Leader of the Year’ award for 2020.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran & Jim Taiclet US-India Business Council (USIBC) Global Leadership
Award 2020.
Arnab Chaudhuri ‘Legend of Animation’ award
Greta Thunberg Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity
Kannan C S Warrier National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Research
in Forestry for the year 2019
Jordan Henderson Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the
Year for the 2019-20 Premier League season
Aditya -India’s first solar-powered ferry Gustave Trouve Award for Excellence in Electric Boats
and Boating
Sunil ydv SS “Karamveer Chakra Award” instituted by United Nations
and International Confederation of NGO (iCONGO).
Professor Ashok Sahni Life Time Excellence Award
Shakuntala Devi Guinness World Records for ‘fastest human computation’
Avni Doshi 2020 Booker Prize
Siddhartha Mukherjee and Raj Chetty honoured as ‘2020 Great Immigrants

 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee and Harvard University Economics Professor Raj Chetty
were listed among the 38 immigrants to be honoured as the ‘2020 Great Immigrants’ by the Carnegie
Corporation.
 Every year since 2006, ahead of the Independence Day of the United States on 4th July, Carnegie
Corporations of New York honors the legacy of its ounder Andrew Carnegie- who being an immigrant from
Scotland to the United States rose from poverty to become a leading industrialist and further went on to
established a philanthropic fund to support education programs across the United States.
 The awards are also to remind how immigrants have contributed to the greatness of the United States.
Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee
 Recipient of Padma Shri award in 2014, Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee has served at New York-Presbyterian
Hospital as a physician and as the Associate Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University.7
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 The noted biologist, oncologist and the author was awarded Pulitzer Prize in 2011 for his book: The Emperor
of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.
Raj Chetty
 He was chosen as the recipient for the award for his efforts in launching a real-time economic impact monitor
of COVID-19.
Kritika Pandey, became overall winner of the 2020 Commonwealth Short Story Prize
 The commonwealth writers announced Kritika Pandey, the winner of asian region prize as the overall winner
of the 2020 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for her story, “The Great Indian Tee and Snakes”.
 The award was presented to her by Ghanaian writer and editor, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, the chair of the 2020
Judge panel in the online award ceremony.
 Kritika is the second Indian to win the overall prize after Parashar Kulkarni in 2016.
Commonwealth Short Story Prize:
 The prize is awarded to the best unpublished short fiction through commonwealth writers, the cultural
initiative of Commonwealth Foundation.
 The stories of the winners of the 2020 Commonwealth short story prize will be published online by the
Literary magazine Granta in partnership with the Commonwealth writers.
Cambodian NGO Receive ‘Development Marketplace Award’ from World Bank Group and SVRI
 A WhatsApp chatline named ‘SMARTgirl Chatline’ was implemented by a Research Team from Cambodian
NGO- KHANA Centre for Population Health Research.
 The ‘Smartgirl Chatline’ offered 24 hours response and support against gender-based violence to female
entertainment workers in Cambodia.
 A cash reward of USD 100,000 was provided by the World Bank Group & SVRI- Sexual Violence Research
Initiative under the Development Marketplace Award to NGO KHANA Centre for Population Health and
Research for implementation of ‘Smartgirl Chatline’.
Development Marketplace Award
 The Development Marketplace Award is an annual global competition under which cash reward is provided to
researchers for individuals and communities from gender-based violence.
 The Development Marketplace Award competition is organized and funded jointly by the World Bank Group
and SVRI.
Elton John becomes second artist to be honoured with commemorative coin by Royal Mint
 Elton John became the second artist to be honored by Britain’s Royal Mint with a commemorative coin
paying tribute to the decorated British singer-songwriter.
The coin, designed by artist Bradley Morgan Johnson, depicts John’s distinctive straw boater’s hat, and fashions his
trademark glasses out of a pair of musical notes.John, who was knighted in 1998, is the second artist to be
commemorated under the Royal Mint’s Music Legends series after rock band Queen
Indian Battalion Wins the Annual UNIFIL Environment Award for 2020
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 The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Head of Mission and Force Commander Major
General Stefano Del Col awarded the annual environment awards of UNIFIL to 7 mission entities.
 An Indian Battalion (INDBATT) stationed with UNIFIL is declared first for environmental contributions.
 The annual award was launched by UNIFIL on 4th December 2019 to recognise the environmental
achievements within the Mission’s area of operations.
Extra Shots:
UNIFIL:
 Parent organization: United Nations Security Council
 Headquarters: Naqoura, Lebanon
 Formation: 19 March 1978
CPJ International Press Freedom Award 2020 announced
 The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has announced the recipients of the International Press Freedom
Awards 2020.
 CPJ International Press Freedom Awards honor journalists or their publications around the world who show
courage in defending press freedom despite facing attacks, threats, or imprisonment.
The winners are:
Shahidul Alam from Bangladesh
 Shahidul Alam is a photojournalist and commenter. He is the founder of the Pathshala Media Institute and the
Drik photo library. He was in jail for 102 days and was released in November 2018.
Mohammad Mosaed from Iran
 Mohammad Mosaed is a freelance economic reporter. He was forced to resign from a reformist newspaper
under government pressure as he publishes news on social media platforms.
Dapo Olorunyomi from Nigeria
 He is the co-founder, CEO, and publisher of the Nigerian newspaper Premium Times. He was twice arrested
before hiding in 1995 and was arrested with a colleague during a police raid on his newspaper on a
defamation charge in 2017.
Svetlana Prokopyeva from Russia
 She is a regional correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, known as Radio Svoboda.
Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award 2020- Amal Clooney
Amal Clooney
 She has represented embattled reporters around the world, including Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo of Reuters,
who were imprisoned in Myanmar for 17 months. She promotes freedom of speech and journalism through
the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s TrialWatch initiative, which monitors the trials of journalists worldwide
and provides free legal representation for those in need.
Extra Shots:
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
 Headquarters: New York, United States
 Founder: Michael Massing
 Founded: 1981
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 Affiliation: IFEX
 Purposes: Freedom of the press, Human rights (journalist human rights)
Indian-origin nurse in Singapore conferred with President's Award
 A 59-year-old Indian-origin nurse in Singapore has been conferred with the prestigious President’s Award for
Nurses for serving on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic.
 Kala Narayanasamy was among the five nurses given the award.
 Each recipient was awarded a trophy, a certificate signed by President Halimah Yacob and SGD 10,000 (USD
7,228).
Kala Narayanasamy
 She is currently involved with the planning for the Woodlands Health Campus.
 She has been involved with the modernisation of nursing in Singapore
 She was also involved in the introduction of the use of a streamlined wound assessment process that provides
accurate wound measurements and image capture.
First Edition of Indus Valley International Film Festival Announced
 First edition of Indus Valley International Film Festival (IVIFF) will be held from 1st to 9th August.
 It is organized by SAFACH (South Asia Forum for Art & Creative Heritage). In the Covid19 scenario, the
first edition will be online and on free registration audience gets access to the festival.
 The festival will open with an Opening Remark by Vishal Bhardwaj, and Opening film will be ‘Patakha’.
 The festival will close with a closing Remark by Nandita Das, with her film ‘Manto’ is the closing film.
 A film by Brahmanand Singh ‘Jhalki’ will also be screened during the festival.
Now ‘Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration' include Namami Gange project too
 This year, the Namami Gange project has been included in the prestigious ‘Prime Minister’s Awards for
Excellence in Public Administration'.
 The District Ganga Committes to submit their nominations for this year's prestigious award.
 Objective of National Mission for Clean Ganga is not limited only to the nirmalta and aviralta of the Ganga,
but to develop a sustainable socioeconomic zone around the holy river and its tributaries, which will give a
boost to the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Campaign.
Science & Technology
RRI introduces qkdSim toolkit to ensure safety in secure quantum communication platforms
 Researchers from Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science &
Technology (DST),has launched Quantum Key Distribution or QKD.
 The qkdSim simulation toolkit aims to ensure safety in secure quantum communication platforms.
Highlights:
 qkdSim is a unique simulation toolkit for end-to-end QKD simulation which is based on modular principles
that allow it to be grown to different classes of protocols using various underpinning technologies.
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 The simulation toolkit will satisfy the recent advisories by the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure online
communication via secure platforms. This comes as due to the increasing need for measures to ensure security
in the virtual world as the COVID-19 confines most day to day activities to the digital space.
 QKD will ensure the security of the key transfer process that lies in using the laws of quantum physics.
 RRI team plans to expand the current scope of qkdSim to include entanglement based QKD protocols and
experimental comparisons for the same. It will lead to a whole new software that will be highly beneficial to
the experimental secure quantum communication community.
 This software will be a foundation for the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications
developments in the country.
Scientists synthesize inorganic-organic hybrid compound that can inhibit breast, lung, liver cancer cells
 Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST), Mohali, have synthesized a novel
inorganic-organic hybrid compound that can inhibit breast, lung, and liver cancer cells.
 It is expected that this will open up new possibilities for metallodrugs.
Highlights:
 The solid compound is based on phosphomolybdate cluster, an inorganic salt of phosphomolybdic acid.
 The compound belongs to the Polyoxometalates (POMs) family, which had earlier been identified to have
antitumor potential.
 Scientists have recently figured out the mechanism by which the compound kills the cancer cells.
 POMs are an evolving class of inorganic metal oxides.
 The scientists probed into the mechanism of how the cancer cells are attacked by the compound, the team
synthesized it by hydrothermal method.
 The results showed that the hybrid solid is less toxic towards normal cells, and its antitumor activity was also
found to be comparable with that of a routinely used chemotherapeutic agent.
 So far, POMs have evolved as a promising candidate for future metallodrugs for combating cancer.
IITGn team develops AI-based tool to detect Covid-19 from chest X-ray
 Indian Institute of Technology-Gandhinagar IITGn has developed an Artificial Intelligence-based tool to
detect COVID-19 from Chest X-ray.
 This tool can be used for quick preliminary diagnosis before the medical test.
 The Artificial Intelligence-based tool has been developed by the researchers of the Computer Science and
Engineering Department of IITGn.
 The tool is developed by Kushpal Singh Yadav-an M.Tech student of Computer Science & Engineering under
the guidance of Professor Krishna Prasad Miyapuram, Associate Professor of Cognitive Science and
Computer Science at IITGn.
 The system is now live as a web-interface on covidxray.iitgn.ac.in/.
 Any user can upload a digital copy of the chest x-ray or CT-scan in standard image formats such as jpeg, png
etc and check whether he or she is COVID-19 positive or not.
 The format of any test image of a new person will be automatically transformed and diagnosed using the AI
tool.
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GoI launched Accelerate Vigyan to strengthen scientific research mechanism

