Vedanta Institute Current Affairs 1 July-31 July 1 July

VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY 1 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

India contributes $500,000 to UN Peacebuilding Fund

 India has contributed $500,000 to the UN Peacebuilding Fund, expressing hope that more funding by nations will boost efforts by the world body to build and sustain peace. India has been a member of the Peacebuilding Commission since its inception in December 2005 and has so far contributed $5 million to the Peacebuilding Fund. The fresh contribution of $500,000 to the fund will be affected over the coming days.  The fund was launched to support activities, actions, programmes and organisations that seek to build a lasting peace in countries emerging from conflict.

NATIONAL

Innovate in India (i3)

 In a bid to create a globally competitive biopharmaceutical industry that addresses the country‘s major concerns around barriers to affordable healthcare, innovate in India (i3) program has been launched.  It is a 250 million USD program of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Ministry of Science & Technology in collaboration with World Bank. It will be implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Public Sector Enterprise, set up by DBT.  It is a first- of-its-kind mission that brings together industry and academia to promote entrepreneurship and indigenous manufacturing in the biopharmaceutical sector.  This Mission aspires to create an enabling ecosystem to promote entrepreneurship and indigenous manufacturing in the sector. The programme will specifically focus on the development of new vaccines, bio-therapeutics, diagnostics and medical devices to better address the rising burden of diseases in the country.  It will also bring isolated Centres of excellence together, enhance regional capabilities and strengthen the current bio-clusters network in terms of capacities as well as quantity and quality of output.  This endeavor will help nurture next- generation technical skills; promote entrepreneurship; and support institutions in adoption of global innovations, technologies, and licensing models.  It will provide young entrepreneurs the confidence as well as the systemic support to pursue their aspirations in biotechnological innovation, and transform India into a global hub for cutting-edge biotechnology research and development.

Mizoram celebrates 31st anniversary of Mizo peace accord

 The 31st anniversary of the signing of the historic Mizo peace accord between the Union government and the erstwhile underground Mizo National Front (MNF) was celebrated on 30th June in Mizoram.  The Mizo Accord was signed on June 30, 1986 ushering in an era of peace after 20 years of violence and disturbance in the state.  Under the Accord, the government agreed to grant full statehood to Mizoram, along with its own High Court. A university was proposed. The Accord promised constitutional protection for Mizo religious and social customs, and laws of the Mizo people. Mizo was notified as an official Indian language. The MNF agreed to break all contact with other insurgent groups in the Northeast. ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

GST Council cuts tax rate on fertiliser to 5 pc from 12 pc

 Just a couple of hours before the Goods and Services Tax (GST) roll out, the all-powerful GST Council has reduced the tax rate on fertiliser to 5 percent from previously decided 12 per cent.  Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who heads the GST Council comprising representatives of states, states the decision to reduce the tax rate on fertiliser was taken because of apprehensions that price of the crop nutrient may go up. The GST Council, in another move to give relief to farmers, also cut the tax rate on exclusive parts of tractors from 28 per cent to 18 per cent.

1 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY

Govt lowers interest rate by 0.1 % on small saving schemes for July-Sep quarter  The government has lowered interest rate on small saving schemes by 0.1 percent for the July- September quarter. The move will prompt banks to lower deposit rates. The rates of small saving schemes like PPF, Kisan Vikas Patra and Sukanya Samriddhi have been lowered across the board compared to the April-June quarter.  Since April last year, interest rates of all small saving schemes have been recalibrated on a quarterly basis. According to finance ministry notification, investments in the public provident fund (PPF) scheme will fetch lower annual rate of 7.8 percent. Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) investments will yield 7.5 per cent and mature in 115 months.  The one for girl child savings, Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, will offer 8.3 percent annually, from 8.4 per cent at present. The investment on 5-year Senior Citizens Savings Scheme will yield 8.3 per cent.

BHEL signs pact with Japanese firm for manufacturing coaches for metro trains

 Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has entered into a technology collaboration agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (KHI) of Japan for manufacturing of stainless steel coaches and bogies for metros. The agreement covers establishing design, engineering and manufacturing facilities at BHEL using Japanese technology. It will also entitle BHEL for all technological advances and upgrades.  BHEL supplies electric as well as diesel locomotives, EMUs, and propulsion systems for Indian Railways. Kawasaki Heavy Industries manufactures heavy equipment/products and its Rolling Stock Company has supplied EMU (Metro/Commuter) train sets to various countries like US, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong etc., besides Japan.

PIB launches web page on GST

 The government's information dispensation arm, Press Information Bureau has launched a special page for the Goods and Services Tax. The page on the PIB website was launched by Principal Director-General, Press Information Bureau, A. P. Frank Noronha.  The web page on GST is a one-stop platform for all information on the new tax regime. It contains press releases issued till date on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in both Hindi and English. The web page also contains various presentations and FAQs on GST.

EVENTS

Textiles India

 PM Modi recently inaugurated ‗Textiles India 2017‘ In Gandhinagar. This is India‘s first-ever mega trade event for the textiles sector, showcasing the nation as a global sourcing hub and investment destination for manufacturers world-wide.  The three-day conference ‗Textiles India 2017‘ will see participation from 2,500 international buyers.  India‘s first-ever mega trade event for the textiles sector tomorrow, showcasing the nation as a global sourcing hub and investment destination for manufacturers world-wide.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

SIERRA ODC building in Coimbatore gets world‟s second highest green rating:

 SIERRA ODC building has been recognised as the world‘s second highest ranking Green Building, with a score of 103 out of 110 under LEED certification.  The building uses 100% renewable energy. Sierra has also installed a 100% water recycling system. It uses the recycled water for watering the fauna that is set up in nearly 25% of the premises. This watering system too is controlled, restricting the flow according to the requirement.  The Green Building Council Inc. (GBCI) has honoured Sierra with the platinum certificate.

