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• The 40 world heritage properties in India include 32 cultural, seven natural and one mixed property. • Apart from India, countries like Ita- ly, Spain, Germany, China and France also have 40 such sites each.

About Dholavira Site:

• Dholavira is located on the Khadir Island in Great Rann of Kutch Dholavira : Dholavira, the archaeological (GRK) of Kutch district in the state site of a Harappan era city in Gujarat, of Gujarat. received the UNESCO world heritage site • It was discovered in 1968 by ar- tag on July 27, 2021. chaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi who lat- er served as the ASI director from Key Highlights: 1987 to 1990. • This is the Indian second site to be • The site’s excavation between 1990 included in the world heritage list and 2005 under the supervision of this month after the Ramappa archaeologist Ravindra Singh Bisht Temple at Palampet in Telangana’s uncovered the ancient city. Warangal. • This city dates back to approxi- • Dholavira has become the 40th mately 3000 BC and it is believed from India to make the list and the that the city was occupied till 1500 first site of the ancient Indus Valley BC. Civilisation (IVC) in India to get the • Dholavira is an exceptional example tag. of a proto historic Bronze Age ur- • The IVC acropolis is located on a ban settlement in South Asia, per- hillock near present day Dholavira taining to the Harappan Civiliza- village in Kutch district, from which tion and bears evidence of a multi it gets its name. cultural and stratified society dur- • Both Dholavira and the Ramappa ing the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE Temple were included in the list (Before Common Era). during the 44th session of the • As per the Archaeological Survey of UNESCO’s World Heritage Com- India (ASI), in the Kutch region, mittee held at Fuzhou in China. Dholavira is known as Kotda Timba • Gujarat now has four world herit- (the fort mound). age sites. They are: • The city of Dholavira is spread over 1. Dholavira 22 hectares and it is Indus Valley 2. Champaner near Pavagadh Civilisation’s fifth largest archaeo- 3. Rani ki Vav in Patan logical site. 4. The historic city of Ahmedabad • The excavated remains clearly indi- cate the origin of the settlement, its growth, zenith and the subsequent

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decline in the form of continuous cal structures like the Bud- changes in the configuration of the dhist Stupas. city, architectural elements and • While unlike graves at other IVC various other attributes. sites, no mortal remains of humans have been discovered at Dholavira. Note: • Ornamental beads, Red earthen- • Since the excavation at the site, the ware and microlithic tools were al- ASI has developed a museum here. so found during the excavation. • Dholavira, a village with a popula- • Remains of a copper smelter indi- tion of around 2,000, is the nearest cate of Harappans, who lived in human settlement at present. Dholavira, knew metallurgy. • Near the ancient city is a fossil park • It was also a hub of manufacturing where wood fossils are preserved. jewellery made of shells and semi precious stones, like agate and used Distinct features: to export timber. • It is believed that traders of • After Mohen jo Daro, Ganweriwala Dholavira used to source copper and Harappa in Pakistan and ore from present day Rajasthan and Rakhigarhi in Haryana of India, Oman and UAE and export finished Dholavira is the fifth largest me- products. tropolis of IVC. • This site is divided into three parts. Fall of Dholavira: They are : 1. The middle town As per the historians, Dholavira entered a 2. The citadel phase of severe aridity from 2000 BC, due 3. The lower town to climate change and rivers like Saraswati • The walls are made of sandstone or drying up. Because of a drought like limestone instead of mud bricks in situation, people started migrating toward many other Harappan sites and all the Ganges valley or towards south Gujarat of them were connected to a sew- and further beyond in Maharashtra. age network. Additional Info: • Some of the unique features of the Dholavira site are as follows: What are World Heritage Sites? o A cascading series of water ❖ World Heritage Sites are cultural reservoirs, outer fortifica- and/or natural sites of 'Outstanding tion, Universal Value', which are im- o Two multi purpose grounds portant across countries and gener- — one of which was used for ations. festivities and as a market- ❖ Sites are nominated to and desig- place — nine gates with nated by the World Heritage Con- unique designs, and vention (an organization of o Funerary architecture featur- UNESCO). ing tumulus — hemispheri- ❖ For example, World Heritage Sites might be ancient ruins or historical

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structures, buildings, cities, deserts, 2. To exhibit an important inter- forests, islands, lakes, monuments, change of human values, over a mountains, or wilderness areas. span of time or within a cultural ar- ea of the world, on developments in Background: architecture or technology, monu- ❖ UNESCO seeks to protect and pre- mental arts, town planning or land- serve such sites through the Con- scape design; vention Concerning the Protection 3. To bear a unique or at least excep- of the World Cultural and Natural tional testimony to a cultural tradi- Heritage. tion or to a civilization which is liv- ❖ This international treaty was drawn ing or which has disappeared? up in 1972. 4. To be an outstanding example of a ❖ Governments of countries that have type of building, architectural or ratified the Convention (States Par- technological ensemble or land- ties) identify and nominate suitable scape which illustrates (a) signifi- sites to the World Heritage Com- cant stage(s) in human history? mittee for inscription on the list 5. To be an outstanding example of a maintained by UNESCO. traditional human settlement, land use, or sea use which is representa- World Heritage Criteria: tive of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the envi- ❖ To be included on the World Herit- ronment especially when it has be- age List, sites must be of outstand- come vulnerable under the impact ing universal value and meet at of irreversible change; least one out of ten selection crite- 6. To be directly or tangibly associat- ria. ed with events or living traditions, ❖ Until the end of 2004, World Herit- with ideas, or with beliefs, with ar- age sites were selected on the basis tistic and literary works of out- of six cultural and four natural cri- standing universal significance. teria. (The Committee considers that this ❖ With the adoption of the revised criterion should preferably be used Operational Guidelines for the Im- in conjunction with other criteria); plementation of the World Herit- 7. To contain superlative natural phe- age Convention, only one set of ten nomena or areas of exceptional criteria exists. natural beauty and aesthetic im- Selection criteria: portance; 8. To be outstanding examples repre- For a property to be included on the World senting major stages of earth's his- Heritage List, the World Heritage tory, including the record of life, Committee must find that it meets one or significant on going geological pro- more of the following criteria: cesses in the development of land- forms, or significant geomorphic or 1. To represent a masterpiece of hu- physiographic features; man creative genius;

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9. To be outstanding examples repre- ❖ Earlier, the International Council of senting significant on going ecolog- Historic Monuments and Sites ical and biological processes in the (ICOMOS) had evaluated evolution and development of ter- Ramappa’s heritage status. restrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communi- ties of plants and animals; 10. To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in situ conservation of biological di- versity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

The protection, management, authenticity and integrity of properties are also important considerations.

Listings: Maharashtra Bhushan: The Maharashtra Bhushan Selection Committee chaired by ❖ World Heritage status is a high ac- Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray recently colade that brings with it responsi- unanimously selected legendary playback bilities and international scrutiny. singer Asha Bhosle for the prestigious ❖ The World Heritage Convention’s award. operational guidelines say that a tentative list is like an inventory of Highlights: properties a country thinks should • The Maharashtra Bhushan Puraskar be on the World Heritage Site. will be given to legendary playback ❖ After UNESCO includes a property singer Asha Bhosle for the year in the tentative list, the country 2021. prepares a nomination document that will be considered by the About the award: UNESCO World Heritage Commit- tee. • The Maharashtra Bhushan is a highest civilian award presented Ramappa’s heritage status: annually by the government of Ma- harashtra. ❖ In this case, the nomination was • It was first awarded in 1996 to under Criterion I (Masterpiece of Purushottam Laxman Deshpande in human creative genius) and Crite- the field of Literature. rion III (bearing a unique or at least • It was initially conferred in every an exceptional testimony to a cul- years in the fields of Literature, Art, tural tradition, which is living or Sport, and Science. which has disappeared).

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• Later the fields of Social Work, • The significant artworks also in- Journalism, and Public Administra- cludes bronze and stone sculptures, tion and Health Services were in- a painted scroll and photographs, cluded. some of which were likely stolen, il- • The award is presented for out- legally excavated or unethically ac- standing achievement in their field. quired from the country. • The works of art being repatriated About Asha Bhosle: include 13 objects connected to In- • Asha Bhosle is best known for her dian art dealer Subhash Kapoor playback singing in Hindi cinema, through Art of the Past and one ac- although she has a wider repertoire. quired from art dealer William Wolff. • Her career started in 1943 and has spanned over seven decades. • The total combined valuation of these artworks is $3 million. • She has done playback singing for • over a thousand movies. Some of the artworks which are be- ing returned to India dates back to • She was officially acknowledged by the period of the Chola dynasty. the Guinness Book of World Rec- ords as the most recorded artist in • Some of the works being returned music history. are: ❖ Dancing child saint Sam- • The Government of India (GoI) bandar of 12th century belong- honoured her with the Dadasaheb ing to Chola dynasty, Phalke Award in 2000 and the ❖ Processional standard [alam], Padma Vibhushan in 2008. from Hyderabad, • She is the sister of the Indian leg- ❖ Arch for a Jain shrine (11th 12th endary playback singer Lata century), seated Jina, 1163 from Mangeshkar and belongs to the Mount Abu region, Rajasthan, prominent Mangeshkar family. ❖ The divine couple Lakshmi and Vishnu [Lakshmi Narayana] (11 12th century), and ❖ Durga Mahisasuramardini, from Gujarat.

About Sambandar:

❖ Sambandar, also referred to as Thirugnana Sambandar was a Saiva poet saint of Tamil Nadu who lived sometime in the 7th century CE. NGA: The National Gallery of Australia ❖ He was a contemporary of Appar, (NGA) has announced that it would return another Saiva poet saint. 14 works of art from its Asian art collection ❖ He was a child prodigy who lived to India. just 16 years. ❖ According to the Tamil Shaiva tra- Highlights: dition, he composed an oeuvre of

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16,000 hymns in complex meters, of Amagarh Fort: The Amagarh Fort in Japur which 383 (384) hymns with 4,181 is recently in news as it has become a stanzas have survived. center of a dispute between the tribal ❖ These narrate an intense loving de- Meena community and local Hindu groups. votion (bhakti) to the Hindu god Shiva. What is the dispute about? ❖ The surviving compositions of • Members of the Meena community Sambandar are preserved in the say the Amagarh Fort was built by a first three volumes of the Tirumu- Meena ruler predating Rajput rule rai, and provide a part of the philo- in Jaipur, and has been their holy sophical foundation of Shaiva Sid- site for centuries. dhanta. • People from the community used to Background: worship Amba Mata and other dei- ties in the fort. • When Indian police arrested Ka- • The conflict began in June when a poor in 2012 they listed the Dancing saffron flag was hoisted on the fort Shiva as one of the stolen items, and a few idols were allegedly van- and it soon became clear the sculp- dalised. ture had been ripped out of a tem- • Meena community members ac- ple in southern India. cused Hindu groups of trying to • In 2014 then prime Australian min- appropriate tribal symbols into the ister Tony Abbott handed the Hindutva fold, and of changing the Dancing Shiva to Indian Prime name of Amba Mata to Ambika Minister Narendra Modi during a Bhawani. visit to New Delhi. • Since then, the NGA has returned History of Amagarh Fort: another five artworks it purchased • According to historian Rima Hooja, from Kapoor to the Indian govern- the present form of the Amagarh ment, including a third century Fort was given in the 18th century rock carving and a series of exquis- by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, ite stone sculptures. founder of Jaipur. • It has always been believed that there was some construction at the place before Jai Singh II built the fort. • Prior to Rajput rule by the Ka- chhwaha dynasty, Jaipur and its nearby regions were ruled by Meenas, who had political control. • The Meena community identifies themselves as tribals with a sepa- rate set of codes.

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• The community considers Amagarh force against international terror Fort as one of their holy cites and groups. state that it was built by a Meena • The Indian Army contingent com- ruler before the Rajputs ruled Jai- prising of a Mechanized Infantry pur. Battalion underwent rigorous train- • The fort was built by a Meena Sar- ing at different locations in India to dar from the Nala gotta, now the refine their drills for participation Badgoti Meena. in the joint exercise. • However, the history of the Meena community in the region is largely oral in nature.