 GoI launched Accelerate Vigyan to strengthen the scientific research mechanism.
 The new scheme was launched by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
 The scheme aims to provide a single platform for research internships, capacity building programs, and
workshops across the country.
Accelerate Vigyan:
 The main objective of the Accelerate Vigyan scheme is to give more thrust on encouraging high-end scientific
research and preparing scientific manpower, which can lead to research careers and knowledge-based
economy.
 It aims to recognize that all research has its base as the development of quality and well-trained researchers.
 AV will initiate and strengthen mechanisms to identify research potential, training, mentoring, and hands-on
workshop on a national scale.
 It aims to expand the research base, with three broad goals, namely,
1. consolidation/aggregation of all scientific programs
2. initiating high-end orientation workshops
3. creating opportunities for research internships for those who do not have access to such resources/facilities
 The AV plans to work on a mission mode with respect to its component dealing with
consolidation/aggregation of all major scientific events in the country.
 Also, an Inter-Ministerial Overseeing Committee (IMOC) that involves all the scientific
ministries/departments and a few others has been constituted for the purpose of supporting SERB in
implementing the AV scheme in a successful manner.
Extra Shots:
SERB
 Secretary: Prof Sandeep Verma
 Affiliation: Department of Science and Technology
RMRC lab, Assam becomes 4th to isolate COVID-19 virus strain in India
 Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) located in
Lahowal in Dibrugarh district of Assam has successfully isolated the SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, virus
becoming the fourth such facility in the country to achieve the feat.
 The other 3 hospitals that isolated the virus were:
1. National Institute of Virology, Pune
2. Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad
3. Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad
Highlights:
 The significance of isolation of the COVID-19 virus by RMRC is live and viable SARS-CoV-2 virus can now
be produced in abundance in the lab as and when required.
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 Isolation of the COVID-19 virus is important to develop inactivated COVID-19 vaccine where virus grown in
laboratory are inactivated by heat or chemical and purified for use as vaccines after pre-clinical and clinical
trials.
 Some other uses of the SARS-CoV-2 virus culture are that it can be used for drug screening for potential
drugs or drug candidates against the virus, testing the effectiveness of disinfectants, use in the development of
therapeutic antibodies, etc.
 Scientists at RMRC stated that all strains of SARS-CoV-2 were L-type and not S-type, which is slowly
disappearing across the world.
Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020 launched
 For supporting the drug discovery process, a national initiative called Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020 was
launched on 2nd July 2020.
 The initiative was launched by Ramesh Pokhriyal (Union Human Resource Development Minister) and Dr.
Harsh Vardhan (Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Science and Technology).
Objective
 The objective of the hackathon is to identify drug candidates for the COVID-19 virus through computational
methods.
 Further the findings from the hackathon for chemical synthesis and biological testing.
Hackathon Highlights:
 Any professional, researchers, faculty, and students can participate from across the globe.
 The primary focus during the hackathon will be to focus on the computational aspects of the discovery of
drugs.
 The Hackathon will help in accelerating the drug discovery process in India by establishing a new model.
 The hackathon will have three phases: each of the phases will be of 3 months each. The Drug Discovery
Hackathon will be completed by April-May 2021.
 Through the Tracks above, at the end of Phase 3, the predicted drug-like compound will be taken forward at
the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and other leading organizations in the country for
experimental testing.
This will be done on three tracks:
 Track 1: From an existing database, identifying computational modeling for drug design. The identified
modeling must provide resistance or inhibit the COVID-19 virus
 Track 2: Using data analytics, new tools and algorithms will be developed. Further by using machine
learning or artificial intelligence algorithms, predict a drug-like compound that will have the least toxicity and
higher selectivity and specificity.
 Track 3: Ambitious and exploratory approaches that will lead to a novel ground-breaking projects in this
field. Working on out of the box problems.
IIT Kanpur develops teaching setup ‘Mobile Masterjee’
 IIT Kanpur has developed a classroom-to-home teaching setup ‘Mobile Masterjee’. It will be very helpful to
students in rural India.
Highlights:
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 This setup can record the lectures or instructions by the teachers while using their available smartphones.
 The setup can capture the videos of the classroom lecture in many positions.
 The product is lightweight and has adjustments to fit sheets and book on it for delivering instructions to the
kids.
 A set graduated scale aligns the sheet at the desired angle, followed by the rotational quick adjustment of the
mobile holder.
 The “Mobile Masterjee” can hold, position, and focus the whole recording setup while making the online
class a comfortable home environment.
ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission captures image of Mars’ biggest moon ‘Phobos’
 The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan mission, of the ISRO, has captured the image
of the closest and biggest moon of Mars, named Phobos.
 The image was taken on July 1, 2020, by the Mars Colour Camera (MCC) onboard MOM, when the MOM
was about 7,200 km from Mars and 4,200 km from Phobos.
 The Spatial resolution of the image is 210 m.
 Phobos is largely believed to be made up of carbonaceous chondrites.
 Stickney, the largest crater on Phobos along with the other craters (Shklovsky, Roche & Grildrig) are also
seen in this image.
Extra Shots:
ISRO:
 Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
 Director: Kailasavadivoo Sivan
 Subsidiary: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
DRDO develops 1000 Bed Hospital for Treatment of COVID-19 patients in 12 Days, Wards Named after
Indian Army Soldiers
 Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has established a 1000 bed facility in 12 days
adjacent to the office of Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) on Ulan Bator Road near Domestic
Terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport.
 The facility will be providing treatment and care for the COVID-19 positive patients. On 5th July 2020,
Rajnath Singh (Union Defence Minister) Dr Harsh Vardhan (Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare)
and Amit Shah (Union Home Minister) visited the facility for reviewing the preparedness. The facility is
named Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel COVID-19 Hospital.
 The facility is named Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel COVID-19 Hospital.
 The wards at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel COVID-19 Hospital are named after the Indian Army Soldiers who
have lost their lives on 15th June 2020 during the violent clash at Galwan Valley with the Chinese.
 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the ventilator ward is named after Indian Armed Forces Commissioned Officer
Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu.
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Extra Shots:
DRDO:
 Founded: 1958
 Employees: 30,000 (5000 scientists)
IIT Madras Researchers Develop Nano-coated Filter for Healthcare Workers Treating COVID-19 Patients
 Indian Institute of Technology Madras Researchers have developed a nano-coated filter media for healthcare
workers treating COVID-19 Patients.
 This filter has applications not only in healthcare but also has defence applications and other places where air
filtration of submicron particles is required.
 This nano-coated filter media has been fabricated by a nylon-based polymer coating on cellulose paper and
was developed through the electrospinning process.
 The coating properties are optimized for efficient removal of sub-micron sized dust particles in the air.
 The nano-coated filter media is in the process of being field tested in practical applications. Upon validation
through field trials, it will be recommended for bulk manufacturing through industry collaborations.
 This project was a collaborative effort with faculty from various departments of IIT Madras including Prof.
Raghuram Chetty from Department of Chemical Engineering and Prof. Saravana Kumar from Department of
Engineering Design.
Mylan gets DCGI Approval to launch its Generic Version of Remdesivir ‘DESREM’ at Rs 4800
 Global pharmaceutical company Mylan N.V was given approval by the Drug Controller General of India
(DCGI) for the launch of its generic version of Gilead Sciences Remdesivir drug for the treatment of COVID-
19 positive patients in India. Mylan N.
 He is currently the second-largest company in the world for the manufacturing of generic and specialty
pharmaceuticals.
 Mylan N.V’s DESREM is the third generic version of Remdesivir to get DCGI approval for sale in India.
 In the month of June 2020, generic versions of Indian pharmaceutical companies – Cipla’s CIPREMI and
Hetero’s COVIFOR’ has got DCGI approval.
 Under the brand name ‘DESREM’, Mylan N.V’s generic version of Remdesivir will be marketed in India.
Extra Shots:
Mylan N.V
 Headquarters: Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, United States
 CEO: Heather Bresch
 Parent organization: Mylan N.V.
IIT Roorkee Develops “Unisaviour” – Disinfection Box to Sterilise Personal Belongings
 The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee(IIT-R) announced that the IIT-R researchers team led by Prof.
Soumitra Satapathi, Laboratory of Integrated Nanophotonics and Biomaterials, have developed the
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disinfection box – “Unisaviour” box, which can be used to sterilise various personal belongings to minimise
the COVID-19 transmission.
Highlights:
 The device consist of a specially designed highly reflective geometry, which allows the UVC light to pass
through the calibrated passage and disinfect the items.
 In addition to the UVC lights, the inside of the device has a coating of developed metal oxide along with
herbal antibacterial and antiviral layers to prevent the growth of microorganisms when the UVC light is not in
use.
 The device is equipped with an Arduino programmed system which regulates the time, intensity and amount
of UVC exposure required for the sterilization process.
 Enable the disinfection of items in the public places like, malls, theaters, etc.
 The device is user friendly and has an additional safety switch for the UVC light.
Mylab launches India’s First Machine to Automate the Manual Processes of Molecular Diagnostic Tests
 Pune based molecular biology company- Mylab Discovery Solutions Private Limited has launched a
cartridge-based machine named ‘Compact XL’ on 7th July 2020 that will be able to test and handle multiple
samples at the same time.
 The machine will reduce the need for laboratory technicians for handling and testing samples to one, as an
individual will be able to operate the machine.
Compact XL
 Compact XL is a 4X3 benchtop machine that is 100 percent indigenously developed and the first Machine in
India that will fully automate the manual lab oratory operations required for testing molecular diagnostic
samples of COVID-19. This automated system will be able to handle samples of RNA/DNA based test, RT-
PCR test, Plasma, Tissue, Swab, and Sputum.
 A total of 32 samples can be handled and tested by the machine in an hour. The machine is priced at Rs 40
lakh (4 million Rupee). The pre-ordering of the machine begins on 13th July 2020. The testing capacity of the
machine can be increased from 32 per hour in the future based on the demand.
Himalayan butterfly is Indias largest Butterfly
 The Himalayan butterfly named Golden Birdwing has become India’s largest butterfly and broke the record
set by an unknown specimen, which was held for 88 years.
 The unknown specimen was recorded by a British Army officer Brigadier William Harry Evans in 1932.
Highlights:
 The wingspan of the female of the Golden Birdwing species is 194 mm which is marginally larger than the
Southern Birdwing. The wingspan of the Southern Birdwing is 190 mm. The female Golden Birdwing was
recorded from Didihat, Uttarakhand
 The length of the largest female Golden Birdwing’s forewing is 90 mm.
 Also, the male Golden Birdwing, Troides Aeacus, is much smaller at 106 mm.
 The smallest butterfly is the Quaker (Neopithecops zalmora) with a wingspan of 18 mm and forewing length
of 8 mm
The three species followed by the Golden Birdwing are:
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 Common Windmill (Byasa polyeuctes) at 98 mm