2 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY AWARDS AND HONOURS

Indian-Americans to be honoured with Great Immigrants Award

 Two Indian-Americans, Adobe Chief Shantanu Narayen and former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy are among 38 immigrants to be honoured this year for their role in helping advance the country's society, culture and economy.  Narayen and Murthy will be honoured with the prestigious 'Great Immigrants' annual award on US's Independence day on 04th July 2017. Murthy, born in the UK and a Harvard and Yale alumnus, was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2014, becoming the first-ever Indian-American to occupy the post and also the youngest ever surgeon general of the country. Narayen, a native of Hyderabad has an undergraduate degree in electronics engineering, a master's degree in computer science, and an MBA from UC Berkeley.

2 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

Chinese heavy-lift carrier rocket launch fails

 China‘s launch of a new heavy-lift rocket, the Long March-5 Y2, carrying what the government said was its heaviest ever satellite, failed on Sunday, official news agency Xinhua said.  The same rocket type had been expected to take China‘s latest lunar probe to the Moon this year and to return with samples.  An anomaly occurred during the flight of the rocket,‖ Xinhua said after the rocket blasted off early evening from the southern island province of Hainan.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

PNB To Block All Maestro Debit Cards Soon

 Punjab National Bank (PNB) Maestro debit cards holders will face a card blockage if they fail to replace it with a more secure EMV chip based card by the end of this month.  Punjab National Bank has identified that there are about one lakh customers with old Maestro debit cards and has started sending them SMSes as well.  The replacement is as per RBI advisory issued in 2015, asking all the banks to migrate to a much secured EMV chip based cards, an official of the bank said.

GOVT SCHEME/DIGITAL INDIA

Health Ministry‟s mobile app eVIN wins GSMA Asia Mobile Award

 Indigenously developed mobile application for digitising vaccine logistics, eVIN, has won the prestigious GSMA Asia Mobile Award 2017 (AMO) for outstanding contribution to the UN‘s sustainable development goals in Asia.  The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) is an online real-time vaccine logistics management system developed and implemented by the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

AWARDS AND HONOURS

„A Billion Colour Story‟ film wins top award at UK festival

 A new film about Hindu-Muslim unity bagged the top prize at the annual London Indian Film Festival (LIFF).  ‗A Billion Colour Story‘, produced by Bollywood filmmaker Satish Kaushik and directed by Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy, won the Audience Award at the festival

3 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY APPOINTMENT

Senior advocate KK Venugopal to succeed Mukul Rohatgi as attorney general

 President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday approved the appointment of senior advocate KK Venugopal as the next attorney general of India.  Incumbent Mukul Rohatgi had declined an offer to extend his term.  Venugopal had served as the additional solicitor general in former Prime Minister Morarji Desai‘s government.

Shamma Jain appointed Indian envoy to Greece  Senior diplomat Shamma Jain was today appointed as India‘s ambassador to Greece.  A 1983-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Jain is currently serving as Indian envoy to Panama.  Jain succeeds M Manimekalai as Indian envoy in Greece.

SPORTS

Eighth win in a row for Marc Marquez at Sachsenring

 Honda‘s Marc Marquez continued his reign as ‗King of the Sachsenring‘ with an eighth successive win at the German Grand Prix  This Win sent him back to the top of the MotoGP championship standings on Sunday.  The Spaniard, who has also started eight times in a row from pole position in Germany, was pushed hard by local hero Jonas Folger who finished a stirring second for the non-works Yamaha Tech3 team 3 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

WHO declares end of Ebola outbreak in Congo

 The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the end of the most recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  The announcement comes 42 days (two 21-day incubation cycles of the virus) after the last confirmed Ebola patient in the affected Bas-Uélé province of DRC tested negative for the disease for the second time.  It was DRC‘s eighth outbreak of EVD since the discovery of the virus in the country in 1976. It killed four of the eight people infected in the central African country.  The recent outbreak in DRC is not connected to the 2014 deadly Ebola outbreak that had worst hit Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and killed more than 11,300 dead, highest ever since its discovery of virus. This outbreak was declared finished in 2016.

Serbia lawmakers elect first gay woman Prime Minister Ana Brnabic

 The Serbian parliament voted in Ana Brnabic, an openly gay woman, as the country's prime minister in a landmark move for the patriarchal conservative country and the entire Balkans region. The 41-year old Brnabic and her cabinet were backed by 157 MPs in the 250-seat parliament after being proposed by President Aleksandar Vucic.  Brnabic becomes Serbia's first female prime minister and the first openly gay premier in the Balkans, where homophobia remains widespread.

Carrie Lam sworn in as first female Chief Executive of Hong Kong  Carrie Lam was sworn in as the first female Chief Executive (CE) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), an autonomous territory of China on the Pearl River Delta.  The CE of Hong Kong is the head and representative of the Hong Kong and also head of the Government of Hong Kong.  Carrie Lam took her oath to office before Chines President Xi Jinping on the occasion marking 20th anniversary of Hong Kong‘s return to China from Britain.

4 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  She is fifth CE of Hong Kong since it became part of China in 1997. Prior to getting electing as CE, she was the Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong SAR Government (from 2012 to 2017), the senior most rank of principal officials of Hong Kong.