Defence \\

National Delhi Police Commissioner: IPS officer Rakesh Asthana, on 28 July 2021 has been appointed as the Commissioner of Delhi Police. 50 New Kendriya Highlights: Vidyalaya to be setup • through the country Mr. Asthana, a 1984-batch IPS of- ficer, was to retire on July 31. • His service was extended by the INDRA-2021: The 12th Edition of Indo- Appointments Committee of the Russia joint Military Exercise named Cabinet (ACC) for a one year period "INDRA-2021" will be held at Volgograd, The Union Cabinet, beyond the date of Asthana’s su- Russia from 1st to 13th of next month. chaired by the Prime perannuation. Key Highlights: • While clearing Mr. Asthana’s ap- Minister Narendra Modi pointment as CP, Delhi, the ACC, has• approvedThe exercise the will besetti yet nganother headed by Prime Minister Narendra "milestone" in strengthening the bi- up of 50 new Modi, approved the inter-cadre lateral security cooperation and will deputation from Gujarat to Aruna- KendriyaVidyalayasserve to reinforce the longstanding chal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and bond of friendship between India under Civil/Defence Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre. and Russia. • This is one of the very few instances •Sector In the allexercise, over 250 the personnel from when an IPS officer outside of the bothcountry. nations will take the part. AGMUT cadre has been appointed • The exercise will entail conduct of as the Delhi Police chief. counter terror operations under the • Usually, an officer belonging to the United Nations mandate by a joint AGMUT cadre is appointed to the The Vidyalayas are post.

proposed to be opened www.civilserviceindia.com in the Civil/Defense Sector and once they are

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• Asthana, who is currently serving as • Prior to taking charge as the Vice Director General of the Border Se- Chief of the Naval Staff, Ghormade curity Force (BSF), will join as the was serving as the Deputy Chief of Delhi Police Commissioner with the Integrated Defence Staff (Oper- immediate effect. ations and Training) since March 8.

About Rakesh Asthana: About Vice Chief of the Naval Staff:

• Rakesh Asthana is an Indian Police • The Vice Chief of the Naval Staff is Service (IPS) officer of the 1984- the second-highest-ranking officer batch Gujarat Cadre. in the Indian Navy. • He was serving as the Director • The Vice Chief of the Naval Staff is General of Border Security Force. a Principal Staff Officer (PSO) at • Rakesh Asthana, has previously Naval HQ in New Delhi. headed the Bureau of Civil Aviation • The post is held by a Three-Star Of- Security (BCAS) and the Narcotics ficer in the rank of Vice-Admiral. Control Bureau (NCB). • He reports to the Chief of the Navy • Mr. Asthana had held the post of Staff. the special director in CBI. • The Vice Chief is responsible for Naval operations. Note: He was the Narcotics Control Bureau chief when actor Rhea About Vice Admiral Ghormade: Chakraborty was arrested in a drugs case in Mumbai. • He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Naval Staff College at the US Naval War College in Rhode Island, and the Naval War College, Mumbai. • He was commissioned in the Indian Navy on Jan 1, 1984, and is known as a navigation and direction special- ist. • His important staff appointments ashore included assistant chief of SN Ghormade: Vice Admiral Satish personnel (human resources devel- Namdeo Ghormade who is navigation and opment), principal director of per- direction specialist, on July 31, 2021, sonnel and director of naval plans assumed charge as the new Vice Chief at naval headquarters. of the Naval Staff. • In the rank of Vice Admiral, he has held the challenging and coveted Highlights: appointments of director-general • He has succeeded Vice Admiral G naval operations, chief of staff East- Ashok Kumar who retired after 39 ern Naval Command and controller years of service. personnel services.

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• He is currently serving as the 36th passed the Factoring Regulation Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. (Amendment) Bill, 2021 without discussion amid protests from the opposition. Awards: Highlights: • He has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) on • Union Finance Minister Nirmala January 26, 2017 and Nausena Med- Sitharaman moved the amendment al (NM) in 2007 by the President of bill for passage in the Parliament's India, and Commendation by the lower house. Chief of the Naval Staff in 2000. • It will now be tabled in the Rajya Sabha, for its consideration. Note: • The bill seeks to help micro, small During Vice Admiral Kumar’s tenure - and medium enterprises by provid- ing added avenues for getting credit • The Navy had seen an increase in facility, especially through Trade budget allocations with 100% utili- Receivables Discounting System zation of the allocated budget with (TRDS). a capital acquisition boost. • The first ever procurement case Background: under the Strategic Partnership • This Bill was first introduced in the model for Project 75(I) was success- Lok Sabha on September 14, 2020, fully progressed for issuance of Re- and then it was then sent to Stand- quest For Proposal (RFP). ing Committee on Finance on Sep- • The Navy’s INS Airavat rescued a tember 25. fishing vessel which was adrift near • The committee's report was then the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. tabled in the Lok Sabha on Febru- ary 3, 2021. • It aims to liberalize the Factoring Economics Regulation Act, 2011 by widening the scope of entities that can en-

gage in factoring business

ironment Key Points of Bill:

• The changes in the Bill have been made in the bill in the interests of MSME sector. • The Bill simplifies the definition of factoring business in which banks, Non Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) or any business entity is involved. Factoring Regulation (Amendment) • The process of sale and acquire- Bill, 2021: The Lok Sabha, on 26th July 2021 ment of factors from one entity to

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another has been simplified in this worth of invoices that have helped more bill. than 25,000 MSMEs with better access to • The bill also widens the scope for funds and liquidity. entities to involve in factoring

business.

What are the proposals of the bill?

• The following are the proposals of the bill: • To amend the definitions of "as- signment", "factoring business" and "receivables", so as to bring them in consonance with international def- initions. • To insert a new definition of "Trade Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill Receivables Discounting System" 2021: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (TRDS). on 26th July 2021 introduced Insolvency • To amend section 3 of the Act to and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill widen the scope of entities who can 2021 in Lok Sabha. engage in the factoring business by allowing other non banking finance Note: Nirmala Sitharaman is in charge companies also to undertake factor- of both finance and corporate affairs ing business. ministries. • To amend sub section (1) of section Key Details: 19 of the Act to reduce registration time of invoice and charge upon it, • The Insolvency and Bankruptcy to avoid dual financing. Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was • To insert a new sub section (1A.) in introduced amid Opposition ruckus section 19 to allow the concerned over various issues. TRDS to register charge on behalf • The amendments seek to remove of entities using the platform with bottlenecks and streamline the cor- the Central Registry. porate insolvency resolution pro- • To insert a new section 31A to em- cess, wherein successful bidders power the Reserve Bank of India to will be ring fenced from any risk of make regulations related to factor- criminal proceedings for offences ing business. committed by previous promoters of companies concerned. What is TReDS?

TReDS is an electronic platform introduced • The bill has been itroduced to by RBI for facilitating the financing and amend the insolvency law and pro- discounting of the trade receivables of vide for a pre packaged resolution MSMEs via various financiers. So far process for stressed MSMEs. TReDS has processed nearly 43,000 crores

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• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy also known as Naga King Chilli, was Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021 will exported to London from Nagaland. replace the ordinance that was A consignment of ‘Raja Mircha’ was promulgated on April 4 by Presi- exported to London via Guwahati by air for dent Ram Nath Kovind on April 4 the first time that too during the the Covid to amend the Insolvency and Bank- 19 pandemic along with a drought like ruptcy Code (IBC), 2016 to offer a situation in Nagaland. pre packaged bankruptcy resolution scheme for small, micro, and medi- Key Points: um businesses under the Code. • Generally, under a pre packaged • The chilli from Nagaland is also re- process, main stakeholders such as ferred as Bhoot Jolokia and Ghost creditors and shareholders come pepper. together to identify a prospective • It got GI certification in 2008. buyer and negotiate a resolution • Nagaland King Chilli belongs to ge- plan before approaching the Na- nus Capsicum of family Solanaceae. tional Company Law Tribunal • It has been considered as the (NCLT). world’s hottest chilli. • All resolution plans under the IBC • It is constantly on the top five in need to be approved by NCLT. the list of the world's hottest chilies • The Insolvency and Bankruptcy based on the Scoville Heat Units Code, which came into force in (SHUs). 2016, has already been amended Additional Info: thrice. • The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Note: In 2021, APEDA has facilitated Code, 2016, sought to create a sin- exports of Jackfruits from Tripura to gle law for bankruptcy and insol- London and Germany, Leteku ‘Burmese vency. Grape’ to Dubai, Assam Lemon to • The latest changes pertain to vari- London and Red rice of Assam to the ous sections as well as introduction United States. of a new section. About Scoville Heat Units (SHUs):

• Scoville Heat Units (SHUs) is the measurement that is done to meas- ure hotness of a pepper or a hot sauce. • It is generally done by checking the number of times capsaicin needs to be dissolved in water filled with Raja Mircha: In a major boost to exports sugar. of Geographical Indications (GI) products • The number of Scoville Heat Units from the north eastern region, Raja Mircha, (SHU) in hot sauce or a pepper in- dicates the amount of capsaicin

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present in the pepper or the hot administered by the Geographical sauce. Indications of Goods (Registration • The higher the rating the hotter is and Protection) Act, 1999 which the pepper. came into force with effect from 15 September 2003. What is a geographical indication? Note: The first product in India to be • A geographical indication (GI) is a accorded with GI tag was Darjeeling tea name or sign used on certain prod- in the year 2004 05. ucts which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin Benefits of GI Registrations: (e.g., a town, region, or country). The following are the benefits of • Geographical indications are typi- Geographical Indication registration: cally used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, a) Prevents unauthorized use of GI tag handicrafts, and industrial prod- products by others. ucts. b) Legal protection to the products. c) Promotes the economic prosperity Who accords and regulates of producers of GI tag goods by en- Geographical Indications? hancing their demand in national • GI are part of the intellectual prop- and international markets. erty rights (IPRs) that comes under d) It helps consumers to get quality the Paris Convention for the Pro- products of desired traits and is as- tection of Industrial Property. sured of authenticity. • At the International level, GI is

governed by the World Trade Or- ganisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellec- tual Property Rights (TRIPS). • GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellec- tual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement as: "Indications which

identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region Madgaum Urban Co op Bank Ltd: The or a locality in that territory, where Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the a given quality, reputation or char- license of Madgaum Urban Cooperative acteristic of the good is essentially Bank Co., Ltd., located in Margao, Goa. attributable to its geographic origin." Note: RBI imposed the penalty in the exercise of Power under Section 47 A (1) • In India, as a member of the World (c) read with section 46 (4) (i) of the BR Trade Organization (WTO), Geo- Act, 1969. graphical Indications registration is

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Why was the liscense cancelled? • The bank ceases to carry on bank- ing business with effect from the • The liscense was cancelled because close of business on July 29, 2021. the bank with its current financial position would be unable to pay its About RBI: present depositors in full. • • The bank does not have adequate It refers to the Reserve Bank of In- dia. capital and earning prospects. • • As such, it does not comply with The RBI is India's central bank, the provisions of section 11(1) and which controls the issue and supply of the Indian rupee. section 22 (3) (d) read with section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, • It carries out India's monetary poli- 1949. cy and exercises supervision and control over banks and non bank- • The bank has also failed to comply with the requirements of section ing finance companies in India. 22(3) (a), 22 (3) (b), 22(3)(c), 22(3) • RBI was set up in 1935 under the (d) and 22(3)(e) read with section Reserve Bank of India Act,1934. 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, • It was nationalized in 1949. 1949. • It is headquartered in Mumbai. • Note: It was first headquartered in RBI action against Madgaum Urban Co Kolkata, West Bengal operative Bank: • RBI plays an important part in the Development Strategy of the Gov- • The RBI stated that, as per the data ernment of India. submitted by the bank, approxi- • The current Governor of RBI is mately 99% of the depositors will Shaktikanta Das. receive full amounts of their depos- its from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). • At the time of liquidation, every

depositor has the right to receive a Environment deposit insurance claim amount from their deposits, up to a maxi- mum limit of 500,000 rupees, only from DICGC subject to the provi- sions of the DICGC Act, 1961. • RBI has also asked the Office of Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Goa, to issue a liquidation order and appoint a liquidator for the 15,000 Years Old Viruses: A team of bank. scientists have discovered nearly 15,000 • With the cancellation of the license and the year old viruses while studying glacier ice. beginning of the liquidation process, the payment process to the depositors will Key Highlights: soon begin.