 Great Windmill (Byasa dasarada) at 96 mm
 Common Peacock (Papilio bianor) at 78 mm
CSIR, Laxai Sciences seek regulatory approval to undertake clinical trials on Covid-19 patients, phase III
clinical trial
 Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), in collaboration with Laxai Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd.
 Hyderabad has sought regulatory approval to undertake 'MUCOVIN', a four-arm randomized controlled phase
III clinical trial.
 The study is to combine and repurpose antivirals and host-directed therapies (HDTs) to address the disease-
spread and pathology simultaneously.
Highlights:
 The unique combinatorial strategy, antivirals, and HDTs, with repurposed drugs having a complementary,
additive, and synergistic role, has been adopted to increase therapeutic options for Covid-19 treatment and
help recover patients faster.
 The trial will determine the safety and efficacy of the three combination drugs and a control arm with the
standard of care in COVID-19 patients.
 The 3 combination drugs are Favipiravir+Colchicine, Umifenovir+Colchicine and Nafamostat+5-ALA.
 The clinical trial will be carried out in partnership with Medanta Medicity.
 The trial will include a total of 300 patients in four different groups of 75 patients in the trials to be carried for
17 to 21 days including screening and treatment.
 The study aims to target viral proteins essential for its replication and host factors that play a crucial role in
the viral life cycle and contribute to the cytokine storm.
‘Compact XL’ system for covid-19 tests lauched by MyLab
 Mylab Discovery Solutions has launched the ‘Compact XL’ system for conducting a wide range of tests,
including RT-PCR tests for COVID-19.
 This is India’s ﬁrst machine to automate the manual processes of molecular diagnostic tests such as
RNA/DNA-based tests including COVID-19 RT-PCR tests.
‘Compact XL’ RT-PCR system:
 The ‘Compact XL’ RT-PCR system can test 32 tests at a time on one system and there are options to connect
multiple systems on one network.
 This system is designed to reduce the requirement for manpower, multiple systems can be networked together
to achieve the throughput of 96 to 1000 plus samples per day.
 The machine is designed to automate lab operations from sample handling to RT-PCR ready tube preparation,
and do these operations in one single compact benchtop machine.
 Compact XL is a cartridge-based machine and can test multiple samples concurrently.
 Compact XL can be used for a wide range of RNA/DNA-based tests including COVID-19 RT-PCR tests.
 The machine can run 32 samples at a time which can be further increased when machines are connected in a
network.
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ISRO to launch Brazil’s Amazonia-1 Satellite in August 2020

 The first earth observation satellite to be entirely developed by Brazil will be launch by the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO).
 The satellite is known by the name ‘Amazonia-1’.
 The exact launch date of Amazonia-1 hasn’t been confirmed yet by ISRO but as per media reports, the launch
will take place next month (August 2020).
Amazonia-1
 Amazonia-1 was originally scheduled to be launched by AEB’s main satellite launch vehicle VLS-1 in 2018.
 But the launch with VLS-1 was canceled due to technical reasons.
 Amazonia-1 will now be launched as a payload of PSLV from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra
Pradesh’s Sriharikota.
 Operations of Amazonia-1 will be joint with the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite Program (CBERS).
Under the CBERS program between China and Brazil, 6 satellites have been launched to date. The first
satellite CBERS-1 was launched back in October 1999.
 The last one CBERS-4A was launched on 20th December 2019 from China’s Taiyuan Satellite Launch
Centre.
 Amazonia-1 is the first satellite that has been completely designed, integrated, and tested by AEB, also the
satellite after launch will be the first satellite to be completely operated by Brazil.
Extra Shots:
ISRO:
 Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
 Director: Kailasavadivoo Sivan
IIT Kanpur develops UV sanitizing device 'SHUDDH' to make your room COVID free
 IIT Kanpur has developed an Ultraviolet (UV) sanitizing product named SHUDH.
 SHUDH can assist in killing the spread of corona virus at the highly prone places such as hospitals, hotels,
malls, offices and schools.
 Initial testing has proved that the device at its full operation can disinfect a 10x10 squared feet room in about
15 minutes.
 Smartphone operated Handy Ultraviolet Disinfection Helper that is SHUDH has six UV lights of 15 Watts
each that can be individually monitored from a distance.
 The on/off, speed, and location of the product can be controlled remotely using your available smartphone
while installing an android application.
Extra Shots:
IIT Kanpur
 Founded in: 1959
 Director: Abhay Karandikar
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VNIR Biotech launches fluorescence probes & PCR mix for RT-PCR detection of COVID-19
 Bengaluru based, VNIR Biotechnologies, a spinoff by Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific
Research (JNCASR) has launched indigenous fluorescence probes and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mix
for RT-PCR detection of COVID-19.
Highlights:
 The molecular probes developed by VNIR Biotechnologies will be used in COVID-19 test kits in the country.
 PCR based test kit has three critical components, the oligos, enzymes and molecular probes.
 The molecular probes used in COVID 19 tests, are currently, only imported.
 VNIR has innovated synthesis protocols for molecular probes, which will be useful for PCR based COVID-19
testing.
 The company is in the process of filing for the protection of its process innovation.
 VNIR’s Research and Development effort in line with the Make-In-India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat missions
of the Government of India are meant to contribute to self-reliance in COVID-19 testing.
Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd. introduces skin friendly, moisturizer based hand cleansing Gel
 Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF) has introduced a skin friendly, moisturizer-based hand
cleansing Gel, RCF SAFEROLA.
 The gel contains Iso Propyl Alcohol and Aloe Vera extract.
 RCF has fixed the price for its hand cleansing gel at 25 rupees for 50 millilitre and 50 rupees for a 100
millilitre bottle.
Extra Shots:
Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF)
 Founded: 6 March 1978
 CMD: U. V. Dhatrak
 Subsidiaries: RCF HM Construction Solutions Pvt Ltd, Rajasthan Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd
AIIMS Patna starts human trial of Corona virus vaccine
 In Bihar, AIIMS, Patna has started human trial of Corona virus vaccine on 10 volunteers selected by hospital
authority.
 Several people offered to take part in trial, but only 10 people were selected for the process.
 The first dose has been given to selected people and after interval of 14 days, second dose will be given.
 Doctors are keeping strict vigil of the those people who have taken dose of vaccine. For this a team of doctors
has been constituted.
IIT Kanpur Incubated Start-ups Develops Smart Water Quality Testing Device “PADMAVATI”
 Two of the IIT Kanpur Incubated Start-ups namely Earthface Analytics Pvt. Ltd. & Kritsnam Technologies
Pvt. Ltd. have developed a device, named as ‘PADMAVATI’, to analyse and monitor the quality of water.
Highlights:
 The device will monitor the water quality with the help of easy to use colorimetric test-strip, based on smart-
phone technology, that screens multiple important water quality parameters in less than 2 minutes.
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 The initiative will enables analysis of multiple water quality parameters in a cost-effective, easy to operate,
eco-friendly manner, as well as effectively deal with field-level to household-level water contamination
problems.
Recent News Related to IIT Kanpur:
 Shudh: A device created by IIT Kanpur that can disinfect a room using ultraviolet lights
 IIT Kanpur gets Rs 196 crore from Centre to fight cyberthreats
 IIT Kanpur develops virtual classroom system 'Mobile Masterjee'
 IIT Kanpur Collaborates with IIT Entrepreneur to Support Early Stage Tech Entrepreneurs
 IIT Kanpur to provide collaboration opportunities to MSME training centres with HEIs
Extra Shots:
IIT Kanpur
 Established: 1959
 Director: Abhay Karandikar
IIT Madras start-up developed a portable hospital called “MediCAB”
 Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) start-up Modulus Housing, has developed a portable hospital
unit called ‘MediCAB,’.
 This unit can be installed anywhere within two hours by four people.
 It has been launched recently in Wayanad District of Kerala where the units are being deployed to treat
COVID19 Patients.
“Medicab”
 The Medicab is foldable and is composed of four zones: a doctor’s room, an isolation room, a medical
room/ward and a twin-bed ICU, maintained at negative pressure. It aims to decentralize the approach to
detect, screen, identify, isolate and treat COVID-19 patients in their local communities through these portable
microstructures.
Recent News Related to IIT Madras:
 IIT-Madras launches year-long research fellowship programme for undergraduate students.
 The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras on 30th June declared that it has started the “world’s first”
online BSc degree course in Programming and Data Science.
 QS World University Rankings – IIT Madras (275th )
 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2020- IIT Madras has been ranked the best educational
institute in the country.
Extra Shots:
IIT Madras
 Established: 1959
 Director: Bhaskar Ramamurthy
THSTI Faridabad develops synthetic peptide-based vaccine candidate targeting CoronaVirus
 Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad has developed a synthetic peptide-
based vaccine candidate targeting CoronaVirus.
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 The potential vaccine targets the spike domain of the Virus to generate an immune response that could block
the viral invasion.
 The multi-epitope-based vaccine candidate was developed by stitching the desired peptides to produce the
protein.
 This approach generates potential neutralizing antibodies and also reduces antibody-dependent pulmonary
immune pathology.
 Synthetic peptides provide novel and affordable strategy not only in development of a potential COVID-19
Vaccine but also in production of anti-viral blocking agents.
CSIR-CMERI unveiled the COVID Protection System for Workplace
 Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute
(CMERI), Durgapur, unveiled the COVID Protection System (COPS) for Workplace to tackle the COVID-19
pandemic.
 Apart from the Healthcare Workers, the frontline Security Guards of any organisation are very vulnerable to
COVID-19 through infected individuals and contaminated objects.
 CSIR-CMERI, has announced that it is to develop a Digital Entry Management Systems in which the
workflow will be automated and based upon Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT).
Highlights:
 Solar Based Intelligent Mask Automated Dispensing Unit cum Thermal Scanner (IntelliMAST) is an
Intelligent surveillance kiosk that identifies the body temperature and whether an individual is wearing Face
Mask or not through customized Software solutions.
 Touchless Faucet (TouF) is launched for households and Office Spaces.
 The system dispenses Liquid Soap and Water from the same Faucet with a time-gap of 30 seconds, which is
as per the latest Government guidelines.
 360° Car Flusher is a Sodium Hypochlorite Water Screen that uses specialised Nozzle Design to ensure that
the Sanitizer Diffused Water is evenly spread over and under the Car Body/Wheels with adequate Water
Force and coverage.
 The COPS for Workplace will include contactless Solar Based Intelligent Mask Automated Dispensing Unit
cum Thermal Scanner (IntelliMAST), Touchless Faucet (TouF) and 360° Car Flusher are now available for
Technology Transfers and Product Orders.
 CSIR-CMERI aim to support the Start-Ups and Entrepreneurs while developing its technologies to give a
boost to their aspirations and give them a platform to showcase their Innovative potential.
 CSIR-CMERI also focused upon developing products Made in India, which will consequently boost the
Atma-Nirbhar Bharat flagship initiative of the Government of India.
Extra Shots:
CMERI:
 Director: Harish Hirani
 Founded: 26 February 1958
 Motto: यन्त्र मेवास्माकम मंत्र: (yantra mewasmaakam mantra); (Sanskrit)
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ARCI, Vehant Technologies develop UV System for baggage Scan Disinfection to curb COVID-19 spread
 International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad, and
Vehant Technologies, Noida has jointly developed KritiScan UV Baggage Disinfection System.
 The device has been designed to control the spread of infection through baggage.
Kritiscan UV advanced baggage disinfecting system:
 The compact Ultraviolet C (UVC) conveyor system is capable to efficiently disinfect the baggage passing
through the conveyor within a few seconds.
 Kritiscan UV advanced baggage disinfecting system has a specially designed motorized conveyor to guide the
baggage into the disinfection tunnel, which uses UVC light (254 nm) with appropriate irradiance to inactivate
microbes and viruses.
 The UV-C lamps used in the system shielded in a manner that poses no harm to staff or passengers in the
vicinity of the system. Nemce, human intervention is strongly advised against when the UVC sources are on.
 The system can be used in airports, railway and bus stations, hotels, commercial and private establishments
for the rapid disinfection of baggage.
CIPET gets accreditation to test PPE kits