NATIONAL

IGNOU announces course fee waiver for transgender students

 The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has announced exemption of fees for its transgender students of all programmes.  Vice Chancellor Ravindra Kumar announced the initiative during the 22nd Prof G Ram Reddy Lecture.  The university holds the lecture on July 2 every year in the memory of the founding Vice Chancellor of the university Prof. G Ram Reddy. It invites eminent educationists and scholars to deliver lecture on higher education, especially in the open and distance learning domain.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

NMCE, ICEX to merge to create India‟s third biggest commodity exchange

 National Multi Commodity Exchange (NMCE), India‘s first demutualised online national multi-commodities exchange will merge with Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX).  The merged entity will create India‘s third biggest commodity exchange.  The largest commodity exchange by volume is the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) followed by National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX).  This is the first merger deal in the commodity exchange space in India.  It has been approved by the boards of both exchanges and is expected to be completed by December 2017, subject to regulatory approvals.  In the merged entity, the ICEX will hold a 62.8% stake, while NMCE shareholders will own the rest. The new exchange will offer a wide range of contracts, including bullion, oil, rubber, and other agri-commodities.  It will also offer the world‟s first diamond futures contract, which has already received in-principle approval from the marker regulator SEBI.  The merger will help ICEX to further strengthen its position in the country‘s fast-growing commodity derivatives market.  It will result in greater financial strength, the consolidation of clients and members, an enhanced product basket, and higher operational synergies.

FINO becomes payments bank

 FINO Payments Bank has commenced operations as a payments bank with effect from 30th June 2017 according to the Reserve Bank of India. FINO PayTech Ltd, Navi Mumbai, was one of the 11 applicants which were issued the in-principle approval for setting up a payments bank.  Besides FINO, the other applicants which have launched payment bank operations are Airtel M Commerce Services, Department of Posts and Paytm Payments Bank

Rajeev Pratap Rudy & Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid foundation stone of country‟s biggest Global Skill Park

 Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajeev Pratap Rudy and MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has laid the foundation stone of the country‘s biggest Global Skill Park in Bhopal.  The 37-acre land has been allotted in Narela Shankari area of Bhopal for the Global Skill Park. The park will be constructed at a cost of 645 crore rupees. Training will be imparted to 1000 students every year by trainers of international standard.  The park will function on the spirit of ‗With Industry -For Industry‘.

RBI report sees India's economic growth rate at 7.3% in 2017-18

5 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY

 The Reserve Bank stated the ongoing accelerated reform initiatives like Goods and Sevice Tax and continuing political stability will push the economic growth scale to 7.3 per cent in terms of Gross Value Added -GVA in the current fiscal year (2017-18).  The Financial Stability Report 2017 released, going forward, reforms in FDI and real estate sector, implementation of GST, and revival in external demand are likely to contribute to a better growth outlook. According to the RBI report, GVA growth is expected to be higher at 7.3 per cent in 2017-18.

DEFENCE

Indigenously developed quick reaction surface-to-air short range missile successfully test-fired

 India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed quick reaction surface-to-air short range missile (QR-SAM).  The sophisticated missile was test fired from a truck-mounted canister launcher from launch complex-3 at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur. It was the second successful developmental trial of the state-of-the-art missile with an aerial target. The first test launch of the missile was conducted in June 2017 from the same base.  The QR-SAM has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and other establishments.  It has been designed to be a quick reaction missile. It is an all-weather weapon system capable of tracking and firing.  The missile has a strike range of 25 to 30 km and can engage multiple targets. QR-SAM will complement the existing Akash short range SAM (surface-to-air missile) with a range of 25 kilometres which has already been inducted into the services.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

Sunderbans mangrove cover at risk

 Remote sensing and GIS-enabled data offer definite proof for the first time that the mangrove forest cover in the Sunderbans has been depleting alarmingly. From 1986 to 2012, 124.418 sq. km., or about 5.5% of the mangrove cover, was lost.  Variable degrees of erosion was observed in at least 18 islands. The continuation of this process is a serious ecological threat, say experts.  Noted islands experiencing erosion include Sagar, Gosaba, Dulibhasani, Dalhousie, Bhangaduni and Jambudwip

Nine more bird, biodiversity areas in Kerala

 Nine more locations in Kerala have been identified as Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs).  The new list was released by the Bombay Natural History Society, a partner of BirdLife International, in its recent publication, Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas in India Priority sites for conservation.  With the latest addition, Kerala now has 33 IBAs. Kerala IBAs are home to three critically endangered species — Whiterumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, and Red-headed Vulture.  The newly identified IBAs of Kerala are Achencoil Forest Division; Anamudi Shola National Park; Camel‘s Hump Mountain, Wayanad; Kurinjimala Wildlife Sanctuary; Malayattoor Reserve Forest; Mankulam Forest Division; Mathikettan Shola National Park; Muthikulam-Siruvani; and Pampadum Shola National Park.

Scientists develop world‟s sharpest laser  Scientists from Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Germany have developed the world‘s sharpest laser with record-breaking precision.  This precision can be useful for various applications such as optical atomic clocks, radioastronomy, precision spectroscopy, testing the theory of relativity and carry out new precision measurements on ultracold atoms.

Assam to raise Special Rhino Protection Force for rhino protection

6 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The Assam government is going to raise a new Special Rhino Protection Force (SRPF) for better protection of the one-horned rhinos in Assam.  State government has already started the process of recruitment for the proposed force. The cadre for the force will selected from local youths hailing from the fringe areas of the Kaziranga national park.  After initial selection, recruits will be given necessary training. They will be also provided with arms and ammunition for better protection of the one horned rhinos.