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• These viruses have been discovered • After detailed investigation, the in two ice samples taken from the team found genetic codes for 33 vi- Tibetan Plateau in China. ruses in the core. While four of • The findings, published on July 20, them have already been identified 2021, in the journal Microbiome. by the scientific community, at • Most of them are unlike any viruses least 28 of them are novel. that have been catalogued to date. • About half of them seemed to have • The ice samples were collected survived because of the ice, not in- from the cores at high altitudes – spite of it. the summit of Guliya, where this • This implies that the viruses thrived ice originated, is 22,000 feet above in extreme environments. sea level. • The analysis also showed that the viruses likely originated from soil or Key Details about the Study: plants, not animals or humans, • For the study, the scientists also based on both the environment and created a new, ultra clean method the databases of known viruses. of analyzing microbes and viruses • This study was an interdisciplinary in ice without contaminating it. effort between Ohio State’s Byrd • The findings may help scientists Center and its Center for Microbi- understand how viruses evolved ome Science. over centuries. • Funding came from the Gordon and • Glaciers begin forming in places Betty Moore Foundation and the where more snow piles up each U.S. Department of Energy. year than melts. • Each year, new layers of snow bury and compress the previous layers along with dust and gases, many vi- ruses are also deposited in the ice. • Ice cores are like time capsules that scientists have used to understand more about climate change, mi- crobes, viruses and gases through- out history. • The researchers analyzed ice cores taken in 2015 from the summit of World Mangrove Day: The International Guliya in western China, which Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove were collected from a height of Ecosystem also known as World Mangrove nearly 22,000 feet above sea level. Day is celebrated annually on 26 July every • Using a combination of traditional year. and new techniques to date the ice core, the researchers determined Aim: that the ice was nearly 15,000 years The day is celebrated to raise awareness of old. the importance of mangrove ecosystems as

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“a unique, special and vulnerable prolific ecosystem between the land ecosystem” and to promote solutions for and the sea/ocean. their sustainable management, o Sundarbans apart, India is home to conservation and uses. several other swathes of mangrove History: cover, including the Godavari Krishna Mangroves, Bhitarkanika The day was adopted by the General Mangrove Wetland, Baratang Is- Conference of the UN Educational, land in the Andaman and Nicobar Scientific and Cultural Organization Islands, and the Pichavaram Man- (UNESCO) in 2015. grove Forest in Chidambaram. It was on this day in 1998, that a o During the 2004 Indian Ocean tsu- Greenpeace activist Hayhow Daniel nami, the Pichavaram Mangrove Nanoto, died of a heart attack during a Forest protected several hamlets in massive protest to re establish the Tamil Nadu, by preventing the mangrove wetlands in Muisne, Ecuador. seawater from entering the villages and minimising loss of property. Key Facts: o Rows of mangroves near the sea re- duced the impact of the tsunami by • According to UNESCO, mangroves are reducing the velocity and volume of disappearing at a rate that is three to the tsunami water. five times faster than overall losses of • The largest mangrove forests between global forest cover in the face of infra- Sundarbans and Bangladesh is being structure development, urbanisation monitored by UNESCO. and agricultural land conversion. • The global coverage of the mangrove Importance of Mangroves: forests have reduced by 50% in 40 years. • Coastal communities all over the world o In May 2020, when Cyclone Am- depend on these ecosystems for their phan hit Bakkhali in Bengal’s wellbeing, protection, and food securi- Sundarbans region, it left a trail of ty. destruction reminiscent of the 1999 • They are breeding grounds for several Super Cyclone that killed thou- estuarine and marine organisms as sands in Odisha. well. o As per the experts, Amphan’s dev- • But their biggest contribution towards astation could have been limited these coastal communities is to act as a had it not been for the rampant de- natural barrier against tsunamis, storm forestation, human activity, includ- surges, a rising sea, and erosion. ing tourism and finishing, and Mangroves for the Future (MFF): changes in land use reduced the health and the extent of the • MFF was initiated by International Sundarbans mangrove cover. Union for conservation of Nature and co chaired by the United Na- Note: Sundarbans is home to the tions Delvelopment Programme world’s largest mangrove cover — a

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(UNDP) to restore the mangrove global goal to double the number of forests. wild tigers by the year 2022. • The project covers places like India, Significance: Srilanka, Indonesia, Maldives, Thai- land and Seychelles. • According to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), there may have been 100,000 tigers at the begin- ning of the 20th century. The num- ber was drastically reduced to 3,200 in the year 2010. Therefore, it be- comes extremely important to save these wild cats. • International Tiger Day play a im- portant role in it by spreading awareness and by working towards conservation of tigers. • The governments of all 13 tiger International Tiger Day: Global Tiger range countries came together at Day, often called International Tiger Day, the world’s first ever global tiger is an annual celebration to raise awareness summit and agreed on a “TX2” for tiger conservation, held annually on 29 commitment to double the number July. of wild tigers by 2022. Key Points: • Since then the tiger population has increased in several countries in- • The day is observed to spread cluding India, Nepal, Bhutan, and awareness about dangers faced by Russia. tigers. • According to World Wide Fund for Project Tiger in India: Nature (WWF), "As top predators, • In 1973, Project Tiger was started in wild tigers play an important role in India which was a unique plan to maintaining the harmony of the save tigers on the planet. planet's ecosystems. • Since it formative years there were • By preying on herbivores, tigers 9 tiger reserves but the Tiger Pro- help to keep the balance between ject coverage has increased to 50. the prey animals and the forest • The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) vegetation which they feed upon." and the Uttar Pradesh Forest de- History: partment last year bagged the first ever international award, TX2, for • World Tiger Day was first observed doubling the number of tigers in in the year 2010 at the Saint Peters- four years against a target of 10 burg Tiger Summit in Russia. years. • A total of thirteen tiger range coun- tries came together and decided a

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• India prepares the tiger estimation Global Conservation Assured Tiger report every four years and last re- Standards Recognition: On 29th July port was released in 2018. 2021, Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupender Royal Bengal Tiger: Yadav announced that 14 tiger reserves in India have got accreditation of the Global • The Bengal tiger is also known as Conservation Assured Tiger Standards the Royal Bengal tiger. (CA|TS). • It is a tiger from a specific popula- tion of the Panthera tigris tigris The 14 tiger reserves, which have been subspecies that is native to the In- accredited, are: dian subcontinent. • Felis tigris was the scientific name ➢ Dudhwa – Uttar Pradesh used by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 for ➢ Pench – Maharashtra the tiger. ➢ Sunderbans – West Bengal • It was subordinated to the genus ➢ Manas, Kaziranga, and Oran – As- Panthera by Reginald Innes Pocock sam in 1929. ➢ Satpura, Panna and Kanha – Madh- • It is threatened by poaching, loss, ya Pradesh and fragmentation of habitat. ➢ Valmiki Nagar – Bihar • It was estimated at comprising few- ➢ Parambikulam – Kerala er than 2,500 wild individuals by ➢ Mudumalai and Annamalai – Tamil 2011. Nadu • The Bengal tiger ranks among the ➢ Bandipur – Karnataka biggest wild cats alive today. About accreditation of the Global • It is considered to belong to the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards world's charismatic megafauna. (CA|TS): • By 2018, the population had in- creased to estimated 2,603–3,346 • It is a globally accepted conserva- individuals. tion tool that aims to set best prac- • Around 300–500 tigers are estimat- tices and standards to manage ti- ed in Bangladesh, 220–274 tigers in gers and encourages assessments to Nepal and 103 tigers in Bhutan. benchmark progress. • It also sets minimum standards for effective management of target spe- cies and encourages assessment of these standards in relevant conser- vation areas.

Geography:

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China, and the third costliest ty- phoon on record (a total of $14.7 billion) when adjusted for inflation.

What is a typhoon?

• A typhoon is a mature tropical cy- clone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemi- sphere. • This region is referred to as the Northwestern Pacific Basin,. • It is the most active tropical cyclone

basin on Earth, accounting for al- Typhoon In fa: It is a very large tropical most one third of the world's annu- cyclone inland over China. al tropical cyclones. • Within the northwestern Pacific, This Typhoon In fa is known in the there are no official typhoon sea- Philippines as Typhoon Fabian. sons as tropical cyclones form Key Details: throughout the year. • Like any tropical cyclone, there are • The system was first noted as an ar- few main requirements for typhoon ea of low pressure, located east of formation and development: the Philippines on July 14. • Favorable conditions helped the (1) Sufficiently warm sea surface storm to intensify, becoming a temperatures tropical depression, two days later (2) Atmospheric instability and a tropical storm on July 17. • The storm has exacerbated and (3) High humidity in the lower to played a part in starting the 2021 middle levels of the troposphere Henan floods. • Since 17 July 2021, China's Henan (4) Enough Coriolis effect to province has been affected by se- develop a low pressure center vere flooding, caused by a period of (5) A pre existing low level focus or prolonged heavy rainfall. disturbance • It has brought record amounts of rainfall to China becoming the sec- (6) A low vertical wind shear ond wettest tropical cyclone ever What is the difference between a recorded in the country. hurricane and a typhoon? • It was also the first storm to impact the city of Shanghai since Typhoon • The only difference between a hur- Mitag of 2019. ricane and a typhoon is the location • According to projections, In fa where the storm occurs. would beat Typhoon Fitow of 2013 as the costliest typhoon to strike

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• In the North Atlantic, central North • All common fertilizers have an “N P Pacific, and eastern North Pacific, K” rating. Phosphorus is the “P” in the term hurricane is used. fertilizers, which is essential for • The same type of disturbance in the plants. Northwest Pacific is called a ty- Where is it found? phoon. • Phosphate rock deposits can be sedimentary or igneous and are mined from sedimentary deposits formed by the deposition of phos- phate rich materials in marine envi- ronments. • Large sedimentary deposits are lo- cated in United States, China, Mid- dle East, and in Northern Africa. • Meanwhile, the igneous deposits are mined in Brazil, Canada, Fin- Phosphorus Rocks: Union Minister of land, Russia, South Africa, and Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri. Mansukh Zimbabwe. Mandaviya informed the Parliament that India will explore indigenous deposits of Phosphorus in India: phosphatic rock, a step towards becoming AatmaNirbhar in fertilizer production. • Phosphate rocks are majorly pro- duced only from two States in In- What are phosphorus rocks? dia, namely Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. • Phosphorus rocks or phosphate • rocks are unprocessed ores. Currently, there exists 30 lakh MT of phosphorite deposits in the • Phosphate rock deposits can be country, for which important steps sedimentary (formed from sedi- are being taken by the Government ment deposited by water or air) or to ramp up its production. igneous (having solidified from lava • or magma). These deposits are available in Ra- jasthan, central part of peninsular • However, the easiest way to obtain India, Hirapur (Madhya Pradesh), phosphorus is by way of mining and Lalitpur (Uttar Pradesh), Mussoorie concentrating phosphate rock from syncline, and Cuddapah basin (An- the phosphate deposits. dhra Pradesh). Use of Phosphorous rock:

• Phosphorous rock is used in ferti-

lizers. National • More than 85% of the phosphate rock mined is used to manufacture phosphate fertilizers worldwide.