 The Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering Technology operating under Ministry of Chemicals and
Fertilizers was accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing (NABL) and Calibration Laboratories
to test and certify Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits.
 The PPE kit includes gloves, face shield, goggles, triple layer face masks in line with international standards.
 This is a step ahead to make India self-reliant (Atma Nirbhar).
 The NABL granted accreditation through an online audit.
IIM-Kozhikode start-up develops a wearable device, Veli Band, to monitor social distancing
 With the COVID-19 graph continuing its spike, a startup, incubated at the Indian Institute of Management
Kozhikode (IIM-K), has developed a wearable hand band that helps in maintaining social distancing by
sending out alarm in case of proximity with another person.
 Known as the Veli Band, the device has been developed by Qual5 India Pvt.Ltd, a startup co-founded by a
woman entrepreneur, mentored and funded by IIMKs business incubator and entrepreneurship development
centre.
 The Veli band momentarily vibrates, plays a sound-alert, and flashes LED simultaneously, to notify the
wearers that another band is within three feet, reminding them to maintain social distance.
SNBNCBS has developed an active respirator mask and Nano-sanitizer to fight COVID-19 spread
 S.N. Bose National Centre For Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata, has developed an active respirator mask
with attached exhalation valve and suspended particulate matter filter for comfortable and hygienic breathing
while wearing masks.
Active Respirator mask:
 The Active Respirator mask which was developed by SNBNCBS is an innovative solution to the rebreathing
of carbon dioxide to solve exhaled moisture and sweaty and hot environment inside the mask.
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 The respirator will also improve the clarity of speech of a person with a face mask and assures comfortable,
hygienic breathing to protect the wearer from exposure to airborne contaminants.
Nano-sanitizer:
 The Institute has also developed Nano-sanitizer has a Dispensing Antimicrobial Layer.
 The Long-Lasting Nano-sanitiser innovation is a solution to the problems caused by the use of the general
sanitizers like dehydration of skin due to frequent use, and nature of instantaneous antimicrobial action of
common sanitizers without protective role.
 This innovative sanitizer technology assures comfortable and hygienic hand sanitization for a longer duration.
Oxford Covid-19 vaccine’s human trial shows positive result
 The human trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the University of Oxford and backed by
AstraZeneca Plc has shown a positive result.
 The researchers found their experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced a dual immune response in people
aged 18 to 55.
 Oxford’s vaccine is designed to reduce disease and transmission. Director at the Jenner Institute of Oxford
University, Dr Adrian Hill, explains the mechanism of this vaccine “this vaccine triggers both arms of the
immune system”.
 The vaccine was officially known as AZD1222, prompted a protective immune response in hundreds of
people who got the shot and did not prompt any serious side effects.
DRDO established COVID-19 Testing Facility at DIHAR, Leh
 Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has established a COVID-19 testing facility at the
Leh based laboratory Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR).
 The centre was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur on 22 July 2020.
 The aim is to enhance the rate of testing to identify the COVID-19 cases in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Highlights:
 COVID-19 testing facility will help in keeping close watch of the infected persons.
 The facility has been established in a way that it meets the safety standards and guidelines of the Indian
Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
 The testing facility at DIHAR is capable of screening 50 samples per day.
 The facility can be utilized for training manpower for COVID-19 testing and will be of great help to address
future bio-threats and carrying out R&D activities pertinent to agro-animals diseases.
 The new facility at DIHAR will help in the treatment of COVID-19 infected persons.
Extra Shots:
DRDO:
 Founded: 1958
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Researchers develop PROSIT app that tracks mental health by studying phone usage
 The researchers of Dalhousie University have come up with a new app that can detect mental conditions like
anxiety and depression based on how you use your phone.
 The app is called PROSIT and includes tracking features like exercise, sleep, call frequency, message
histories and music tastes
 Also, the app will ask the users to record a 90-second audio clip to talk about their best and exciting part of
the week and they will be asked to self-report their feelings on a five-point scale.
Actor Sonu Sood launches “Pravasi Rojgar App”
 Actor Sonu Sood launched “Pravasi Rojgar App”.
 The application provides all necessary information to find jobs and offer specific job training programmes.
Highlights:
 The actor has been helping migrant workers reach their homes during lock down.
 The application “Pravasi Rojgar” will act as a platform for the workers to find right job opportunities.
 It will provide all the necessary linkages and information to find jobs.
 The application is to be supported by community outreach in the villages to find right employment
opportunities for migrant workers.
 The online platform has more than 500 companies that are related to apparel, construction, heath care, BPOs,
engineering, automobile, logistics, e-commerce, etc.
 A Toll-free number was also launched that is to be operated 24/7.
Rare yellow turtle discovered in India
 In Odisha’s Balasore district, a farmer Basudev Mahapatra has spotted a turtle which is yellow in colour and
according to the experts, it is the product of albinism.
 The turtle is known as the “Indian flap shell turtle”.
 The turtle is commonly found in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
 It is omnivorous and its diet consists of frogs, snails and even some aquatic vegetation.
Largest Solar Power Plant of Indian Navy Commissioned in Ezhimala
 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Nagpur has designed and developed a ‘smart wristband’ for
effective tracking and monitoring of Covid-19 positive and suspect patients.
 The new device, a wristband is designed in collaboration with IIT Jodhpur and IIT Nagpur looks to overcome
the limitations of existing online mobile apps used for tracking and monitoring coronavirus patients.
BHU Professor launches website to help people in coping up fear of COVID-19
 A professor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has launched a dedicated website called
SARDIJUKAM.Com which will help people in coping up from this fear and will also help in recovery them
from depression and other Covid related issues.
 A website for those who fear that their normal cough and cold could be a symptom of Corona infection and
also for them who don’t know what to do in their quarantine period and getting more time in recovery because
of anxiety and depression.
 It has some special features like QUARANTINE KAVACH. Along with the website people can also take help
of the mobile app with same name for all their Covid related queries.
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New health warnings for all tobacco products to come into effect from 1st December
 Union Health Ministry has set to launch a new sets of health warnings for all tobacco products by making an
amendment in the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) Rules, 2008.
 The new warnings will come into effect from 1st December this year.
 The text messages that will be printed on the packs are - 'tobacco causes painful death'.
Cipla all set to launch anti-viral drug Favipiravir for treatment of COVID-19 patients
 Pharma Company Cipla is all set to launch the anti-viral drug Favipiravir for the treatment of COVID-19
patients.
 CSIR has played an important role in the process by transferring the cost-effective technology to Cipla.
 The technology provided by the Institute is very efficient and affordable.
 It allows the company to make large quantities of drugs within a short span of time.
Extra Shots:
Cipla
 Founder: Khwaja Abdul Hamied
 Founded: 1935
 CEO: Umang Vohra
Scientists find Giant Sea Cockroaches in the Eastern Indian Ocean
 On July 19, 2020, the scientists reported the discovery of first “Super Giant Isopod” species.
 It was found in the eastern Indian Ocean.
 The newly found cockroach species has been named “Bathynomus raksasa”.
Highlights about the Species:
 A new species of cockroach has been found deep in the Indian Ocean by a team of researchers from
Singapore.
 The researchers found the species when they were working on the unexplored waters of Indian Ocean in
Banta.
 The cockroach belongs to the genus Bathynomous.
 It has 14 legs and uses them to crawl along the bed of oceans in search of food. It measured 50 cm in length
and is big for isopods.
 The raksasa eats dead marine animals such as fish and whales.
 It can also go for long periods without food. This is a common trait the raksasa shareswith cockroaches.
AIIMS Delhi begins registration for conducting human trials of indigenously developed coronavirus vaccine
COVAXIN
 AIIMS, Delhi has started the registration process for conducting the human trials of COVAXIN.
 Principal Investigator for conducting these trials at one of the top medical institutes in the country, AIIMS
Delhi, Dr. Sanjay Rai has said that the response for registration has been overwhelming.
 The first dose of the vaccine is likely to be administered to the volunteers on this Thursday.
Extra Shots:
AIIMS, Delhi
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 Established: 2nd June 1956