Madhya Pradesh sets record with plantation of 6 crores saplings in day

 In Madhya Pradesh, a massive plantation campaign was undertaken to save the environment and conservation of the Narmada river. According to official sources over six crores, saplings were planted in 24 districts of Narmada basin in just 12 hours.  Arrangements were made to record the whole event for the Guinness World Record. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the plantation drive at Amarkantak of Anooppur district. Later he also took part in plantation drives in Jabalpur and Omkareshwar.

Germany wins 2017 Confederation Cup Football title

 Four-time FIFA World Cup winner Germany won maiden FIFA Confederation Cup Football title by defeating Copa America Champion Chile by 1-0 goals in the final match held at St Petersburg, Russia. Lars Stindl of Germany score the goal in the first half against the run of play.  Chile was not able to score goal.  Earlier, in the third-place play-off match, Portugal defeated Mexico by 2-1.

3 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

WHO declares end of Ebola outbreak in Congo

Serbia lawmakers elect first gay woman Prime Minister Ana Brnabic

7 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Carrie Lam took her oath to office before Chines President Xi Jinping on the occasion marking 20th anniversary of Hong Kong‘s return to China from Britain.  She is fifth CE of Hong Kong since it became part of China in 1997. Prior to getting electing as CE, she was the Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong SAR Government (from 2012 to 2017), the senior most rank of principal officials of Hong Kong.

NATIONAL

IGNOU announces course fee waiver for transgender students

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

NMCE, ICEX to merge to create India‟s third biggest commodity exchange

FINO becomes payments bank

Rajeev Pratap Rudy & Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid foundation stone of country‟s biggest Global Skill Park

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RBI report sees India's economic growth rate at 7.3% in 2017-18

DEFENCE

Indigenously developed quick reaction surface-to-air short range missile successfully test-fired

Sunderbans mangrove cover at risk

Nine more bird, biodiversity areas in Kerala

Assam to raise Special Rhino Protection Force for rhino protection

9 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The Assam government is going to raise a new Special Rhino Protection Force (SRPF) for better protection of the one-horned rhinos in Assam.  State government has already started the process of recruitment for the proposed force. The cadre for the force will selected from local youths hailing from the fringe areas of the Kaziranga national park.  After initial selection, recruits will be given necessary training. They will be also provided with arms and ammunition for better protection of the one horned rhinos.

Madhya Pradesh sets record with plantation of 6 crores saplings in day

Germany wins 2017 Confederation Cup Football title

4 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

US rolls out expedited entry for „low-risk‟ Indian travellers

 Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna has become the first Indian national to enroll in the programme.  On landing at select airports, the programme members enter the United States through automatic kiosks, instead of queueing up to clear the immigration by meeting an immigration officer.  At these airports, the members proceed to the Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or US permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration.  The kiosk then issues the traveller a transaction receipt and directs him or her to the baggage claim and the exit.  Travellers must be pre-approved for the Global Entry programme. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrolment.  With this India has becomes only the 11th country whose citizens are eligible to enroll in the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initiative. Global Entry is currently available at 53 US airports and 15 pre-clearance locations.

NATIONAL

Reliance Jio launches world‟s longest 100Gbps submarine cable system

 Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Jio Infocomm has launched the Asia-Africa-Europe (AAE-1) submarine cable system.  It is claimed to be world‘s longest 100Gbps technology-based submarine system. It stretches for over 25,000km from Marseille, France to Hong Kong.  It will have 21 cable landings across Asia and Europe. Using it, Jio will continue to offer its customers the most exceptional high speed internet and digital service experience.

10 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

Centre, Asian Development Bank sign 220 million dollar loan

 The Centre and Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a 220 million dollar loan for improving connectivity as well as transport efficiency and safety on State Highways of Rajasthan.  The loan is the first tranche of the 500 million dollar Rajasthan State Highways Investment Program, approved by ADB Board in May this year.  An official release said the first tranche loan will improve about one thousand kilometres of State Highways and major district roads.

India placed 88th in money hoarded in Swiss banks

 As per analysis of the latest figures compiled by the Zurich based SNB (Swiss National Bank) as on 2016-end, India has slipped to the 88th place in terms of money parked by its citizens with Swiss banks.  The analysis shows that the money officially held by Indians with banks in Switzerland now accounts for a meagre 0.04% of the total funds kept by all foreign clients in the Swiss banking system.  The latest data from the SNB comes ahead of a new framework for automatic exchange of information singned between Switzerland and India to help check the black money menace. The funds mentioned are the official figures and do not indicate the quantum of black money.

ICICI Bank terminates joint venture agreement with Fairfax

 In pursuance of the proposed sale of a part of its shareholding in ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company (ICICI General) via an initial public offering, ICICI Bank said its joint venture agreement with Canada-based investment firm Fairfax Financial Holdings has been terminated.  In 2015, Fairfax Financial Holdings had increased its stake in the Indian insurance firm to 35 percent by picking up an additional 9 per cent stake in ICICI Lombard for about Rs. 1,600 crore. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has already given its initial approval to Fairfax‘s new insurance venture.

APPOINTMENT

Achal Kumar Joti appointed as Chief Election Commissioner

 President Pranab Mukherjee has appointed election commissioner Achal Kumar Joti as the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).  He will be the 21st CEC and shall succeed Nasim Zaidi. He will continue as CEC till 17 January 2018. He had joined the three-member election commission as an election commissioner in May, 2015.