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• The bill seeks to give these insti- tutes greater autonomy so that they can start new and innovative cours- es. • The legislation also seeks to provide for research and instructions in food technology, entrepreneurship and management and for the ad-

vancement of learning and dissem- National Institutes of Food Technology, ination of knowledge in such Entrepreneurship and Management branches. Bill, 2021: Lok Sabha on 26th July, 2021 • The institutes would implement the passed the National Institutes of Food reservation policy of the Govern- Technology, Entrepreneurship and ment and would also undertake Management Bill, 2021. special outreach activities for the benefits of concerned stakeholders. Highlights: • It would enable the institutes to • The bill was introduced in the Par- provide world class teaching and liament by the Government in the research experience by adopting Budget session this year. innovative practices. • This bill was moved by Pashupati Additional Info: Kumar Paras who is the Food Pro- cessing and Industries Minister. Note: The Factoring Regulation • The bill was passed amid uproar by (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was also passed in opposition parties over their vari- Lok Sabha. ous demands including repeal of farm laws and probe into allega- About Lok Sabha: tions of surveillance using Pegasus • The Lok Sabha, or House of the spyware. People, is the lower house of India's • The bill got introduced and passed bicameral Parliament, with the up- in a time of just 8 minutes making per house being the Rajya Sabha. it a record. • Members of the Lok Sabha are Key Points: elected by adult universal suffrage. • Under the constitution of 1950, its • The objective of the bill is to confer members are directly elected for a the status of Institutions of Nation- term of 5 years by territorial con- al Importance to National Institute stituencies in the states. of Food Technology, Entrepreneur- • The maximum strength of the ship and Management (NIFTEM) at House allotted by the Constitution Kundli, Haryana, and the Indian In- of India is 550. stitute of Food Processing Technol- • Currently, the house has 543 seats ogy (IIFPT) at Thanjavur, Tamil which is made up by the election of Nadu.

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up to 543 elected members and at a • The Bill has already been passed maximum. in the Lok Sabha. • Two additional members were ap- pointed by the president to repre- Key Points: sent the Anglo Indian community • The amendment seeks to increase but were abolished in January 2020 the role of additional district magis- by the 104th Constitutional trates and district magistrates re- Amendment Act, 2019. garding the matters which concern • Om Birla is the current speaker of adoption and child care. the Lok Sabha. • The district magistrates have now been empowered to sign adoption orders under Section 61 of the Juve- nile Justice Act thus making the process of adoption faster and more compliant with rules. • The bill also seeks to provide justice and support to the children.

About Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children), Act, 2015:

• In 2015, the Parliament introduced and passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Act to replace the Juvenile Delin- Children) Amendment Bill : The quency Law and the Juvenile Justice Parliament, on 28 July 2021, passed the (Care and Protection of Children Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Act) 2000. Children) Amendment Bill 2021 with Rajya • The Act offered provisions to allow Sabha approving it amid din. trials of juveniles in the age group Highlights: of 16 18 years as an adult who were found to be in conflict with the law, • The amendment of the Act was especially heinous crimes. taken up after the National Com- • The Act also offered provisions re- mission for Protection of Child garding adoption. Rights (NCPCR) in a survey of chil- • The Act replaced the Hindu Adop- dren’s shelter homes in India found tions and Maintenance Act (1956) that over 7,600 children were living and Guardians of the ward Act in poor living conditions with no (1890) with more universally acces- access to basic amenities. sible adoption law. • The Bill seeks to amend the Juve- • The Act enabled smooth function- nile Justice (Care and Protection of ing of adoption procedures for or- Children) Act, 2015. phans, surrendered, and abandoned children while making the Central

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Adoption Resource Authority Smt. Smriti Irani and the Minister (CARA) the statutory body for for Environment, Forest and Cli- adoption related matters. mate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav attended a programme virtually or- Offences committed by juveniles: ganized at the National Commis- Currently, the Act outlines three categories sion for Minorities office in New of offences which are as follows: Delhi to observe the “Muslim Women Rights Day”. 1. Petty 2. Serious Highlights: 3. Heinous • The day is observed across India to • Serious offences are those offences commemorate the enactment of that allow imprisonment of three to laws that protect the rights of Mus- seven years. lim women. • Therefore, serious offences will • The year 2021 marks the second an- have maximum punishment which niversary of the Muslim Women is more than seven years of impris- Act (Protection of Rights on Mar- onment and for the minimum pun- riage) passed in the Rajya Sabha. ishment it is less than seven years. • Ministry of Minority Affairs Why was this amendment necessary? Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, announced that Muslim Women Rights Day • In order to fasten the adoption pro- would be observed across the na- ceedings this decision has been tion on August 1 to celebrate the taken because as of the month of enactment of law prohibiting triple July 2018, across the country, there talaq. were 629 pending adoption cases in various courts. Background:

• The legislation classifying triple talaq as a criminal offence came in- to effect on August 1, 2019. • There is a significant decline in Tri- ple Talaq cases after the law came into effect. • Muslim women across the country have overwhelmingly welcomed this law.

What is Triple Talaq? Muslim Women Rights Day 2021: India Triple Talaq is a form of Islamic divorce was observed on August 1, as "Muslim which has been used by Muslims in India, Women's Rights Day." especially adherents of Hanafi Sunni • Shri Naqvi along with the Minister Islamic schools of jurisprudence. for Women and Child Development

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It allows any Muslim man to legally • Jordan, Iran, Brunei, Cyprus, alge- divorce his wife by stating the word talaq ria, Morocco, Quatar and UAE too (the Arabic word for "divorce") three times abolished the practice of Triple in oral, written, or more recently, Talaq. electronic form.

Key provisions of the Bill:

• The Bill makes all declaration of talaq, including in written or elec- tronic form, to be void (i.e. not en- forceable in law) and illegal. • It defines talaq as talaq e biddat or any other similar form of talaq pro- nounced by a Muslim man result- ing in instant and irrevocable di- vorce. Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) • The Bill makes declaration of talaq Phase – 2: The ODF Plus Manuals under a cognizable offence, attracting up Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase – to three years’ imprisonment with a 2 was recently released by Jal Shakti fine. Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New • In terms of allowance, a Muslim Delhi. woman against whom talaq has been declared is entitled to seek Key Points: subsistence allowance from her husband for herself and for her de- • The manuals pertain to key com- pendent children. ponents of ODF Plus – Grey Water • The amount of the allowance will Management, Plastic Waste Man- be decided by a First Class Magis- agement, Faecal Sludge Manage- trate. ment and Biodegradable Waste • A Muslim woman, against whom Management. such talaq has been declared, is en- • The Department of Drinking Water titled to seek custody of her minor and Sanitation has developed man- children. uals to support states, districts, and • The determination of custody will rural local bodies implement solid be made by the Magistrate. and liquid waste management initi- atives. Triple Talaq in Other Countries: • The manuals launched will con- tribute significantly towards capaci- • Egypt was the first Muslim Nation ty building and knowledge enrich- to abolish triple talaq in 1929 fol- ment at various levels strengthen- lowed by Pakistan and Sudan in ing Swachh Bharat Mission (Gram- 1956, bangladesh in 1972, Iraq in een) Phase – 2 initiatives. 1959, Syria in 1953 and Malasia in • Addressing the media after the re- 1969. lease of Manuals, Mr Shekhawat

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said that Swachh Bharat Mission, Key Details: Grameen has transformed rural In- dia by manifesting into a Jan Ando- • The SGP Agreement, signed in No- lan for sanitation, achieving Open vember 2014, underscores the con- Defecation Free rural India mile- tribution of India US partnership to stone in mission mode. global stability and prosperity. • It provides a framework for pro- Background: moting cooperation between the two countries to meet the devel- • Phase – 2 of the Swachh Bharat opmental aspirations of partner mission aiming at achieving ODF countries, particularly in Asia and Plus goal was launched last year. Africa. • The mission focuses on ODF sus- • This triangular cooperation with tainability and Solid and Liquid the US will complement India’s Waste Management aiming at other ongoing and future develop- comprehensive cleanliness in vil- ment partnerships, capacity build- lages. ing and technical assistance with countries globally. About Second Amendment:

• The Second Amendment to the SGP Agreement extends the validity of the SGP Agreement up to 2026. • It expands the scope of capacity building activities undertaken jointly by India and the United States under this framework. • It also provides a consultative mechanism for joint biannual mon- Second Amendment to the SGP: India itoring and review of activities un- and the US on 30th July 2021 signed the dertaken under the SGP. Second Amendment to the Statement of • Under the triangular cooperation Guiding Principles (SGP) on Triangular agreement, India and the US have Cooperation for global development. agreed to continue to offer capacity • The second amendment was signed building assistance to partner coun- by Abhilasha Joshi, Joint Secretary, tries in multiple sectors. Development Partnership Admin- • The focus will mainly be on health, istration II Division in the External nutrition, agriculture, education Affairs Ministry and Karen and institution building, clean and Klimowsky, Acting Mission Direc- renewable energy, women empow- tor for the United States Agency for erment, water, sanitation, disaster International Development preparedness, regional connectivity (USAID) in India. and trade and investments.

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Objectives: • The Bill seeks to amend Section 4 of the Coconut Development Board • The main objectives of this agree- Act, 1979. ment are to fulfill the joint com- • The number of members of the mitment of the two nations to work board has been raised from four to together and utilize their combined six as after the amendment. An- capacities to provide demand driv- dhra Pradesh and Gujarat will be en development partnerships. able to nominate their representa- • This agreement will also support tives in the Board. India’s other ongoing and future • The bill will pave the way to ap- development partnerships, capacity point professional persons as a non building and technical assistance as Executive Chairman instead of a well with countries across the government official. world. Benefits of this amendment: Background: • The step will be beneficial to the • The agreement was signed just after Coconut Growers at large. US Secretary of State Antony Blink- • The objective behind the amend- en’s first visit to India as a part of ment to the Coconut Development the Biden administration. Board Act ,1979, is to bring more • Blinken held talks with his Indian and more areas under coconut cul- counterpart, External Affairs Minis- tivation and to provide marketing ter S Jaishankar. facilities so that farmers are bene- fitted. About CBD:

• The Coconut Development Board (CBD) is a legal body under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Gov- ernment of India (GoI). • This board is responsible for the comprehensive development of co- conuts and coconut related prod- Coconut Development Board ucts. (Amendment) Bill, 2021: The Rajya Sabha • The board was established on Janu- on 30th July 2021 passed the Coconut ary 12, 1981. Development Board (Amendment) Bill, • It operates under the administra- 2021 making the post of the Chairman non tive control of the Ministry of Agri- executive. culture of the GoI. Highlights: • Its headquarters is located in Kochi, Kerala, and the regional offices are • It was passed without discussion located in Bengaluru, Chennai and amidst opposition uproar. Guwahati.

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• This board has six state centres • He has been the co owner of a mul- which are situated at Kolkata, Pat- ti billion conglomerate the M1 na, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Group. Thane, and Port Blair. • He has also been named the richest man in Lebanon in 2021 by Forbes.