 Director: Randeep Guleria
IIM-Kozhikode develops ‘Veli Band’ for ensuring social distancing
 The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K), has developed a wearable hand band Known as the
“Veli Band” that helps in maintaining social distancing by sending out an alarm in case of proximity with
another person.
 The device has been developed by Qual5 India Pvt.Ltd, a startup co-founded by a woman entrepreneur,
mentored and funded by IIMKs business incubator and entrepreneurship development centre.
 The band comes with a rechargeable battery and uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology for detection.
 Veli Band helps implement social distancing and location/contact tracing which can help organisations
comply with social distancing norms during the current pandemic situation.
 The band momentarily vibrates, sounds buzzer, and flashes LED simultaneously to notify wearers that another
band is within 3 feet (1 metre), reminding them of the need to maintain social distance.
Lucknow Municipal Corporation has named a road after former Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon
 The Lucknow Municipal Corporation has named a road and a crossing in the city after former Madhya
Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon.
 The Chauk Chauraha will now be known as Lalji Tandon Chauraha and the Lucknow-Hardoi Road will be
known as Tandon Marg.
 The former MP Governor Tandon had started his political career when he became a councillor in Lucknow.
Flipkart launches 90-min delivery service ‘Flipkart Quick’ in Bengaluru

 E-commerce major Flipkart has launched a 90-minute hyperlocal delivery service Flipkart Quick in
Bengaluru.
 Besides delivering grocery, dairy products and vegetables, the service will also ensure ordering of mobiles,
electronics and home accessories.
 At present, Flipkart Quick covers select areas of Bengaluru such as Whitefield, Panathur, HSR Layout, BTM
Layout, Banashankari, KR Puram and Indiranagar.
Extra Shots:
Flipkart:
 Founded: October 2007
 CEO: Kalyan Krishnamurthy
 Founders: Sachin Bansal, Binny Bansal
 Parent organization: Walmart
Hetero group launched Favipiravir in India to treat Covid-19 infected patients
 Hetero group has launched the generic Favipiravir in India under the brand ‘Favivir’.
 The company received approvals from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to manufacture and
market the generic drug.
 The drug, Favivir, is used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19. Favivir will improve treatment accessibility to
a significant amount of the COVID-19 patient population, which usually sustains mild to moderate symptoms.
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 The generic favipiravir drug is priced at Rs.59 per tablet.

Extra Shots:
Hetero Drugs
 Founded: 1993
 Type of business: Private
 Key people: Dr BPS Reddy
 Subsidiaries: Lyka Hetero Healthcare Ltd., Hetero Med Solutions Limited, Hetero Fzco, Hetero- Makiz
SNBNCBS develops a No-touch and Painless device for non-invasive screening of bilirubin level in new-borns
 S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata, an autonomous research Institute under
the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India has developed “AJO-Neo”, a No-
touch and Painless device for non-invasive screening of bilirubin level in new-borns.
 SNBNCBS hosted a Technical Research Centres (TRC) funded by DST and in scientific collaboration with
Nil-Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.
AJO-Neo:
 AJO-Neo is based on non-contact and non-invasive spectrometry-based techniques for the measurement of
neonatal bilirubin level as an alternative of total serum bilirubin (TSB) test without limitations of other
available bilirubin meters.
 The device is reliable in measuring bilirubin levels in preterm, and term neonates irrespective of gestational or
postnatal age, sex, risk factors, feeding behaviour, or skin color.
 The device is found to deliver an almost instantaneous report (about 10 seconds) to a concerned doctor, who is
sitting 10,000 km away from the point of care.
Extra Shots:
DST: The Department of Science and Technology is a department within the Ministry of Science and Technology in
India.
 Founded: May 1971
 Subsidiary: National Innovation Foundation – India
IIT-Hyderabad develops electrodes from corn husk
 Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H), in collaboration with the International
Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), have developed an efficient
method to derive ‘activated carbon electrode’ material from corn husk for high-voltage supercapacitors.
AIIMS Nagpur develops smart wristband to track COVID-19 positive patients
 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Nagpur in collaboration with IIT Jodhpur and Indian Institute
of Information Technology (IIIT) Nagpur has indigenously designed & developed a model for effective
tracking and monitoring of COVID-19 positive and suspect patients.
 This device is in the form of a smart wristband.
 This wristband can provide mobile free operation, using a geo-fencing technology which will provide real
time warning on any breach in quarantine zone.
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 The wristband, in addition, will provide real time, objective and reliable data of vitals of the wearer like the
temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate and the oxygen saturation, so that the quarantined person will get a
health alarm thus helping them seek early medical help.
Guwahati gets Northeast’s first manhole cleaning robot ‘BANDICOOT’
 Guwahati Development Department Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya inaugurated city’s first manhole
cleaning robot to ensure minimal human involvement to clean the sewers.
 Guwahati is the first city in the entire Northeast region to get a manhole cleaning robot.
 Named ‘BANDICOOT’, the automatic sewer cleaning device has been procured by the Guwahati Municipal
Corporation (GMC) along with six Skid Steer Loaders (mini loaders) from JCB.
 The BANDICOOT robot was developed by a Start-up India company called Genrobotics under the Make in
India initiative, funded by CSR of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
Web Portals & Apps
Kiren Rijiju launches “NADA App” for athletes

 Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched the National Anti-Doping Agency’s first mobile app named as
“NADA App”.
Highlights:
 The recently launched mobile application aims to bridge the gap between NADA and the athletes by offering
easily-accessible information on various aspects of sport, prohibited substances as well as dope-testing.
 The NADA app is expected to act as a one-stop guide for all anti-doping and medication related information.
 It also offers comprehensive information on commonly-prescribed medicines.
 Athletes can also use this mobile application in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) to update their
whereabouts, know about decisions from the disciplinary and appeal panels and for Dope Control Officers to
record their availability for testing.
Benefits of the Mobile Application
 Information on medicines that are commonly prescribed and used by Athletes will be available in the
application
 Information on Inadvertent use of prohibited substances that may affect the career of athletes
 Registered Testing Pool (RTP) athletes under NADA can update their whereabouts, this will ensure a
smoother and quicker process for conducting tests as per availability of Dope Control Officers
 This will make athletes self-dependent for information on which medication or substance is to be used or not
Extra Shots:
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is a branch of the Government of India, which administers Department
of youth affairs and Department of Sports in India. Kiren Rijiju is the current Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports,
who is in the capacity of Minister of State.
 Officeholder: Kiren Rijiju (MOS independent charge)
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 Annual budget: 1,943.21 crores INR (2017-18 est., US$270 million)
 Departments: Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Department of Youth and Sports
Development
Karnataka government launches portal “Skill Connect Forum”
 Karnataka government has launched a portal called “Skill Connect Forum” to connect job seekers with
employers on a common platform.
Highlights:
 It also provides job seekers information on available jobs.
 The portal will bridge the gap between job seekers and the employers.
 Any individual can register on the “Skill Connect Forum” portal by uploading their details such as
qualification, skill sets and other details.
 In the same manner, employers will also register on the portal which will match the requirement and
availability.
 If a person is unemployed, he will be imparted a skill and then enabled to get a job.
Extra Shots:
Karnataka:
HDFC Bank Launches ‘e-Kisaan Dhan’ App for Farmers
 HDFC Bank has launched ‘e-Kisaan Dhan’ App for Farmers in India.
Highlights:
 This app provides information and knowledge to farmers which will help them to meet the needs of the rural
ecosystem.
 With this app, farmers can access a bouquet of services in banking and agriculture, through their mobile
phones.
 It will provide users information in regard to new government schemes and ways to access them.
 The app can be downloaded from Google Play. It is now available in English only & will be soon available in
other Indian languages.
 This app is part of the bank’s ‘Har Gaon Hamara’ initiative to reach rural and under-served area customers.
Services
Value Added Service
 The e-Kisaan Dhan app provides value added services like mandi prices, latest farming news, weather
forecast, and information on seed varieties, SMS advisory, e-pashuhaat and Kisan TV among others.
Multiple Banking Services
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 Users can avail banking services, such as buying loans, opening bank accounts, availing insurance facilities,
calculate KCC loan eligibility online and acquiring Government social security schemes.
Traditional banking services
 The app will help the farmers with the traditional banking services like applying for loans, Fixed Deposits,
Recurring Deposits, and Savings Accounts.
Extra Shots:
HDFC Bank
 CEO: Aditya Puri
 Founded: August 1994, India
 Parent organization: Housing Development Finance Corporation
Reliance launches unlimited free conferencing app JioMeet
 Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries has launched a video conferencing app, JioMeet, with
unlimited free calling facility. It is a close competitor of US-owned Zoom app.
 The JioMeet video conferencing app is available to work across Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and web
since July 2 after beta testing.
 JioMeet supports HD audio and video call quality and allows up to 100 participants at a time.
 It offers features like screen sharing, meeting schedule feature and more.
 Unlike Zoom, it does not impose a 40-minute time limit.
 Calls can go on for as long as 24 hours, and all meetings are encrypted and password-protected.
Extra Shots:
Reliance
 Owner: Mukesh Ambani
MSME Ministry launches new portal for registration of MSMEs under the name Udyam Registration
 The Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has launched the new fully online
process of Classification and Registration of MSME enterprises from 1st July, 2020.
 For this, the Ministry has launched a new portal called Udyam registration, which will felicitate online,
paperless and self-declaration based registration.
 No documents or proof are required to be uploaded for registering an MSME.
 An enterprise that will be registered using the new process will be known as Udyam and its Registration
Process will be known as ‘Udyam Registration’.
Vice President Venkahiah Naidu Launches India’s First Social Media Super App ‘Elyments’
 Honorable Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, launched an indigenous social media app
‘Elyments’ on 5th July 2020, through video conferencing.
Highlights:
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 Elyments is a first Made-in-India social media super-app, developed by Bengaluru-based software company,
Sumeru Software Solutions Pvt Ltd, in close competition with similar platforms like Facebook, Whatsapp and
Instagram.
 India has more than 500 million social media users, but most of these social media platforms are owned by
companies outside India, which creates doubt regarding the privacy of data and data ownership.
 The initiative is a step forward towards becoming Aatma Nirbhar Bharat and also boosting the economy of the
country.
Features of Elyments
 The app combines the features of popular social media apps and present it on a single unified app.
 Social media Terms such as – contacts, friends, followers – have all been brought together in Elyments.
 With end-to-end encryption, Elyments ensures that users data remains safe from prying eyes. All the servers
are hosted in India, thus providing a fast and breezy experience.
It will provide basic facilities like
1. Audio/Video conference calls
2. Private/ Group chats
3. Secure payments via Elyments Pay
4. Public profiles that users can Follow/Subscribe
5. Curated commerce platform to promote Indian brands
6. Regional voice commands
 Elyments is available in more than eight Indian languages.
 It can be downloaded from all app stores and Google Play Stores across the world.
 The app has already seen downloads of over 200,000 times.
Delhi Government launches LEAD portal for easy access to school study material
 The government of Delhi has launched an online education portal named LEAD (Learning through E-
Resources Made Accessible for Delhi) which will provide over 10,000 instructional material and course
content for the students of classes 1 to 12.
Highlights:
 Through the LEAD portal, students would easily be able to access study material, textbooks, and course
content as per the syllabus of the CBSE, NCERT and Delhi government’s curriculum online.
 It will include digital QR coded textbooks, explanatory videos, practice questions and evaluation.
 The LEAD portal has been developed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
 The Delhi government will connect this portal with the Ministry of Human Resource Development’s (HRD)
online portal, DIKSHA for teaching and training material.
Extra Shots:
Delhi:
 Lt. Governor: Anil Baijal
 Chief Minister: Arvind Kejriwal
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AIIMS, IIT-Delhi develop app to provide real-time information on plasma therapy donors for COVID-19
patients
 Resident doctors of AIIMS with the help of IIT-Delhi students have developed a mobile application to track
real-time Covid-19 patients in the hospital, who can become potential plasma donors 28 days after recovery
along with those who have been discharged.
 The app named COPAL-19 has details of patients who have already been discharged from AIIMS, those
currently undergoing treatment and their blood groups so that patients who require plasma therapy can get it
in time without any hassle.
Meity-NITI launches Digital India AatmaNirbhar Bharat App
 Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission,
Niti Aayog launched Digital India AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge for Indian tech
entrepreneurs and Startups.
 The aim is to build a Digital India and using Digital Technologies for building an AatmaNirbhar Bharat.
Highlights:
 The main objective is to support and build a strong ecosystem for Indian Apps.
It will run in 2 tracks namely
 Promotion of Existing Apps
 Development of New Apps
 The focus of the Track 1 App Innovation Challenge is to identify the best Indian Apps that are already being
used by citizens and have the potential to scale and become world-class Apps in their respective categories.
Track 1 has the following 8 broad categories:
1. Office Productivity & Work from Home
2. Social Networking
3. E-Learning
4. Entertainment
5. Health & Wellness
6. Business including Agritech and Fin-tech
7. News
8. Games
 The Innovation Challenge has been made available on innovating .mygov.in/app-challenge from 4th July
2020.
 Track 2 of the AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge is yet to be launched. It aims to seek to
identify Indian startups/entrepreneurs/companies and encourage them with ideation, incubation, prototyping,
and roll out of applications.
 The track will run for a longer course of time, details of which shall be provided separately.
Extra Shots:
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
 Officeholder: Surinderjeet Singh Ahluwalia (Minister of State)
 Departments: Indian Computer Emergency Response Team
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NITI Aayog
Mamata Banerjee launches West Bengal's 'Self Scan' app
 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a mobile app, indigenously developed by state
information technology department, for documents scanning.
 The app is named - 'Self Scan'.
 Self Scan is a completely safe and a protected app.
 No data is saved on the server. Documents can be edited too on the application besides the scanning feature.
 The application was developed by the state’s Information Technology Department amidst a call to boycott all
Chinese goods in India.
 It comes in the wake of Centre’s ban on 59 Chinese mobile applications, including TikTok.
MSDE launches AI-based “ASEEM” digital platform
 Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based “Aatamanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM)” digital
platform has been launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Benefits & Objective:
 The platform aims to bridge demand-supply gap of skilled workforce across sectors and to improve the
information flow.
 The details of workers will be mapped by the portal on the basis on regions and local industry demands.
 The ASEEM portal will help the skilled people in finding the sustainable livelihood opportunities.
 It will also help the skilled workforce in attaining the industry-relevant skills and explore emerging job
opportunities especially in the post COVID era.
 The platform will offer employers a platform to examine the availability of skilled workforce and prepare
their hiring plans.
Designed By:
 ASEEM has been developed by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in partnership with
Bengaluru-based company Betterplace. The platform will be managed by National Skill Development
Corporation (NSDC).
Extra Shots:
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is a Ministry of Government of India set up on 9
November 2014 to coordinate all skill development efforts across the country.
Page 197 of 210
 Officeholder: Mahendra Nath Pandey (Minister)