5 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

BRICS „Beijing Declaration On Education‟ Adopted For More Academic Cooperation

11 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY and to undertake initiatives to promote professionalization of academics in higher education through the BRICS Network University as a focus of future education development.  The declaration emphasises to encourage more teachers and educational administrators to learn from experience of other countries in improving teacher quality and performance, and promoting the development of education through international exchanges.  It was also decided to strengthen cooperation in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), share ideas and experiences in the development of vocational educators, and develop projects that are of common interests to BRICS Member States.  The declaration also encouraged to expand the number of scholarship opportunities to students across BRICS Member States.

NATIONAL

Drug-resistant TB higher among children than expected: report

 While detection of tuberculosis (TB) in children remains a challenge, it has now emerged that Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB is higher among children than expected. This has been described as a ―worrying trend‖ by the Union Health Ministry.  As many as 5,500 of over 76,000 children tested in nine cities have been diagnosed with TB. 9% of these paediatric TB cases have been diagnosed to have MDR TB.  Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR TB) is a specific form of TB that does not respond to ―ordinary‖ TB treatment. As a result it is difficult to treat and needs specialised treatment.  MDR TB is caused by the development of TB bacteria, which have become resistant to ordinary TB drugs.

AFSPA in Nagaland extended for six months

 Entire Nagaland has been declared as ―disturbed area‖ for six more months under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere without any prior notice. In a gazette notification, the home ministry stated it is of the opinion that the area comprising the whole of Nagaland is in such a ―disturbed and dangerous condition‖ that the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary.  Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, the central government hereby declares that whole of the said state to be a ‗disturbed area‘ for a period of six months with effect from 30th June 2017 for the purpose of that Act.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

India scores well on FSB reform report card to G20

 The Financial StabilityBoard (FSB), an international body for the global financial system, has placed India in the league of countries that are 'compliant or largely compliant‘ on the implementation of priority area reforms. Ahead of the G20 Summit in Germany to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among other world leaders, the FSB has submitted its status report on progress in financial regulatory reforms in various jurisdictions, including India.  The report listed India as a ‗compliant‘ jurisdiction with regard to Basel III reforms in risk-based capital and as ‘largely compliant‘ on liquidity coverage ratio. Other countries that have been found to be ‗compliant or largely compliant‘ on these metrics include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey and the US. At the same time, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK have been found to be ‘materially non-compliant‘ on at least one parameter.

Linking Aadhaar and PAN is not mandatory for all

12 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  It has now become mandatory for everyone to link their PAN with Aadhaar with effect from July 1, 2017, as per the income tax laws. However, the government has exempted certain class of individuals from linking these two documents subject to certain conditions.  CBDT has notified that Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act is not applicable to the following individuals: Those categorised as Non-resident Indians as per the Income Tax Laws.  Not a citizen of India.  Is of age 80 years or more at any time during the tax year.  Residents of the states of Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir.  However, it should be noted here that the above mentioned categories of Individuals are exempted from the purview of section 139AA i.e. exempted from compulsory linking of PAN and Aadhaar, only if they do not possess Aadhaar or Aadhaar Enrolment ID.

GOVT SCHEME/DIGITAL INDIA

MERIT app

 The government has launched the ‗MERIT app (Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency)‘ and the e-bidding portal for providing e-Bidding solution to States to select Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for procurement of power by transferring their domestic coal under the scheme of flexibility in utilization of domestic coal.  The web portal and mobile app for Merit Order Despatch of Electricity (MERIT) have been developed in association with POSOCO.  The app displays extensive array of information regarding the merit order such as daily state-wise marginal variable costs of all generators, daily source-wise power purchases of respective states/UTs with source-wise fixed and variable costs, energy volumes and purchase prices.  The app also gives information regarding reasons for deviation from merit order such as must run conditions, transmission constraints etc.  The app and the web portal would result in optimum utilization of Coal which would save the consumer close to Rs. 20,000 crores five years down the line.

Nandan Nilekani, Helion's Sanjeev Aggarwal launch $100-million fund Fundamentum

 Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani and Helion Venture‘s Sanjeev Aggarwal have launched an investment fund called Fundamentum with a corpus of $100 million to back startups looking for growth capital.  The corpus may be extended to $200 million if the fund sees more opportunities, the two founders said.  The fund, which has so far closed $50 million, will see one-third of the corpus coming from Nilekani and Aggarwal. Fundamentum has already brought on board six entrepreneurs who will also invest in the fund.

DEFENCE „Rukmini‟ keeps eye on dancing „dragon‟ at sea

 With China increasing its naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region amid the ongoing Sikkim stand-off, the Indian Navy is keeping an eye on the ‗dragon‘ with the help of its ‗eye in the sky‘, Gsat-7 also called Rukmini, the Navy‘s own dedicated military satellite that was launched in September 2013.  It has helped the Navy monitor the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as it has a nearly 2,000 nautical mile ‗footprint‘.  The multi-band communication-cum surveillance satellite, which is operating from the geo-stationary orbit (at 36,000km altitude), provides real-time inputs to naval warships, submarines and maritime aircraft and networking capabilities to its naval assets on the high seas.  With the help of the shore-based operational centres, ‗Rukmini‘ (also called INSAT-4F) has not only helped the Navy keep an eye on both Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal but also helped the force increase its communication and surveillance capabilities from Persian Gulf to Malacca Strait, which together is equivalent to almost 70% of the IOR.

13 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Rukmini, which provides wide range of service spectrum from low bit rate voice to high bit rate data communication, has given the Navy an integrated platform and helped it overcome the limitation of ‗line of sight‘ (the straight path of signal when unobstructed by the horizon). With the help of this ‗eye in the sky‘, the Army, too, gets vital inputs about over-the-land movements.