• This will be Mikati’s third time International serving as the Prime Minister of the country. • In April 2005, he had briefly served as the caretaker PM and in 2011, he

had headed a full scale government for 3 years. • His appointment comes just 11 days after Saad Hariri resigned as prime minister designate, following nine months of political deadlock and dispute with President Aoun and his son in law MP Gebran Bassil. • He received support from most po-

litical parties in Lebanon, including Najib Mikati: Billionaire businessman Amal Movement, the Future Najib Mikati on July 26, 2021, became Movement, Marada Movement, Lebanon’s new Prime Minister. Hezbollah, and Progressive Social- ist Party. Highlights: Lebanon Crisis: • He ran virtually unopposed, receiv- ing 72 votes while the former am- • Lebanon’s economy continues to bassador Nawaf Salam received on- crumble with half the population ly one vote. living below the poverty line and a • Forty two MPs voted blank, and spiralling local currency that lost three MPs did not vote at all. more than 90 per cent of its value. • With the cooperation of the Presi- • The country has been without a full dent Michel Aoun he will form a fledged government for almost one government according to the year and is struggling to reform its French initiative. economy to unlock international aid. Key Facts about Najib Mikati: About Lebanon: • Mikati is a Lebanese politician and businessman who has served as • Lebanon, officially known as the caretaker PM of Lebanon in 2005 Republic of Lebanon, is a country in and headed a full scale government Western Asia. from 2011 to 2014. • It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south,

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while Cyprus lies west across the nancing of terrorism, misuse of in- Mediterranean Sea. ternet by terrorists, and curbing • It is situated by the Lebanon Moun- travel of terrorists. tains and has taken on a triangular • The plan is one of the key delivera- shape. bles during India’s Chairship of • It is largely influenced by its situa- BRICS and will be adopted at the tion between and atop two hills: Al meeting of BRICS National Security Musaytibah and Al Ashrafieh. Advisors scheduled next month. • The capital of Lebanon is Beirut. About BRICS: • The currency used here is Lebanese pound. • It is the acronym coined for an as- • The current President of Lebanon is sociation of five major emerging Michel Aoun. national economies which are Bra- zil, Russia, India, China and South

Africa. • Originally the first four were grouped as "BRIC", before the in- duction of South Africa in 2010. • The BRICS members are known for their significant influence on re- gional affairs. All are also the mem- bers of G20. • Since 2009, the BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits. • BRICS headquarter is situated at BRICS Counter Terrorism Working Shanghai, China. Group: The 6th meeting of the BRICS • Counter Terrorism Working Group was BRICS members are known for held virtually on 28th and 29th of July their influence in regional affairs. under the Chairmanship of India. Key Details:

• The main outcome of the Working Group meeting was the finalisation of the BRICS Counter Terrorism Action Plan containing specific measures to implement the BRICS Counter Terrorism Strategy adopt- ed by BRICS Leaders in 2020. • The Action Plan is aimed at further strengthening result oriented coop- Sweden Joins ISA: Sweden has confirmed eration between BRICS countries in the framework agreement for the areas such as preventing and com- International Solar Alliance (ISA) and its bating terrorism, radicalisation, fi- membership to officially join the Gurugram

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based global platform on 17 July 2021, in • Sweden, officially the Kingdom of order to promote renewable energy and Sweden is a Nordic country in sustainable development. Northern Europe. • It is a Scandinavian nation with About International Solar Alliance thousands of coastal islands and in- (ISA): land lakes, along with vast boreal • ISA is an alliance of 121 countries. forests and glaciated mountains. • It was initiated by India. • It borders Norway to the west and • Most of member countries are sun- north, Finland to the east, and is shine countries located completely connected to Denmark in the or partly between Tropic of Cancer southwest by a bridge tunnel across and Tropic of Capricorn. the Öresund Strait. • It is a treaty based intergovernmen- • The capital city is Stockholm. tal organization. • The currency used here is Swedish • ISA is the largest grouping of states, krona. after United Nations. Fun Fact: Objective of ISA: • The name Sweden was derived • ISA was established with the objec- from the Svear, or Suiones, a people tive of working for efficient con- mentioned as early as 98 CE by the sumption of solar energy in a bid to Roman author Tacitus. reduce dependence on fossil fuels. • The country’s ancient name was Svithiod. Stockholm has been the Background: permanent capital since 1523.

• ISA initiative was first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech in November 2015 at Wembley Stadium. • During his speech, he referred the sunshine countries as Suryaputra.

Who can join ISA?

• ISA is primarily an alliance of coun- tries lying between Tropics.

• However, countries which do not fall within the Tropics can join alli- Guido Bellido: Peruvian President Pedro ance and enjoy all benefits as other Castillo on 29th July 2021, has appointed members, except the voting Guido Bellido as prime minister of the country. About Sweden: He is a congressman and is a member of the Free Peru party, with which Castillo

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won the presidency this year in the Andean • This day is also known as World nation.. Friendship Day. • In India, Friendship Day is ob- About Peru: served on the first Sunday of Au- • Peru officially the Republic of Peru gust. is a country in western South • This year the Friendship Day falls America. on 1st August 2021. • It is bordered in the north by Ecua- • The day highlights the powerful tie dor and Colombia, in the east by of friendship that exists between Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, two or more individuals regardless in the south by Chile, and in the of caste, creed, or color. west by the Pacific Ocean. History: • It is a home to a section of Amazon rainforest and Machu Picchu, an • UNESCO proposed this day to ob- ancient Incan city high in the An- serve and UN General Assembly des Mountains. adopted this proposal in 1997. • The region around Machu Picchu, • In 2011 the UN General Assembly including the Sacred Valley, Inca proclaimed the day and July 30 be- Trail and colonial city of Cusco, is came officially recognised as Inter- rich in archaeological sites. national Friendship Day. • The capital of Peru is Lima. • This day was first proposed in 1958 • The currency used here is Peruvian in Paraguay. However, it is known Sol. to have originated in 1930 from Hallmark cards, by Joyce Hall.

International Day of Friendship day 2021: International Day of Friendship day is World Ranger Day 2021: World Ranger celebrated on July 30 every year across the Day is observed every year on 31 July to world. commemorate the Rangers killed or injured while on duty. Key Points: Highlights:

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• The day also recognizes the work • About: that Rangers do to protect the • The garden features more than world’s natural and cultural herit- 3,500 species of plants native to Rio. age. • It is considered a laboratory for bo- • This day marks the foundation day tanical and landscape experimenta- of International Ranger Federation tion. (IRF). • The site has been named after Burle • IRF was founded on 31 July 1992. Marx, a Brazilian landscape archi- tect whose designs of parks and Theme of 2021: gardens made him world famous. • The theme of 2021 is "Rangers • The Sitio Burle Marx site was his Safety and Wellbeing." home until 1985. • The garden is characterized by sin- History: uous forms, exuberant mass plant- ing, architectural plant arrange- • World Ranger Day was created by ments, dramatic colour contrasts, the International Ranger Federa- use of tropical plants, and the in- tion. corporation of elements of tradi- • In 2007, the first World Ranger Day tional folk culture. was observed on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of IRF. About Brazil:

Who is a Ranger? • Brazil, officially the Federative Re- public of Brazil, is the largest coun- • A Ranger is a person tasked with try in both South America and Lat- preserving and protecting park- in America. lands and natural protected areas. • Brazil is the world's fifth largest and • A Ranger typically refers to a forest sixth most populous country, com- ranger or a park ranger. posed of 26 states and the Federal District. • It is the largest country to have Por- tuguese as an official language and the only one in the Americas. • Brazil is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and it covers roughly half of South America's landmass and borders all other countries in the continent, except Ecuador and Chile. • Its Amazon basin includes a vast Sitio Burle Marx: The Sitio Burle Marx tropical forest, home to diverse site, a landscape garden in Brazilian city wildlife, a variety of ecological sys- Rio de Janeiro has recently been added to tems, and extensive natural re- UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.

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sources spanning numerous pro- • Spain, formally the Kingdom of tected habitats. Spain is a country in Southwestern • This unique environmental heritage Europe with some pockets of terri- makes Brazil one of the seventeen tory in Africa across the Strait of megadiverse countries. Gibraltar and offshore in the Atlan- • The capital of Brazil is Brasilia. tic Ocean. • The currency used here is Brazilian • It occupies about 85 percent of the real. Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with its smaller neighbour Portugal. • Spain is a storied country of stone castles, snowcapped mountains, vast monuments, and sophisticated Paseo del Prado and Retiro Park: The cities, all of which have made it a historic Paseo del Prado boulevard and favoured travel destination. Retiro Park of Madrid, in Spain, has • Spain's capital and largest city is recently been granted the status of Madrid. UNESCO World Heritage Sites. • The currency used here is Euro.

With this announcement the total number of World Heritage Sites in Spain goes up to 49 which is the third highest globally only India Polity after Italy and China.

About Buen Retiro Park:

• Buen Retiro Park is a green refuge with a total area 118 hectares. • The park is located just at the cen- tre of the capital city. • The iconic Retiro Park, just adjoin- ing with Paseo del Prado is one of BS Yediyurappa: On July 26, 2021, the most visited attractions in Ma- Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa drid’s history. Karnataka resigned from the top post after months of speculation. About Paseo Del Prado: Highlights: • The wide tree lined Paseo del Prado located in the centre of the Spanish The Governor of Karnataka Thawar Chand capital. Gehlot accepted his resignation and issued a notification dissolving the council of • The Paseo del Prado Boulevard fea- ministers. tures six museums, the famous Pla- za de Cibeles square and the fa- The Lingayat leader will continue as the mous Fuente de Cibeles fountain. caretaker CM till the next CM takes an oath. About Spain:

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The Party will announce the new Karnataka chief minister soon.

Background:

The 78 year old BJP veteran had announced on July 25, 2021, that he will take the decision on his future as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on July 26 when his government will complete two years in the state. New CM of Karnataka: Basavaraj Bommai was sworn in as new Chief Minister of About BS Yediyurappa: Karnataka on 28th July 2021. • BS Yediyurappa is an Indian politi- Highlights: cian who served as the 19th Chief Minister of Karnataka. • His oath ceremony was adminis- • He is the only CM to have as the tered by Governor Thaawar Chand CM of state for four terms. Gehlot. • He is also the only one till now in • He has become the 23rd Chief Min- Karnataka to serve 3 times as the ister of the state. leader of opposition in the Karna- • Karnataka so far had 22 Chief Min- taka Legislative Assembly. isters but only three of them were • In 2008, he became the Chief Min- able to complete their full term. ister of Karnataka after leading BJP • Former CM Yediyurappa had earlier to a victory in the Assembly elec- resigned because of internal party tions, a first for BJP in a South Indi- pressure. an State. About Basavaraj Bommai: About Lingayats: • He is the son of the former CM of • The Lingayats are the largest com- Karnataka S. R. Bommai. munity of Karnataka. • He is the three time MLA from • They consist of at least 17% of the Shegaon in Haveri district in North state's population. Karnataka. • The community is also known to • He was the Home Minister and Par- have some firm supporters of the liamentary Affairs Minister in the BJP and Yediyurappa and can de- Yediyurappa Cabinet. termine the outcome of 30 to 40% • He is considered a close confidante Assembly seats. of Yediyurappa. He joined BJP in 2008 and served as Water Re-

sources Minister between 2008 and 2013. • A Mechanical Engineer, Bommai is son of former Chief Minister S. R.

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Bommai who was in office between What was the case about? 1988 and 1989. • Kerala government had appealed to After his election as Legislative Party withdraw prosecution of top Left leader, Basavaraj Bommai said that he will Democratic Front (LDF) leaders ac- work under the guidance of outgoing Chief cused of vandalism and wanton de- Minister B. S. Yediyurappa and work struction of public property on the towards poverty alleviation. Assembly floor during a Budget speech in 2015. About Karnataka: • These leaders had claimed parlia- • It is a state in the south western re- mentary privilege, arguing that the gion of India. incident occurred inside the As- • It was formed on 1 November 1956, sembly hall. They claimed immuni- with the passage of the States Reor- ty from criminal prosecution. ganisation Act. Observations made by the Court: • Originally known as the State of Mysore, it was renamed Karnataka • The court refused the Kerala gov- in 1973. ernment’s plea to withdraw the • It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to prosecution. the west, Goa to the northwest, • The Apex court observed that acts Maharashtra to the north, Telanga- of vandalism cannot be said to be na to the northeast, Andhra Pra- manifestations of freedom of desh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the speech and be termed as ‘proceed- southeast, and Kerala to the south. ings’ of the Assembly. • It is the only southern state to have • It was not the intention of the land borders with all of the other 4 drafters of the Constitution to ex- southern Indian sister states. Its tend the interpretation of ‘Freedom capital city is Bangalore. of Speech’ to include criminal acts by placing them under a veil of pro- test. • Legislators cannot unleash vio- lence, run riot in Parliament or a Legislative Assembly and then claim parliamentary privilege and immunity from criminal prosecu- tion. • Parliamentary privileges and im-

munities are not “gateways” for leg- Vandalism: The Supreme Court of India islators to claim exception from the recently held that lawmakers cannot law of the land, especially criminal indulge in criminal acts on the Parliament law. or Assembly floors and then take cover • The court explained that the pur- behind the right to free speech. pose of bestowing privileges and immunities to elected members of

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the legislature was to enable them its commencement and forty days to perform their “essential func- after its conclusion. tions” without hindrance, fear or What is Breach of Privileges? favour. • The ‘essential’ function of the • When any of these rights and im- House is collective deliberation and munities are disregarded, the of- decision making. fence is called a breach of privilege and is punishable under law of Par- As per the court the true essence of the privileges are as follows: liament. • A notice is moved in the form of a • The purpose of bestowing privileges motion by any member of either and immunities to elected mem- House against those being held bers of the legislature was to enable guilty of breach of privilege. them to perform their “essential functions” without hindrance, fear ] Persons in News or favour. • The ‘essential’ function of the House is collective deliberation and decision making. • These privileges are not a mark of status which makes legislators stand on an unequal pedestal.