NITI Aayog launches “ATL App Development Module”
 “ATL App Development Module” has been launched by the NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
for school students nationwide.
 These modules have been launched in collaboration with Indian startup Plezmo.
 ATL App Development Module seeks to sharpen the skills of school students and converting them from App
users to App makers in the coming times.
 These modules will enable the young innovators to build mobile Apps in various Indian languages.
 Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is also seeking to train school teachers in order to build capacities and acumen
for App Development.
 This has been expected to become one of the largest App learning and development initiatives at a school
level in any country.
Extra Shots:
NITI Aayog
To boost Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan GOI launches Five portals
 Government of India announced that five portals are being developed by different organizations to promote
innovation in India.
 This will help boost Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan mission.
Highlights
The portals being developed are for specific sectors and are as follows:
 BHEL for power sector
 CMFTI for manufacturing sector
 HMT for machine tools
 ICAT and ARAI for automotive sector.
 The portals were launched to bring the problem solvers and solution seekers together.
 The portal will focus on academia, industry, research institute, startups and experts.
ASPIRE portal
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 The ASPIRE portal was prepared by ICAT (International Centre for Automotive Technology). The portal is to
be completely functional to host grand challenges and provide elaborate resource databases.
 The portals will help to make their target sectors self-reliant (Atma Nirbhar).
The activities in the portal will include the following:
 Research and Development
 Technological Innovations
 Manufacturing and Process Technology Development
 To conduct market research and technology surveys
 Quality problem resolution
PM SVANidhi app launched to provide micro-credit facility for street vendors at their door steps
 A mobile application of PM Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi, PM SVANidhi was launched in New Delhi
to bring micro-credit facility for street vendors at their door steps.
 PM SVANidhi Mobile App aims to provide user-friendly digital interface for lending institutions and their
field functionaries for sourcing and processing loan applications of street vendors under the scheme.
 The app is a step towards boosting the use of digital technology and will enable field functionaries to ensure
maximum coverage of the scheme.
 The main features of the application include e-KYC (Know Your Customer) of application, real-time
monitoring, vendor search in the survey and processing of applicants.
 The launch of Mobile App will give impetus to the implementation strategy of the scheme besides promoting
paper-less digital accessing of micro-credit facilities by the street vendors.
 The app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store for use by the lending institutions and their field
functionaries.
Extra Shots:
PM SVANidhi
 PM SVANidhi was launched by the government on 1st of June this year, for providing affordable working
capital loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to COVID-19
lockdown.
 This scheme targets to benefit over 50 lakh street vendors who had been vending on or before 24th of March,
2020, in urban areas.
 Under the scheme, the vendors can avail a working capital loan of up to ten thousand rupees, which is
repayable in monthly installments in the tenure of one year.
 There will be no penalty on early repayment of loan.
 The scheme promotes digital transactions through cash back incentives up to an amount of 100 rupees per
month.
GoI hails KURMA mobile app to conserve Indian turtles
 On July 19, 2020, the Union Environment and Information Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar hailed
“KURMA” application to track and report Indian turtles.
 The KURMA app was launched in May 2020 on World Turtle Day.
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 The application was developed by Indian Turtle Conservation Action Network (ITCAN), The ITCAN was
joined by Wildlife Conservation Society-India.
 The application provides database to identify a species. Also, it helps to locate the nearest rescue centre for
turtles across the country.
Extra Shots:
Indian Turtle Conservation Action Network (ITCAN)
 The ITCAN was formed to launch citizen-science initiative. It provides platform to exchange vital
information on turtles, provides assistance to enforcement agencies, forest departments, etc. It will also help in
observing 2020 as the YEAR OF THE TURTLE. The World Turtle Day is marked by the Turtle Survival
Alliance as well.
NOTE
 On 23rd May we observe World Turtle Day. 2020 WTD theme -Adopt, Don't Shop
Muthoot Fincorp launches portal “Restartindia” for MSMEs
 A portal “Restartindia” has been launched by the Kerala-based NBFC, Muthoot Fincorp.
 The portal has been launched for the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in order to restart
businesses across the country.
 It will provide solutions for problems faced by a large number of women entrepreneurs and will majorly focus
on nano and micro enterprises.
 Muthoot Fincorp and INKtalks, a free and open platform for advisory support, have jointly conceptualised the
portal.
 The “Restartindia” portal will also offer details of MSME-focused governmental, institutional support as well
as resources on how to run or establish a sustainable business venture.
Extra Shots:
Muthoot Fincorp
 Founded: 1997
 Parent organization: Muthoot Pappachan Group
Delhi government launches portal “Rozgar Bazar”
 Delhi government has launched the portal named as “Rozgar Bazar”, a sort of marketplace for job seekers and
the people recruiters.
 The portal will be proved to be a boon for the employers as well as the job seekers.
 The recruiters can visit the website and update their requirements, similarly job seekers are also required to
visit the portal and update their qualification, experience and requirement.
 The “Rozgar Bazar” portal is an effort of the Delhi Government to revive the lockdown-hit economy of Delhi.
 There are many people who want jobs and there are traders, businessmen, professionals, contractors who are
not getting the right person for their work.
 This portal will fill the gap by bringing them together on one platform.
Ministry of Earth Sciences launches mobile App "Mausam”
 Ministry of Earth Sciences launched the mobile App "Mausam” for India Meteorological Department.
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 This Mobile App is dedicated to the general public and designed to communicate the weather information and
forecasts in a friendly manner.
 Users can access observed weather, forecasts, radar images and be proactively warned of impending weather
events.
 The mobile app has been designed and developed jointly by ICRISAT’s Digital Agriculture & Youth (DAY)
team, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and India Meteorological Department.
The MAUSAM mobile App has the following 5 services:
 Current Weather, Nowcast (Three hourly warnings), City Forecast (Past 24 hours and 7-day forecast),
Warnings (Alerts issued twice a day), Radar products.
Extra Shots:
Ministry of Earth Sciences
 Departments: India Meteorological Department
 Headquarters: Prithvi Bhavan, Lodi Road New Delhi
 Founded: 2006
 Minister responsible: Dr. Harsh Vardhan
 Officeholders: Y. S. Chowdary (Minister of State), Harsh Vardhan (Minister)
Bureau of Indian Standard launched a Mobile App named BIS-Care
 Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan launched the Bureau of Indian Standard’s Mobile App BIS-
Care.
 The mobile app BIS-Care can be operated on any Android phone and consumers can check the authenticity of
the ISI-marked and hallmarked products through this Application.
 Customers can also lodge complaints using this medium.
 Along with the mobile app, he also launched three portals on Standardization, Conformity Assessment and
Training of e-BIS.
Extra Shots:
BIS:
 Director General: Pramod Kumar Tiwari
 Parent agency: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
 Founder: Parliament of India
Acculi Labs to launch mobile app for detection & risk assessment of COVID 19 infected individuals
 Bangalore based startup Acculi Labs has been selected the Centre for Augmenting WAR with COVID-19
Health Crisis (CAWACH), an initiative by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to develop a
COVID risk assessment profile called Lyfas COVID score.
 Lyfas is an Android application.
 In this application, one can keep the index finger on the rear phone camera of a mobile phone for 5 minutes.
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 It will capture the capillary pulse and blood volume change and derive 95 biomarkers with proprietary
algorithms and signal processing techniques.
India to take up clinical trials of OXFORD Vaccine COVISHIELD
 University of Oxford and AstraZeneca have shown successful clinical trials on the COVID-19 vaccine,
COVISHIELD.
 World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the first use of the vaccine is expected in early 2021.
Highlights:
 The initial results of the first two-phase trials of the vaccine that are conducted in five trial sites in the UK
showed the acceptable safety profile and homologous boosting increased antibody responses.
 Serum Institute of India (SII) has sought permission from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to
conduce phase II/III human clinical trials of the potential vaccine.
 Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) also announced that it will conduct clinical trials of
the COVID-19 vaccine, COVISHIELD.
Ayush Minister Shripad Naik reviews National Ayush Mission, launches a dedicated web-portal
 Ayush Minister, Shripad Naik on July 30 chaired a webinar of AYUSH/health ministers of all the states and
UTs in order to review the centrally sponsored scheme of National AYUSH Mission and the
operationalization of AYUSH Health & Wellness centres.
 During the occasion, Shripad Naik also launched a dedicated web-portal for the National AYUSH Mission for
submitting Utilization certificates, State Annual Action Plans, information related to DBT, Physical &
Financial Progress Report, etc.
 The objective of this web portal is to bring transparency and ease of doing work with the use of IT
applications, as per the policy of the government.
Extra Shots:
Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy
 Officeholder: Shripad Naik (MOS independent charge)
Books & Authors
‘Legend of Suheldev’: Amish Tripathi releases new book set in 11th century India
 Best-selling author and the Director of the Nehru Centre in London, Amish Tripathi, has released his new
book of fiction titled ‘Legend of Suheldev: The King Who Saved India’.
 The book was published by Publishers Westland Publications Pvt Ltd.
 The book is set in 11th century India, when Mahmud of Ghazni and his Turkic army invaded the country and
destroyed the Somnath temple, only to be met with a “fierce resistance” from king Suheldev.
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Hindi Literature Writer Priyamvad’s New Book, ‘Bharatiya Loktanktra Ka Koras: Kuch Bisari Bikhari
Dhwaniyan’ to Release in 2021
 Hindi literature writer Priyamvad to release his new book, ‘Bharatiya Loktanktra Ka Koras: Kuch Bisari
Bikhari Dhwaniyan’ in 2021.
 The book is published by Penguin Random House India’s Indian language publishing division, Hind Pocket
Books.7
 The book focuses on post-independence India & traces the country’s political disruption at the time.
 The book covers the events in 2 parts as follows, 1st part- from January 26, 1950 to June 12, 1975; 2nd part-
from June 12, 1975 to January 14, 1980.
 It tries to portray the voices, events and persons, through which the present democratic scenario is reached.
A book titled “The Future of Higher Education” released by M Venkaiah Naidu
 Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu has virtually released a book titled “Future of Higher Education –
Nine Mega Trends“. The book is authored by CA V Pattabhi Ram. The Virtual event was hosted by ICT
Academy.
 The book covers the new norms in the key areas of higher education such as Student-Teacher relationship,
Learning methods, Laboratories & Examinations among others which has taken a paradigm shift during this
COVID pandemic.
 The book is based on a survey of about 5000 educators across India who were part of ICT Academy’s
“SkyCampus” Digital Knowledge Series.
Extra Shots:
ICT Academy
 Chairperson: Lakshmi Narayanan
 Headquarters location: Chennai
 Founded: 2009
 Motto: Creating New Generation Talent Pool
 Chief Executive Officer: M Sivakumar
Former RBI governor U. Patel pens book ‘Overdraft: Saving the Indian Saver’
 Former RBI governor, Urjit Patel has written a book titled ‘Overdraft: Saving the Indian Saver’ will be
releasing later this month.
 The book focuses on the non-performing assets (NPAs) issue that has afflicted Indian banking in recent years.
 It is published by Harper Collins India. Patel’s book description says that sovereigns do not need to earn or
save before spending money.
 They can either print or borrow.
 Patel worked with a ‘9R’ strategy which would protect depositors’ savings, rescue the banks and protect them
from “unscrupulous racketeers”.
 Books or memoirs written by two of his immediate predecessors, Raghuram Rajan and D Subbarao had shed
light on various subjects like the RBI’s autonomy, interest rates or its stance on demonetisation.
Extra Shots:
Harper Collins Publishers India Ltd.
Page 203 of 210

 Founded: 1991
 Parent organization: News Corp
“Getting Competitive: A Practitioner’s Guide for India” authored by R C Bhargava
 The Chairman of Maruti Suzuki, RC Bhargava has authored the book “Getting Competitive: A Practitioner’s
Guide for India” from his experience as a policymaker and a leading industrialist.
 The book published by HarperCollins India.
 The book provides practical suggestions to make India a competitive industrialised country.
 The book speaks about the necessities of building trust with the political system, governments, judiciary and
industrial leaders.
 The book focuses on bringing out the national acceptance that manufacturing competitiveness as the first
priority.
A Book Titled ‘Mahaveer:The Soldier Who Never Died’ Authored by A.K. Srikumar & Rupa Srikumar
 The book, titled ‘Mahaveer: The Soldier who never died’ is authored by award winning author A.K. Srikumar
and his wife, Rupa Srikumar.
 The book is a patriotic story about the
 courage and selfless love of Jaswant Singh Rawat who is one of the legendary Garhwali soldiers fought in
Indo-Chinese battle of Nuranang in 1962 .
 The book is published by Rupa Publications and represented by The Book Bakers.
 The book portrays also a love story about two Monpa girls(Sela and Noora), and their devotion to the Indian
soldier, whose devotion in turn is for the motherland.
A book titled ‘His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illustrated Biography’ Authored by Tenzin
Geyche Tethong to be Released
 A book titled ‘His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illustrated Biography’ is authored by one of the
Dalai Lama’s closest aides and advisor of over 40 year, Tenzin Geyche Tethong.
 The biography is a memorable portrait of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. The book is to be released in
October 2020 and is published by Roli Books.
 On the 85th birth anniversary of the Dalai Lama, the cover of the book was announced by the publisher.
 The book’s foreword was written by Tendzin Choegyal, younger brother of him and Ngari Rinpoche
 This book gives a glance of an important part of the history before he was forced to flee to India in March
1959.
A Book Titled ‘A Song of India’ Authored by Ruskin Bond to be Released
 The book titled ‘A Song of India’ authored by Ruskin Bond to be released on July 20, 2020, which will
mark the 70th year of the author’s literary career.
 The book is the 4th instalment in his memoir series(a written record of a person’s own life and experiences).
 The book portrays his unknown life before he became a successful author. It is published by Puffin Books, an
imprint of Penguin Random House India.
 The book is about the 16 year old Ruskin Bond and about his struggles to start the writing journey.
A book titled “If It Bleeds” authored by Stephen King released
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 A new book titled “If It Bleeds”, a collection of four stories, authored by Stephen King has been released.
 The book published by Hachette India.
 The book has the story centres around a bomb at Albert Macready Middle School.
 It is a sequel to his bestselling work, “The Outsider”.
A book titled “Suraj Kade Marda Nahi” authored by Baldev Singh Sadaknama
 Sahitya Akademi Award winner, Baldev Singh Sadaknama has authored a book ‘Suraj Kade Marda Nahi’
(sun never dies).
 The book portrays many aspects of freedom fighter Udham Singh.
 The book is published by Unistarbooks.
 The book has been released and will be formally launched on July 31, 2020.
 Udham Singh 80th death anniversary will fall on July 31, 2020.
 The book portrays some facts pertaining to Colonel Reginal Dyer, also known as the butcher of Jallianwala
bagh.
“The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World”
 The former diplomat, and current Minister of External Affairs in the Government of India, S Jaishankar, is
releasing his new book “The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World”.
 The book was published under the HarperCollins India publications.
Viral V.Acharya. authored a book named “Quest for Restoring Financial Stability in India”
 The book titled “Quest for Restoring Financial Stability in India” authored by former Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) deputy governor Viral V.Acharya.
 The book is published by SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd. The book portrays his quest to restore financial
stability in India and offers a concrete plan for sustained improvement.
 The book is a compilation of his speeches, research and comments as a member of the Monetary Policy
Committee, mostly concerned with central banking.
Important Days & Themes
Day Celebrated as Aim / Theme