EVENTS

Delhi Dialogue 9

 The 9th edition of the Delhi Dialogue was recently held in New Delhi. The Delhi Dialogue is an annual event to discuss politico-security, economic and socio-cultural engagement between ASEAN and India. It has been held annually since 2009.  The theme for Delhi Dialogue 9 is ―ASEAN-India Relations: Charting the Course for the Next 25 Years‖.  Delhi Dialogue is a conference in which policymakers converge to discuss a range of issues relating to India-Asean relations.  The Delhi Dialogue is being organised by the MEA in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), and other bodies of the Asean countries. 6 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

BRICS „Beijing Declaration On Education‟ Adopted For More Academic Cooperation

 BRICS ministers of education and assigned representatives have adopted ‗Beijing Declaration on Education‘ in a recently held 5th meeting of BRICS Ministers of education at Beijing.  According to the declaration, members states – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – are committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4)-Education 2030 which aims to ―Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all‖ that was set within The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  The declaration reiterated support for the BRICS Network University (NU) to collaborate in the fields of education, research and innovation. It also encouraged universities to participate in the BRICS University League.  With the Beijing declaration, BRICS member states also decided to increase cultural cooperation through language education and multilingualism to promote mutual understanding of the history and culture of BRICS member states and to undertake initiatives to promote professionalization of academics in higher education through the BRICS Network University as a focus of future education development.  The declaration emphasises to encourage more teachers and educational administrators to learn from experience of other countries in improving teacher quality and performance, and promoting the development of education through international exchanges.  It was also decided to strengthen cooperation in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), share ideas and experiences in the development of vocational educators, and develop projects that are of common interests to BRICS Member States.  The declaration also encouraged to expand the number of scholarship opportunities to students across BRICS Member States.

US calls for new U.N. sanctions against N.Korea  The United States has decided to present a draft resolution in the U.N. Security Council aimed at imposing new sanctions on North Korea as it has successfully launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).  An emergency meeting of the UNSC was called by the United States, Japan and South Korea to agree on a response to the North Korea‘s ICBM test.  In the emergency meeting, the US has said that the launch of an ICBM by the North Korea is a clear and sharp escalation.  Under the new sanctions, the US has decided to use trade restrictions targeting those countries that continue to have dealings with North Korea. France has expressed its support for a new resolution.  In last year, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) had adopted two sanctions resolutions to curtail hard currency needed to fund North Korea‘s military programs.

14 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Those resolutions paved the way for imposing bans on North Korea‘s coal exports, which is its major source of revenue. In addition, the sanctions also placed restrictions on banking and provided for mandatory searches of all cargo to and from North Korea. In total, so far six sets of sanctions have been imposed on North Korea since it has first tested an atomic device in 2006.

Nasr

 Pakistan has successfully test-fired short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile ‗Nasr‘. ‗Nasr‘ is a high-precision weapon system with the ability to be deployed quickly. It has a range of 60-70 Km.

Prime Minister Modi‟s Israel Visit

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s three-day visit to Israel which is the first by an Indian prime minister to Israel resulted in the signing of seven agreements on areas including space, tech and agriculture.

The other prominent takeaways of the visit are the following:

 OCI card- Prime Minister Modi has assured faster facilitation of OCI cards for Jewish Citizens of Indian origin in Israel. He also assured that the OCI card will be given even to those people of Indian origin who had served in the Israeli government‘s compulsory army service.  Air Connectivity -The launch of a new Air India flight connecting India and Israel was announced, the flight is expected to connect Delhi/Mumbai with Tel Aviv.  Israeli flower named after PM Modi -As a special gesture, a new fast growing Israeli Crysanthumun flower was named ―MODI‖ after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the Indian Premier‘s visit to the Danziger flower farm, which is one of the leading floriculture companies of Israel having founded in 1953.  Strategic partnership -India and Israel have announced that they have elevated their ties to a strategic partnership as India has identified Israel as a major development and technological partner. Both countries have also agreed to combat growing radicalization and terrorism and expand co-operation in cyber security.  Indian Cultural Centre- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the establishment of an Indian Cultural Centre in Israel to enhance people-to-people contacts between the two countries. Israel‘s has also voiced its strong support to promote the practice of yoga by designating June 21 as International Yoga Day.  Israel India Innovation Initiative Fund (I4F)- The $40 million Israel India Innovation Initiative Fund has been launched as a five-year technology fund with an aim at growing the business relationship between both the countries. The similar type of fund had boosted Israel‘s ties with that of the US in the past 40 years.

NATIONAL

SC asks government to formalise Election Commissioners‟ appointment through Law

 The Supreme Court has asked the Union government to formalise appointment of election commissioners through law.  Need The Supreme Court has observed that even though the Election commissioners have been so far appointed in a very fair manner, there exists a legitimate expectation in the Constitution of India that Election Commissioners, who are charged with the free and fair conduct of elections be appointed through a ―most transparent and just process‖ formalised by a law enacted by the Parliament.  According to the Supreme Court, at present due to lack of a parliamentary law, there is no transparency in the eligibility, criteria required for a person to be appointed as an election commissioner. The court has observed that even the selection procedure of the CBI Director is formalised by a written law. ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

Govt launches e-bidding portal for domestic coal-based IPPs

 The Ministry of Power launched a portal for optimum utilization of domestic coal by independent power producer (IPP). An official statement said this web portal would save the consumer close to Rs. 20,000 crore five years down the line.