What are Parliamentary Privileges?

• Parliamentary Privileges are certain rights and immunities enjoyed by Tony Abbott: He is the former Australian members of Parliament, individual- PM who has recently been appointed ly and collectively, so that they can Australia PM Scott Morrison’s Special “effectively discharge their func- Trade Envoy for India to boost bilateral tions”. trade and investment to bolster the • Article 105 of the Constitution ex- economic relationship. pressly mentions two privileges, that is, freedom of speech in Par- Key Points: liament and right of publication of its proceedings. • Abbott will be visiting India from • Apart from the privileges as speci- August 2 to 6, 2021, to strengthen fied in the Constitution, the Code economic and trade relationships of Civil Procedure, 1908, provides under the Comprehensive Strategic for freedom from arrest and deten- Partnership (CSP). tion of members under civil process • He will meet ministers, think tanks, during the continuance of the and businesspeople to strengthen meeting of the House or of a com- economic relationships, deepen mittee thereof and forty days before

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trade and investment links with In- • His son, Adar, is currently the chief dia. executive officer (CEO) of the firm. • PM Modi and Australia PM Morri- son in 2020 elevated the ties to a About the Award: Comprehensive Strategic Partner- • The Lokmanya Tilak national award ship. is given annually since 1983 on Au- gust 1, the death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, by the Lokmanya AWARDS: Tilak Trust. • However, this year the date the award has been scheduled for Au- gust 13 due to the Coronavirus situ- ation. • The award was first presented in the year 1983. • Winners include former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee; Infosys founder NR Nara- Lokmanya Tilak Award: The founder of yana Murthy and former President the Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune, Pranab Mukherjee. businessman Cyrus Poonawalla has been selected for the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak About Lokmanya Tilak: National Award for 2021. • Bal Gangadhar Tilak (23 July 1856 – Highlights: 1 August 1920), born as Keshav Gangadhar Tilak, was a scholar, • He has been named for his work mathematician, philosopher, and during the COVID 19 pandemic, by ardent nationalist who helped lay manufacturing the Covishield vac- the foundation for India’s inde- cine. pendence by building his own defi- • He will receive the award on Au- ance of British rule into a national gust 13. movement. • The award comprises a cash prize • He was given the title, 'Lokmanya', of Rs one lakh and a memento. which means 'beloved leader' by his About Cyrus Poonawalla: followers. • He was one third of the Lal Bal Pal • Cyrus Poonawalla is a Businessman (Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Til- and founder chairperson of the Pu- ak and Bipin Chandra Pal) triumvi- ne based Serum Institute of India rate. (SII). • Tilak was the first leader of the In- • He was born in 1941. dian independence movement. • He founded SII in 1966.

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• The British colonial authorities • He used his pen as a weapon to called him "The father of the Indian criticise the colonial rulers. unrest." • Tilak sought to widen the populari- • Mahatma Gandhi called him "The ty of the nationalist movement Maker of Modern India" while Ja- (which at that time was largely con- waharlal Nehru called him the 'fa- fined to the upper classes) by intro- ther of Indian revolution'. ducing Hindu religious symbolism • He was imprisoned a number of and by invoking popular traditions times including a long stint at of the Maratha struggle against Mandalay in Myanmar. Muslim rule. • During his years in prison, he spent • He thus organized two important his time reading and writing. He festivals, Ganesh in 1893 and Shivaji wrote the famous 'Gita Rahasya' in 1895. an analysis of the Karma Yoga

which finds its source in The Bha- gavad Gita. • Tilak was one of the first and strongest advocates of Swaraj ("self rule") and a strong radical in Indian consciousness. • He is known for his quote in Mara- thi: "Swarajya is my birthright and I shall have it!". • He formed a close alliance with many Indian National Congress leaders including Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, Aurobindo Ghose, V. O. Chidambaram Pillai and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. • He received his education at the Deccan College in Pune and he earned his Bachelor's degree in 1876, in mathematics and Sanskrit. Later he also studied law at the University of Bombay.

• He founded the Deccan Education Society in 1884 with an aim to edu- Eisner Award: Graphic artist Anand cate common people in English. Radhakrishnan recently won the • He founded (1914) and served as prestigious Will Eisner Comic Industry president of the Indian Home Rule Award, considered the Oscars equivalent of League. the comics world. • Lokmanya Tilak founded and edit- Highlights: ed two newspapers Kesari in Ma- rathi and The Mahratta in English.

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• The Eisner Awards are given out Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bharat annually. Bill Payment System (BBPS). • The award won by Radhakrishnan About Bharat BillPay: “Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (in- terior art)” recognises the creator of • Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) a graphic novel’s art and images. is an integrated bill payment sys- • The Mumbai based visual artist tem which will offer interoperable shares the award with UK based bill payment service to customers colourist John Pearson. online as well as through a network • They won for their work on UK of agents on the ground. based author Ram V’s 145 page • The system will provide multiple graphic novel Blue In Green, pub- payment modes and instant con- lished in October 2020 by Image firmation of payment. Comics. • It was founded in 2013. • About the award: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) functions as the au- • The Eisner Awards were founded in thorised Bharat Bill Payment Cen- 1988 by American comics editor tral Unit (BBPCU), which will be Dave Olbrich, in response to the responsible for setting business discontinuation of the popular Kir- standards, rules and procedures for by Awards for comics in 1987. technical and business require- • The Eisners are named in honour of ments for all the participants. the pioneering writer and artist • On April 1 this year, NPCI trans- Will Eisner. ferred all its BBPS mandates to a • The awards are announced each newly set up subsidiary called the year at the San Diego Comic Con. NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), effectively hiving off its au- tomated billing business.

APPOINTMENTS: About NPCI:

• It refers to the National Payment Corporation of India. • NPCI is an umbrella organization for all retail payments in India. • It was founded in 2008. • It has been incorporated as a Not for Profit Company under the pro- visions of Section 25 of Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of Compa- nies Act 2013). Noopur Chaturvedi: She is a former PayU • It is an initiative of Reserve Bank of and Airtel Payments Bank executive who India (RBI) and Indian Banks Asso- has recently been appointed as the new ciation (IBA) under the provisions

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of the Payment and Settlement Sys- was earlier known as Koshaldesh, tems Act, 2007 for creating a robust intially spread over 48 kos, and was Payment & Settlement Infrastruc- later expanded to 84 kos. ture in India. • The 84 kos parikrama is a circum- • It is headquartered in Mumbai, ambulation of Koshaldesh, touch- Maharashtra. ing all important places associated • The current MD & CEO is Dilip As- with the kingdom of Ram. be. • The 14 kos parikrama is for the main Ayodhya city of that time, and the 5 kos parikrama circumabulates Places in news the inner circle within which the heart of Ram’s kingdom was locat- ed.

Religious Belief:

• As per Hindu belief, the 84 kos parikrama frees a person from the obligation of complete 84 lakh yoni (lives). • Hindus believe the parikrama of Ayodhya started from Treta Yug, the yug of Lord Ram, which was over 1 lakh years ago. • It is believed that King Dasharath 84 Kos Parikrama Marg: The central performed a Putrayeshthi Yajna on government recently decided to declare the the bank of the Manorama River “84 kos parikrama marg” around Ayodhya a some 20 km from Ayodhya, to seek national highway. sons from the gods. Subsequently, • A Draft Notification has been is- he was blessed with four sons from sued by the Road Transport and his three wives. Highways Ministry declaring • The 84 kos parikrama starts and ‘Chaurasi Koshi Parikrama Marg’ as ends — after about 22 days — from National Highway in the state of the place where the yajna was per- Uttar Pradesh. formed, now identified as Ma- khaura in Basti. Religious significance of the Marg: Additional Info: • All three parikramas in Ayodhya — the 5 kos (around 15 km), 14 kos (42 • Besides Ayodhya, similar km), and 84 kos (about 275 km) parikramas are performed by devo- parikramas — are linked to Lord tees at Govardhan in Braj, Ram. Kamadgiri in Chitrakoot, and Tiru- • The Baal Kand of the Valmiki Ra- vannamalai in Tamil Nadu. mayana mentions that Ayodhya

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Key Points about the Project:

• They will collect information from panchayat members, neighbours and other locals and hand it over to the Station House Officers for fur- ther action.

Pink Janamaithri Beat:

Pink Protection: The Kerala Police • The system has been named "Pink launched a new initiative called the Pink Janamaithri Beat", under which po- Protection project for the protection of lice officials will conduct regular women in public, private and digital house visits to collect information spaces. on domestic violence. • They will collect information from Key Details: panchayat members, neighbours • For the project, 10 cars, 40 two and other locals and hand it over to wheelers, including Bullet bikes the Station House Officers for fur- and 20 bicycles, were allotted, ther action. which were flagged off by Kerala Pink Beat system: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. • The Pink Protection project aims to • The Pink Beat system, in which prevent dowry related issues, cyber specially trained women police of- bullying & humiliation in public ficers have been deployed, will be places. present at Karnataka State Road • The project has 10 components, one Transport Corporation (KSRTC) of which is activating the existing and private buses and in front of Pink Police Patrol system. schools, colleges and other public places including bus stops. Why was this initiative launched? Pink Control Rooms: • The endeavor comes amid increas- ing complaints of dowry related • Pink control rooms have been set atrocities and other forms of har- up in all 14 districts to coordinate assment against women and chil- the activities. dren. Pink Shadow Patrol: • Cybercrime too comes under the purview of the scheme, which has • The Pink Shadow Patrol team will 10 components including Pink Pa- also be deployed to detect the pres- trol, Pink Janamaithri beat, Pink ence of anti socials in crowded are- control room, Pink Shadow, Pink as and to take action. Romeo, counseling facilities and a dedicated mobile application for Pink Romeo: women protection.

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• A bullet patrol team of woman po- Development and Investment Corporation lice officers called "Pink Romeo" (RIICO). was also launched as part of the Key Details about Mission Niryatak project. Bano Campaign: About Kerala: • This campaign has been launcher to • It is a state on the southwestern encourage aspiring exporters in the Malabar Coast of India. state, increase the total exports • It was formed on 1 November 1956, from Rajasthan and increase job following the passage of the States opportunities in the state. Reorganisation Act, by combining • It is aimed at registering and hand- Malayalam speaking regions of the holding the local traders willing to erstwhile states of Travancore Co- expand their business to foreign chin and Madras. countries, in six steps. • It is bordered by Karnataka to the • As per a state government’s release, north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the Mission Niryatak Bano cam- the east and south, and the Lak- paign shall cover assistance for shadweep Sea to the west. training, securing necessary docu- • Its capital is Thiruvananthapuram. mentation, registration in Raja- • The current Governor and Chief sthan Export Promotion Council Minister of Kerala are Arif Mo- and even support in exports and hammad Khan and Pinarayi Vijayan trade operations. respectively. • Along with traditional handicrafts and products, many new industries producing quality products are coming up in the state following the supporting policies of the Raja- sthan Government. • Many of these products hold quali- ty and demand in international markets and by handholding the local businessmen the mission shall help increase the total exports from Rajasthan and increase job oppor- tunities in the state.