July 1 National Doctors’ Day The theme of 2020 Doctors Day is
“Lessen the mortality of COVID 19”.
July 1 National Charted Accountants Day or
CA Day
July 1 National Postal Worker Day
July 2 World UFO Day WUD aims to raise awareness about
the existence of UFOs and
encouraging people to think about the
possibility of us not being alone in
the Universe.
Page 205 of 210
July 2 World Sports Journalists Day

July 3 International Plastic Bag Free Day
June 28 to July 4 World Allergy Week The theme of World Allergy Week
2020 is “Allergy care does not stop
with COVID-19”.
July 6 World Zoonoses Day
July 7 World Chocolate Day (also known as
International Chocolate Day)
July 10 "National Fish Farmers Day". To honor the fish farmers,
aquapreneurs& fisher folks in
recognition of their accomplishments
in the field and their contribution in
the growth of the fisheries sector in
the country.
July 11 World Population Day Theme: Putting the brakes on
COVID-19: Safeguarding the health
and rights of women and girls.
July 12 Malala Day

July 15 World Youth Skills Day The theme of World Youth Skills
Day 2020 is “Skills for a Resilient
Youth“.
July 17 World Emoji Day
July 17 World Day for International Justice The day marks the anniversary of the
adoption of the Rome Statute on July
17, 1998, the treaty that created the
International Criminal Court.
July 18 Nelson Mandela International Day In 2020, the essence of Mandela Day
– take action, inspire change, and
make every day a Mandela Day – is
more important than ever before.
July 20 World Chess Day The day marks the date of the
establishment of the International
Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris in
1924.
July 20 Science Exploration Day (also called It was on this day in 1969 that Neil
Moon Day) Armstrong and Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin
became the first humans to land on
the Moon’s surface.
Page 206 of 210

July 23 “National Broadcasting Day”  On this day in 1927, the first

ever radio broadcast in the
country went on the air from
the Bombay Station under the
Indian Broadcasting
Company.
 On 8th of June, 1936, the
Indian State Broadcasting
Service became All India
Radio.
July 26 Kargil Vijay Diwas The day is dedicated to our Kargil

War’s Heroes and is named after the
successful Operation Vijay.
July 26 International Day for the The day was adopted by the General
Conservation of the Mangrove Conference of the UN Educational,
Ecosystem (or World Mangrove Scientific and Cultural Organization
Day) (UNESCO) in 2015.
July 28 World Hepatitis Day Theme of World Hepatitis Day 2020:
‘Find the Missing Millions’.
July 28 World Nature Conservation Day World Conservation Day is
celebrated internationally to increase
awareness about the best practices to
protect our natural resources.
July 29 International Tiger Day The Slogan for 2020 International
Tiger Day celebration is “Their
survival is in our hands”.
July 30 World Day Against Trafficking in The 2020 theme for the World Day
Persons. Against Trafficking: “Committed to
the Cause – Working on the Frontline
to End Human Trafficking”.
July 30 International Day of Friendship The day also advocates the role that
friendship plays in promoting peace
in several cultures across the world.
International Day of Cooperatives celebrated on 04th July

 The United Nations celebrates the International Day of Cooperatives every year on the first Saturday of July
to increase awareness of cooperatives.
Page 207 of 210

 In the year 2020, the International Day of Cooperatives will be celebrated on 4th July with a focus on the
contribution of cooperatives to combating climate change.
 UN has also appealed to spread the word: “#Coops4ClimateAction” to celebrate the International Day of
Cooperatives 2020.
 United Nations is celebrating the International Day of Cooperatives every year on the first Saturday of July
since 1923.
 Co-operatives have been acknowledged as associations and enterprises through which citizens can effectively
make their lives better by contributing to the economic, social, cultural as well as political advancement of
their community and nation. Cooperatives employ 280 million people across the globe which is 10% of the
world’s employed population.
Extra Shots:
UN
 Official languages: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish;
Obituary
Name Profession Location

Geetha Nagabhushan Writer Karnataka
Bhupinder Singh Slathia Senior advocate and former president Jammu and Kashmir
of Jammu and Kashmir High Court
Bar Association
Carl Reiner writer, comedian, director and actor. United States
Upa Rokamlova former speaker of the state legislative Mizoram
assembly
Everton Weekes Cricketer West Indies
Saroj Khan Bollywood choreographer Mumbai
Ennio Morricone film composer Italy
Pokuri Rama Rao film producer Hyderabad
Susheel Gowda TV actor Karnataka
Jagdeep Bollywood actor-comedian Madhya Pradesh
Earl Cameron British film and TV actor United Kingdom
Dr Suresh Amonkar former health minister of Goa Goa
Charlie Daniels Musician United States
Amadou Gon Coulibaly Prime Minister of Ivory Coast Ivory Coast
Vasudeva Maiya former Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of Sri Guru Raghavendra
Page 208 of 210
Cooperative Bank Ltd

Nagindas Sanghvi Gujarati journalist, columnist, writer Gujarat
and political analyst
Ranjan Sehgal Punjabi and Hindi film and television Punjab
actor
Avad Bin Hassan Jami cartoonist of Gujarat Gujarat
Divya Chouksey Actress, model and singer Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Jack Charlton Footballer United Kingdom
Jyotsna Bhatt ceramic artist Gujarat
Wim Suurbier Dutch Football legend Netherlands
Brahm Vasudeva Hawkins Cookers Chairman
Neela Satyanarayan former IAS officer and the first Maharashtra
woman election commissioner of
Maharashtra
Suresh Amonka Former Goa health minister Goa
Purushottam Priyadasji Swamishree Incumbent Acharya of Shree
Swaminarayan Gadi
Ramesh Tikaram Para-athlete, and para-badminton
player
Cordy Tindell Vivian Civil rights leader United States
C S Seshadri Indian mathematician Tamilnadu
Rajat Mukherjee Filmmaker Rajasthan
John Lewis Civil Rights pioneer
Lalji Tandon Madhya Pradesh Governor Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Barry Jarman Wicketkeeper and ex-International Australia
Cricket Council match referee
Bijay Mohanty Actor Odisha
Juan Marse Novelist Spain
Viktor Chizhikov Creator of the brown bear mascot Moscow
“Misha”
Annie Ross Legendary Jazz Singer England
Amala Shankar Eminent danseuse and choreographer Bangladesh
Nusrat Zaheer Urdu writer and translator Uttar Pradesh
Mohammad Shamshuddin Urdu poet Maharashtra
Achyuta Rao Child-rights activist
Benjamin Mkapa Tanzania’s Former President Tanzania
Olivia de Havilland Actress Tokyo, Japan
Kumkum Zaibunnissa Bollywood actor Bihar
John Saxon Actor New York, US
Page 209 of 210
Parvez Khan Bollywood action director Mumbai

Bhaskarrao Avhad Senior advocate and author Maharashtra
Ashutosh Bhakre Actor Maharashtra
Anil Murali Actor Kerala
Sonam Tshering Lepcha Folk musician
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Monthly Current Affairs Capsule – July 2020

Monthly Current Affairs Capsule – July 2020

1. Banking & Finance 02

2. Business and Economy 13

6. Ranks and Indices 97

7. Summits and Conferences 108

8. Agreements and MoU signed 118

10. Recent Committees 153

11. Defence News 156

12. Sports News 162

13. Awards and Honors 170

14. Science and Technology 174

15. Web portals & Apps 192

16. Books and Authors 202

17. Important Days and Themes 205

18. Obituaries News 208

Banking & Finance

 Registered Office: Mumbai, Maharashtra

 Founded: 11 November 1919

Karur Vysya Bank partners with Star Health Insurance

 Upto 5 free ATM transactions in a month

NABARD Credit Support of Rs1,607 Crore to Bengal in Coronavirus Crisis

 Founded: 12 July 1982

Business & Economy

GST Revenue Collection Improves significantly in the month of June 2020

Outlay of the Scheme:

11 PIF Rs 11,367.00 2.32%

percent in the month of June 2020 if compared to 60 percent in April 2020.

ADB: Asian Development Bank

 Founded: 19 December 1966

NBRI to set up Advanced Virology Lab to test COVID-19 disease

First Edition of ‘Matsya Sampada’ launched by Union Minister

Breakdown of the Estimation

Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, Aggregation Infrastructure Providers and

 Founded: July 1942

Govt aims to increase public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025

 Subsidiaries: EPSL Trigeneration Private Limited, EESL EnergyPro Assets Limited

 The tunnel connects the Mewat and Gurugram district of Haryana.

5th phase of 'Vande Bharat Mission' to begin from 1st August

 Officeholder: R. K. Singh (MOS independent charge)

More than 25 crore saplings planted in UP Under Mission Vriksharopan-2020 drive

Mizoram celebrates 34th anniversary of Mizo peace accord

Kerala announces ‘Dream Kerala Project’ aimed at aiding returning expats

All About the Campaign

COVID-19 War Room to be set up in Delhi to check the spread of virus

UT Administration of Ladakh launched “Ladakh Food Security Scheme”

Nekar Samman Yojane launched by Karnataka Government

Online Registration of Crops ‘E-Cropping’ Begins in Andhra Pradesh

Telangana Police started a campaign named “CybHer”

Pakistan Army appoints Nigar Johar as 1st female Lt. General

 The cost of this project is Rs 2.33crore.

Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh resigns

 Official Language: Mandarin

China successfully launched a rover to Mars

 Founded: 1 January 1995

 Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States

Bangladesh (Capital/Currency): Dhaka/Bangladeshi taka