15 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Acc. to Union Minister Piyush Goyal, with the help of this portal, Producers can reduce power costs by 10 paise per unit by rationalizing coal supply made possible through the e-bid portal.

EPFO signs Agreement with Five Banks  The Employees‘ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has inked an agreement with four private banks and Bank of Baroda for the purpose of collection of provident fund dues from the employers and payments to its subscribers.  This is the first time the EPFO has roped in private banks, namely, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank. Earlier, the EPFO was making use of the services of only the state-run banks. This move of the  EPFO will help the organisation to save nearly Rs 300 crore per year as the five banks have agreed to zero transaction charges.  Already the EPFO had tied up with five other banks. The five other banks are State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank, Allahabad Bank, Indian Bank and Union Bank of India.  The latest agreement will now authorise 10 banks to collect provident fund contribution and make payment to the employees. Every year, the EPFO settles around 1.16 crore claims and collects ₹75,000 crores from establishments under the EPF Act.

India to be base to economic pole of global growth: Harvard University

 According to the research conducted by the Centre for International Development at Harvard University (CID), India will be the base to the economic pole of global growth over the coming decade.  The study has stated that over the years, the economic pole of global growth has moved from China to neighbouring India and it is likely to remain over India in the coming decade. ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

In a first, „White tiger‟ spotted in Nilgiris

 A photographer named Nilanjan Ray is believed to have spotted a rare ‗white tiger‘ with a pale skin colour for the first time in the Nilgiris. The discovery has aroused interest among conservationists and forest officials.  It is yet to be ascertained whether the white tiger is a true genetic mutant. The tiger which was spotted in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve does not seem to be albino and was found to be whitish with golden brown patches.  As per the scientists, genetic mutation among tigers changes an amino acid responsible for the normal colour being formed, resulting in ―natural polymorphism‖. According to the scientists, white tigers lack pheomelanin, which is responsible for the red-yellow hue in the skin coat.

Van Mahotsav  Van Mahotsav, a week-long festival, is being celebrated in different parts of India. It is usually celebrated between 1 July to 7 July. Programmes like screening of short films and documentaries, seminars and exhibition, painting and poster competitions are organised to mark the occasion.  Van Mahotsav began in 1950, with a tree plantation drive, in which national leaders participated. The festival of tree plantation was started by Dr. K.M. Munshi, the then Union Minister for Agriculture and Food to create enthusiasm among masses for forest conservation and planting trees.  Van Mahotsav is usually observed in the first week of July every year and is celebrated on different days in different parts of India.  The objective behind celebrating Van Mahotsav is to keep local people involved in plantation drives and spread environmental awareness. AWARDS AND HONOURS

TERI ranked second among world's climate think tanks

 An international body which focuses on climate policies has ranked The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) among the top think tanks in the world. TERI was ranked number two by the International Center for Climate Governance (ICCG).

16 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The New Delhi-based think tank was ranked under the category '2016 Top Climate Think Tanks in the Rest of the World--Absolute Global Rankings' during ICCG's 23rd annual conference of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) in Athens in Greece.

APPOINTMENT

Himachal Pradesh DGP Sanjay Kumar appointed new NDRF chief

 Himachal Pradesh director general of police (DGP) Sanjay Kumar has been appointed as the new chief of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).  The Union home ministry has approved the appointment of Mr. Kumar to the top NDRF post. The post of NDRF director general (DG) fell vacant after incumbent R K Pachnanda was appointed as the chief of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). SPORTS

India ranked 96th in FIFA Rankings

 As per the updated FIFA world football rankings, the Indian national football has managed to secure the 96th spot moving up four places.  Earlier, India was placed at the 100th position. This is the best ranking secured by India in 21 years. India had ranked 101st in the FIFA rankings for April.

7 JULY NATIONAL

Jammu & Kashmir Assembly passes resolution to implement GST in the state

 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly adopted a resolution to implement the goods and services tax (GST), bringing the state‘s indirect taxation into the new unified tax regime that the rest of the country adopted on 1 July at a landmark ceremony in Parliament.  With this Jammu and Kashmir has become the last state to pass the GST bill in the state.

India declares itself free from Bird Flu

 India has declared itself free from Bird Flu (highly pathogenic Avian Influenza – H5N1 and H5N8) and notified it to the World Organisation for Animal Health.  The move will help it resume export of poultry products to the countries which had banned trade in such items early this year.

India‟s New, Tough Anti-Hijacking Law Comes Into Force

 India‘s new law that ramps up punishment for hijacking and prescribes death penalty for hijackers who cause loss of life in an aircraft or on ground has come into force. Parliament cleared the law in 2016 but it hadn‘t come into force so far because the government hadn‘t framed the rules.  The new Anti-Hijacking Act replaces a 1982-vintage law that parliament was felt was far too weak and narrow.  The new law has expanded the definition of a hijacking and covers offences against an aircraft or personnel even when it is on ground. Any attack on an aircraft when it is being prepared for a flight to 24 hours after it has landed will be considered under laws that deal with hijack. This is to include the possibility of a silent attack with biological weapons, the impact of which could be felt even a day later.  Following the amendments, the perpetrators of hijacking would now be punishable with death penalty where such an act results in the death of ―any person‖. Besides broadening the definition of hijacking, it also provides for an enhanced punishment to the perpetrators.

17 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  It also includes several acts within the definition of hijacking including making a threat, attempts or abetment to commit the offence. Those organises or directs others to commit such offence will also be considered to have committed the offence of hijacking.  The new law mandates the central government to confer powers of investigation, arrest and prosecution on any officer of the central government or National Investigation Agency (NIA).