Mission Niryatak Bano: Rajasthan Rajasthan: government on July 28th, 2021 launched a new campaign titled ‘Mission Niryatak • Rajasthan is a state in northern In- Bano.’ dia. • It comprises most of the wide and The campaign has been launched jointly by inhospitable Thar Desert (also the State Government’s Industrial known as the "Great Indian De- Department and Rajasthan Industrial sert") and shares a border with the

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Pakistani provinces of Punjab to the • Puri has enabled the people of the northwest and Sindh to the west, city to collect quality drinking wa- along the Sutlej Indus river valley. ter directly from the tap. • It became a State after 1947 when • Henceforth, people need not have the princely states and chiefships to store or filter drinking water. were integrated into India in stages, and the state took the name Raja- About ‘Drink from Tap Mission’: sthan. • The project is being undertaken • It assumed its present form on No- with financial support from vember 1, 1956, when the States Re- UNICEF, which seeks to hopefully organization Act came into force. help in achieving state govern- • The Capital of Rajasthan is Jaipur. ment’s target. • The current Chief Minister and • The project would benefit 2.5 lakh Governor of Rajasthan is Ashok citizens of Puri and 2 crore tourists Gehlot and Kalraj Mishra respec- who visit the tourist place every tively. year. • They need not have to move around with water bottle. • Puri would no more be burdened with 400 metric tonne of plastic waste. • Water fountains have been devel- oped at 400 locations in Puri. • A similar project is under various stages of implementation in 16 oth- er urban centres of Odisha.

About Puri: Drink from Tap Mission: Puri has become the first city in India where people • It is a city and a Municipality in the can avail high quality drinking water state of Odisha in eastern India. directly from the tap on a 24 hour basis. • It is the district headquarters of Pu- ri district and is situated on the Bay • This tap water can be used for of Bengal, 60 kilometres south of cooking and drinking, without re- the state capital of Bhubaneswar. quiring further filtration. • Puri is known by several names since the ancient times, and was lo- Highlights: cally known as "Sri Kshetra" and Sri • No metropolitan cities in India Jagannatha Dhama after the 12th have such facility yet. Similar facili- century Jagannatha Temple located ties are available only in world class in the city. cities like London, New York and • Lord Jagannatha temple is also Singapore. known as "Badadeula".

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• It is one of the original Char Dham from any State to aspire to study in pilgrimage sites for Hindus. a good medical college located in • The heirs of the Gajapati Dynasty of another State. Khurda perform the ritual duties of • All India Quota consists of 15% of the temple. total available UG seats and 50% of total available PG seats in govern- ment medical colleges. • Initially, there was no reservation in India Policy AIQ Scheme up to 2007. In 2007, the Supreme Court introduced res- ervation of 15% for SCs and 7.5% for AIQ Scheme For Medical Education: STs in the AIQ Scheme. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare • In 2017, the apex court of India (The on 29th July 2021, announced that a Supreme Court) had intorduced decision has been taken for providing 27% reservations of 15% for SCs and reservation for OBCs and 10% reservation 7.5% for Sts in the AIQ Scheme. for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in • When the Central Educational In- the All India Quota (AIQ) Scheme for stitutions (Reservation in Admis- undergraduate and postgraduate medical/ sion) Act became effective in 2007 dental courses (MBBS/ MD/ MS/ Diploma/ providing for uniform 27% reserva- BDS/ MDS) from the current academic tion to OBCs, the same was imple- year 2021 22 onwards. mented in all the Central Educa- Key Points: tional Institutions viz. Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Harding Medical • The decision was taken on Monday College, Aligarh Muslim University and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Banaras Hindu University etc. directed the concerned Union min- istries to facilitate an effective solu- However, this was not extended to the AIQ tion to this long pending issue. seats of State medical and dental colleges. • This move by the government seeks

to benefit nearly 1,500 OBC stu- dents every year in the MBBS course, and 2,500 OBC students in post graduation, and around 550 EWS students in MBBS and around 1,000 EWS students in post gradua- tion.

Background:

• The All India Quota (AIQ) Scheme was introduced in 1986 under the Academic Credit Bank: Prime Minister directions of the Supreme Court to Narendra Modi addressed the nation on provide for domicile free merit 29th July 2021 to mark the first anniversary based opportunities to students

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of the new National Education Policy and the common university en- (NEP) 2020. trance test, are not ready yet.

This is the first education policy of the 21st About Academic Bank of Credit: century and replaces the thirty four year old National Policy on Education (NPE), • The Academic Bank of Credit will 1986. be rolled out for students in over 290 top institutions from the cur- Highlights: rent academic year 2021 22 on- wards. • On the first anniversary of the Na- • All institutions in the top 100 of the tional Education Policy (NEP), the National Institutional Ranking Centre plans to officially roll out Framework as well as those who some initiatives promised in the have achieved an A grade under the policy such as a credit transfer sys- National Assessment and Accredi- tem that will allow multiple entry tation Council will be allowed to and exit options in higher educa- participate in the credit transfer tion, as well as engineering pro- system. grammes in regional languages. • This system will also allow multiple • PM Modi would launch multiple entry and exit options for students. key initiatives in the anniversary • Multidisciplinarity will also be is- event. sued today along with guidelines to • National Digital Education Archi- allow a merger of institutions as tecture (NDEAR) and National Ed- well as to give students the choice ucation Technology Forum (NETF), of taking subjects such as social sci- which are among the ambitious ences, music and sports while pur- programs of the NEP 2020, would suing engineering degrees, or even be launched. get a minor degree in emerging ar- • A website dedicated to Artificial In- eas while majoring in a different telligence would also be launched subject. in the event. • Engineering degrees in regional Key Points: languages in about 14 smaller insti- tutions will be announced by PM • According to this planned initiative Modi. of the Government, it includes a credit transfer system that will al- About National Education Policy (NEP) low multiple entry and exit options 2020: in higher education, as well as en- • The NEP replaced the 34 year old gineering programmes in regional National Policy on Education which languages. was framed in the year 1986. • However, other promised reforms • It was approved by the Union Cabi- such as the Higher Education net on 29 July 2020 in a meeting Commission of India (HECI), the chaired by Prime Minister Modi. four year undergraduate degree,

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• Estimated Hydrocarbon in place of approximately 232 MMTOE of oil and oil equivalent gas are on offer.

The salient features of DSF policy are:

a) Revenue Sharing Model, b) Single License for Conventional & Unconventional Hydrocarbons

c) No upfront signature bonus, DSF Bid Round III: Minister of Petroleum d) Reduced Royalty rate in line with & Natural Gas and Steel Hardeep Singh HELP Puri recently launched the Discovered e) No cess Small Field (DSF) bid round III for f) Full marketing and Pricing freedom international competitive bidding. for gas produced g) Exploration allowed during entire Highlights: contract period h) 100% participation from foreign

companies/ joint ventures • Minister of State in the Ministry of Background: Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Rameswar Teli, Secretary, MoPNG • The Government of India (GoI) had Shri Tarun Kapoor, Additional Sec- launched Discovered Small Field retary, MoPNG Shri Amar Nath, (DSF) Policy in 2015 for awarding DG, Hydrocarbons Shri SCL Das discovered acreages and monetize were present on the occasion. the unmonetized discoveries. • A number of investors from India • DSF Round – I was launched in and abroad participated in the 2016 where 134 bids were submitted event which was held in a hybrid for 34 contract areas by 47 compa- mode. nies and 30 Revenue Sharing Con- tracts were signed. Key Points: • DSF Round – II launched in 2018 • Encouraged by the success of DSF where 145 bids were submitted for bid rounds I & II, the Government 24 contract area and 24 Revenue of India (GoI) has extended the DSF Sharing Contracts were signed. Policy by launching DSF bid round Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: III. • Under the bid round, 75 discoveries • The Ministry of Petroleum and across 32 Contract areas in 11 ba- Natural Gas is a ministry of the sins/locations are being offered. Government of India (GoI). • These fields are spread over 9 sed- • It is responsible for the exploration, imentary basins covering more than production, refining, distribution, 13,000 square kilometers. marketing, import, export, and conservation of petroleum, natural

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gas, petroleum products, and lique- • At present, Mr Abraham and three fied natural gas in India. of his students are working on de- • The ministry is currently headed by veloping biodiesel from pig waste. the Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Background:

• During 2009 12, Mr. Abraham pio- neered research on producing bio-

Science and Technology diesel from the slaughter waste of broiler chicken and dead poultry

birds. • He completed the research under the guidance of the late Prof Ramesh Saravanakumar (passed away awaiting the patent in No- vember 2020), who had filed for the patents in 2014 on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University. • After his research, Mr Abraham joined the Pookode Veterinary Col- Chicken Waste Bio Diesel: John lege, near Kalpetta in Wayanad, Abraham, a veterinary doctor turned and in 2014 he set a ₹ 18 lakh pilot inventor, on July 7, 2021, finally received plant at the college campus with the patents for inventing biodiesel from funding from the Indian Council for slaughtered chicken waste. Agricultural Research. • In 2015, the Kochi Refinery of Bha- Highlights: rat Petroleum’s had issued a quality certificate for the biodiesel that was • The Indian Patent Office finally invented by him and since then the granted him the patent for invent- vehicle of the college was running ing "biodiesel produced from ren- on this biodiesel. dered chicken oil" after seven and a half years. Why chicken waste was used to invent • Mr Abraham works as an associate this biodiesel? professor at the Wayanad veteri- nary college under the Kerala Vet- • The chicken waste was used to in- erinary and Animal Sciences Uni- vent this biodiesel as because birds versity. and pigs have single stomach which • The patent was delayed as permis- offers higher fat saturation and this sion from the National Biodiversity is easy to render oil under room Authority was needed because the temperature. key raw material going into the pa- Benefits of Chicken waste biodiesel: tented invention was a biological material locally sourced.

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• 1 liter of biodiesel can be produced Highlights: from 100 kg of chicken waste. ❖ Thermal water vapors were discov- • It offers over 38 kmpl and can be ered from the icy surface, which sold at 40 percent of the diesel further pointed to a sublimated wa- price. ter atmosphere. • The higher mileage and lower pol- ❖ Scientists used new and archival lution is due to the fact that chick- datasets from NASA’s Hubble Space en waste contains 62 per cent fat, Telescope to make the discovery. offering the key energy content of ❖ The results were published in the Cetane at 72, while in normal diesel Nature Astronomy journal. it is only 64. • It also increases engine efficiency About Ganymede: by 11 per cent due to the presence of more oxygen, and reduces smoke ❖ Jupiter’s moon Ganymede is the levels by over 47 per cent. largest moon and the ninth largest • The high Cetane value of 72 in ani- celestial body in our Solar System. mal fat bio diesel leads to shorter ❖ Ganymede is located half a billion ignition delays, providing more miles (over 600 million km) away. time for fuel combustion, leading to ❖ Previous research has offered cir- more efficiency and less exhaust cumstantial evidence that Gany- emission mede, the largest moon in the solar • On blending side, he said, for old system, contains more water than diesel engines his biodiesel can be all of Earth's oceans. blended at a ratio of 80:20, while ❖ However, temperatures there are so for new CDREi engines, it the re- cold that water on the surface is verse 20:80. frozen solid. ❖ Ganymede's ocean would reside roughly 100 miles below the crust; therefore, the water vapor would not represent the evaporation of this ocean.

How did they find this?

❖ In 1998, the Space Telescope Imag- ing Spectrograph (STIS) of Hubble took the first ultraviolet pictures of Ganymede. ❖ The images revealed a pattern in the observed emissions from the Ganymede: The first evidence of water moon’s atmosphere. Ganymede vapor has been discovered by the scientists displayed auroral bands similar to in the atmosphere of Jupiter’s icy moon the auroral ovals observed on the Ganymede with the help of the Hubble Earth and other planets with mag- Space Telescope. netic fields.

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❖ The images revealed a pattern in ❖ Roth along with his team uncov- the observed emissions from the ered the explanation in the relative moon’s atmosphere. Ganymede distribution of the aurorae in the displayed auroral bands similar to two images. the auroral ovals observed on the ❖ The researchers discovered that the Earth and other planets with mag- surface temperature of the icy netic fields. moon varies strongly throughout ❖ These images served as evidence the day and becomes sufficiently that the icy moon has a permanent warm around noon, which leads the magnetic field. icy surface to release small amounts ❖ The researchers deemed the simi- of water molecules. larities between the two ultraviolet ❖ The differences between the UV observations to be due to the pres- images were directly correlated ence of molecular oxygen, O2. with where the water molecules ❖ The differences between the two ul- would be expected in Ganymede’s traviolet observations were ex- atmosphere. plained by the presence of atomic ❖ The researchers discovered that the oxygen O, which produces a signal water vapour originates from ice that affects one UV colour more sublimation caused by the thermal than the other. escape of H2O vapour from warm ❖ In 2018, Lorenz Roth, a researcher icy regions. at the KTH Royal Institute of Tech- About the JUICE Mission: nology in Stockholm, Sweden, led a team of researchers who set out to ❖ This discovery has enhanced the capture UV spectra of Ganymede significance of ESA’s upcoming JU- using Hubble’s Cosmic Origins piter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) Spectrograph (COS) instrument to mission, which is the first large measure atomic oxygen presence. class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vi- ❖ The research was a part of a large sion 2015–2025 programme. observing programme to support ❖ JUICE mission is expected to be NASA’s Juno mission. launched in 2022 and will arrive at ❖ The study team combined data Jupiter in 2029. The three year long from 1998, 2010 and 2018 and to mission aims to make detailed ob- their surprise noted some contrast servations of Jupiter and three of its to the original findings. largest moons including Ganymede ❖ The scientists discovered that there ❖ Jupiter's moon Ganymede was se- was hardly any atomic oxygen in lected for more detailed investiga- Ganymede’s atmosphere, in con- tion, as it provides a natural labora- trast to the original interpretations tory for the analysis of evolution, of the data from 1998. nature and potential habitability of ❖ This meant that there must be a icy worlds. whole new explanation for the dif- ❖ Ganymede is also significant given ference between the UV aurora im- its unique magnetic and plasma in- ages. teractions with Jupiter and its envi-

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ronment and may give an insight Decoding Chandrayaan 3: into the role it plays within the sys- ❖ tem of Galilean satellites. Chandrayaan 3 is a lander and rover specific mission. ❖ It will demonstrate India’s capabil- ity of soft landing on a celestial body, with the rover then com- municating with Earth via the exist- ing orbiter from Chandrayaan 2 and taking images 100 km from Moon’s orbit. ❖ The orbiter has an estimated lifespan of seven years.

Aim:

❖ The unique exploration of Chan- drayaan 3 aims at studying not just one area of the Moon but all the ar- eas combining the exosphere, the surface as well as the sub surface in a single mission. Chandrayaan 3: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is likely to launch Why exploring the Moon is imperative? India’s third lunar mission ‘Chandrayaan 3’ ❖ The Moon is the closest cosmic in the third quarter of 2022. body at which space discovery can Highlights: be attempted and documented. ❖ Furthermore, the Moon is a promis- ❖ The Union Minister of State (Inde- ing testbed to showcase technolo- pendent Charge) Science & Tech- gies required for deep space mis- nology; Minister of State (Inde- sions. pendent Charge) Earth Sciences; ❖ Exploring the Moon will enhance MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Griev- the understanding of the celestial ances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and body clearly, stimulating the ad- Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, in a writ- vancement of technology, promot- ten reply in Lok Sabha said that ing global alliances and inspiring Chandrayaan 3 is likely to be future generations of explorers and launched during the third quarter scientists. of next year on the assumption that work will proceed apace and nor- Why Lunar South Pole of the Moon is mally henceforth. targeted for exploration? ❖ The work on Chandrayaa 2's suc- ❖ The Lunar South pole is especially cessor was affected due to the interesting because the lunar sur- coronavirus pandemic and the im- face area that remains in shadow is pending lockdown.

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much larger than that at the North Moreover, in the fourth quarter, the Pole. development of Small Satellite Launch ❖ Further, there could be a possibility Vehicle (SSLV) is also scheduled to launch of the presence of water in perma- and it has proved to be ideal for on nently shadowed areas around it. demand, quick turn around launch of small ❖ In addition, the South Pole region satellites. has craters that are cold traps and contain a fossil record of the early About Small Satellite Launch Solar System. Vehicle(SSLV): ❖ SSLV is a small lift launch vehicle being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). ❖ Features: They are cost effective, three stage, all solid launch vehicles with a payload capability of 500 kg to 500 km planar orbit or 300 kg to Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit.

Benefits:

EOS 03: Union Minister of Science & ❖ SSLV is ideal for the on de- Technology informed Rajya Sabha that Geo mand, quick turn around imaging satellite “EOS 03” is scheduled for launch of small satellites. launch in third quarter of 2021. ❖ Launch Date: The first develop- mental flight of SSLV is scheduled About EOS 03: for the fourth quarter of 2021 from ❖ The technology is developed by the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sri- Indian Space Research Organiza- harikota. tion (ISRO).

❖ EOS 03 is a geo imaging satellite for earth observation. ❖ The satellite is capable of imaging the whole country four five times daily. Sports ❖ The satellite would enable near real

time monitoring of natural disas- SPORTS: ters like floods and cyclones. ❖ In addition to natural disasters, the satellite would also enable monitor- ing of water bodies, crops, vegeta- tion conditions, and forest cover changes.

Additional Info:

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Priya Malik has won the gold medal in the 2019 edition of Khelo India in Pune and then went on to clinch gold in the very same year at the 17th School Games that were held in Delhi.

Apart from these wins, Priya also won two more gold medals the following year i.e. 2020. World Cadet Wrestling Championships: Her next two gold medal triumphs came at Priya Malik has successfully clinched gold the National Cadet Championship in Patna at the ongoing World Cadet Wrestling as well as at the National School Games Championships hosted in Hungary on 25th respectively. July 2021.

Note: She clinched the gold not in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics but miles away from the Japanese capital Budapest, Hungary.

Highlights:

• Priya Malik has also become the first athlete to win a gold medal for India in World Wrestling Champi- onship. • Prior to Priya Malik's golden run, Mirabai Chanu: The Chief Minister of another Indian wrestler Varsha had Manipur N Biren Singh, on 26 July 2021 won the bronze medal on Thursday announced that weightlifter Saikhom by overcoming Turkey's Duygu Gen Mirabai Chanu will be appointed as the in the 65kg category. Additional Superintendent of Police to her • 16 year old Priya Malik won the as a token of gratitude. women's 73 kg weight category gold medal by getting the better of Bela- • The weightlifter had been working rus wrestler Kseniya Patapovich 5 0 as a tickets inspector in the Indian in the final. Railways. • She won 10 0 in the first round against Milla Andelic (Croatia) and Key Points: beat Veronika Nyikos (Hungary) • Mirabai Chanu of India, on 24th Ju- easily in the quarter finals. ly, 2021, had clinched a silver medal • She then dominated Marilla Aku- in weightlifting in the 49kg catego- lincheva (Russia) in the semi final. ry in Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Her Achievements: • This ended a 21 year drought of winning a medal in this category.

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• She lifted a total of 202kg gaming and comics (AVGC) sec- (87kg+115kg) to qin the silver medal tor as a sunrise industry. in this competition. • Despite growing at an estimated • She bettered the record of Karnam 29 30 percent per annum, the Malleswari who had won a bronze share of the domestic AVGC in- medal in the 2000 Sydney Olym- dustry in the global AVGC mar- pics. ket was just one per cent at • The gold was won by China’s Hou $2.69 billion (or Rs 20,000 Zhihui who lifted a total of 210kg. • Indonesia’s Aisah Windy Cantika crore), a CII report says. won the bronze medal with a total

of 194kg.

Sexualisation Of Sports: The National Centre of Excellence for sexualisation of women who play sport Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming is not new. While medal tallies, new and Comics: The Union Government world records and spectacular upsets has recently decided to set up a generally dominate the conversation National Centre of Excellence for around Olympics, this time, another Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and important topic has repeatedly come Comics for creating a world class talent into the limelight — the ‘sexualisation pool in India to cater to the Indian as of sport’. well as global industry. Highlights: Highlights: • The phrase first hit headlines • It will be set up in collaboration when the German women’s with Indian Institute of Tech- gymnastics team wore unitards nology, Bombay. as their uniform at the sporting • The Ministry of Information & event, instead of the traditional- Broadcasting (I&B) has identi- ly favoured leotards. fied the animation, visual effects, • The team decided to wear the unitards as a “move that was de-

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signed to promote freedom of updated their ‘portrayal guide- choice and encourage women to lines’, and have asked for ‘gender wear what makes them feel com- equal and fair’ broadcasts of fortable.” their events. • The team had worn unitards to • The new guide points include their practices as well. suggestions like: “Do not focus • It had also worn the unitard at unnecessarily on looks, clothing the European championships in or intimate body parts”; and ‘re- April. framing or deleting a ‘wardrobe malfunction’ … to respect the in- Leotard vs Unitard tegrity of the athlete.”

• The unitard and leotard are both skin tight garments usually made of lycra and spandex, their stretchability making them the perfect choice for gymnastics and dance. • The unitard worn by the German team is essentially a skintight suit, which covers the athletes’ body right from the ankles to their wrists. • Women gymnasts for the long- est time have worn the bikini cut National Women’s Online Chess leotard, a skin tight one piece at- Championship: Vantika Agarwal who tire that covers the torso and hails from Delhi has won the inaugural leaves the thighs bare. National women’s online chess Impact championship title.

• The decision of the German Highlights: women’s team has received • The championship was orga- widespread global support. nized by the All India Chess • As a direct outcome of the Ger- Federation (AICF) from July 26 man team’s stand, the Olympic 28, 2021. Broadcasting Services has called • Vantika has scored 9.5 rounds for a clampdown on the show- from 11 rounds. case of “overtly sexualised imag- • Followed by Arpita Mukherjee of es of female athletes”. West Bengal and Tamil Nadu’s • The International Olympic Sreeja Seshadri stood 2nd and Committee have refreshed and

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3rd place with 9 points and 8.5 Momiji Nishiya: Momiji Nishiya of points respectively. Japan has became one of the youngest • The All India Chess Federation is gold medal winners in Olympic in considering the performance of history. this online event for the selec- Highlights: tion of players for the Upcoming Asian individual championship • She won the inaugural women’s and other events. skateboarding gold at the age of 13 years and 330 days. Leading standings (from 11 rounds) • Rayssa Leal (13 years and 203 are as follows: days) of Brazil won silver and Women: Funa Nakayama (16 years) of Ja- pan clinched the bronze. 1. Vantika Agarwal (Del, 9.5 • The youngest gold medalist was points), Team USA’s Marjorie Gestring at 2. Arpita Mukherjee (Ben, 9), the 1936 games in Berlin. 3. Srija Seshadri (TN) (8.5 • Gestring, only 13 years and 268 points) days old at the time, won gold in 4. Soumya Swaminathan (Mah) the women’s diving competition. (8.5 points) 5. R. Vaishali (TN) (8.5 points) 6. N. Priyanka (Andhra) (8 points) 7. Mary Ann Gomes (Pet) (8 points) 8. P. V. Nandhidhaa (TN) (8 points) 9. Tania Sachdev (Del) (8 points) 10. Padmini Rout (Odi) (8 points) Yuto Horigome: Japan’s Yuto 11. Mrudul Dehankar (Mah) (8 Horigome has won the first ever points) skateboarding competition at the Olympic Games, taking gold in men’s street event at the Ariake Urban Sport in Tokyo.

Highlights:

• Yuto overcame a shaky start to pocket the gold with 37.18 points.

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• Kelvin Hoefler of Brazil won sil- ver in the men’s street skating competition. • Jagger Eaton of the United States clinched the bronze.

Note:

• Skateboarding’s inclusion into the Olympics marks a turning point for the sport, which has its roots in youth street culture and has influenced everything from art to fashion.

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