No-detention policy to go from 2018

 The government has decided to do away with the no-detention policy for students from the next academic session.  The decision was taken following representation from most of the States as they said the standard of education had deteriorated because of the policy.

India ranked 23rd in second Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI)  India has been ranked 23rd out of 165 nations in the second Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) that measures the commitment of nations across the world to cyber security. The Index has been released by the UN telecommunications agency International Telecommunication Union (ITU).  India has been listed in the ―maturing category‖ of the index with a score of 0.683. Around 77 countries have been placed in the maturing category as they have developed complex commitments to cyber security and engage in cybersecurity programmes and initiatives.  Singapore has topped the index with a score of 0.925. Singapore is followed by United States (2nd), Malaysia (3rd), Oman (4th), Estonia (5th), Mauritius (6th), Australia (7th), Georgia (8th), France (9th), Canada (10th) and Russia (11th). China has been placed at 34th.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

AIIB approves USD 329 mn loan to build roads in Gujarat

 China-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) announced its approval to a $329 million loan to build access roads across 4,000 villages in Gujarat.  The funds have been approved to construct road linkages for last-mile connectivity to schools and tribal areas in 33 districts of the state

India slips to be 4th largest investor into UK:

 India has slipped by one spot to become the fourth-largest foreign investor into the UK. India shares the fourth spot with Australia and New Zealand, which also set up 127 projects collectively. The US remains on the top, investing in 577 projects in the UK, with China (including Hong Kong) remaining in second place with 160 projects.

RBI limits Customer liability in Online Banking  RBI has issued directions on ‗Customer Protection – Limiting Liability of Customers in unauthorised Electronic Banking Transactions‘.  RBI has issued the revised directions amidst a recent increase in customer grievances related to unauthorised transactions.

Indus OS partners with YES Bank to launch OS-integrated UPI platform  Indus OS has partnered with YES Bank to launch OS-integrated UPI (Unified Payment Interface) payment platform in India.  Users with Indus OS will be able to use this UPI payment platform on SMS, dialer interface, and on third party apps like WhatsApp. This means P2P transactions, as well as utility payments, can be made via SMS or messaging. The platform is expected to launch in this quarter.

GOVT SCHEME

18 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY Jigyasa, a student- scientist connect programme has officially been launched in Delhi.

 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has joined hands with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to implement this programme. The focus is on connecting school students and scientists so as to extend student‘s classroom learning with that of a very well planned research laboratory based learning.  The ―JIGYASA‖ would inculcate the culture of inquisitiveness on one hand and scientific temper on the other, amongst the school students and their teachers.  The Programme is expected to connect 1151 Kendriya Vidyalayas with 38 National Laboratories of CSIR targeting 100,000 students and nearly 1000 teachers annually.  The program will also enable the students and teachers to practically live the theoretical concepts taught in science by visiting CSIR laboratories and by participating in mini-science projects. The model of engagement includes:

 Student Residential Programmes.  Scientists as Teachers and Teachers as Scientists.  Lab specific activities / Onsite Experiments.  Visits of Scientists to Schools/Outreach Programmes.  Science and Maths Clubs.  Popular Lecture Series/ demonstration programme at Schools.  Student Apprenticeship Programmes.  Science Exhibitions.  Projects of National Children‘s Science Congress.  Teacher Workshops.  Tinkering Laboratories.

Garib Nawaz Skill Development Centres:

 The government is planning to establish Garib Nawaz Skill Development Centres in 100 districts of the country.  These centres will effectively ensure employment oriented skill development of youth belonging to Minority communities.  In next six months, Garib Nawaz Skill Development Centres, providing job oriented skill training in various fields, will be established in Hyderabad, Noida, Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Bhopal, Indore etc.

APPOINTMENT

Sanjiv Goenka named as IIT-Kharagpur chairman

 RP Sanjiv Goenka Group Chairman, Sanjiv Goenka, has been named as the Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT-Kharagpur.  He will serve as the Chairman for three years. SPORTS

Pankaj Advani-led Indian team beat Pakistan to clinch Asian Snooker Championship

 India‘s leading cueist Pankaj Advani teamed up with Laxman Rawat to demolish Pakistan in the final of the Asian Team Snooker Championship in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Advani pieced together a brilliant break of 83 to seal the first tie of the best-of-five final.

Manpreet Kaur, Govindan Laxmanan win gold in Asian Athletics Championships

 India‘s Manpreet Kaur claimed the gold medal in the women‘s shot put on the opening day of the Asian Athletics Championships 2017 at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.  Govindan Laxmanan emerged triumphant in the men‘s 5,000 meters and has also won Gold Medal

8 JULY

19 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY INTERNATIONAL

India and Bangladesh have decided to construct bridge along Mizoram Border

 India and Bangladesh have decided to construct a bridge over Mizoram‘s Khawthlangtuipui river (also known as Karnaphuli river) to facilitate trade and to improve communication between the two countries.  The decision was taken after officials from both the side met at Tlabung town in Mamit district of Mizoram.  The Mamit district is situated adjacent to Khagrachari district of Southeast Bangladesh. The proposed bridge is expected to be constructed as closer as possible to the nearest custom station located in the Bangladesh side.

122 countries adopt 'historic' UN treaty to ban nuclear weapons  122 countries approved the first-ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons at the UN meeting boycotted by all nuclear-armed nations. One country the Netherlands voting against while Singapore abstained.  None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons the United States, Russia, Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel took part in the negotiations or the vote.  Even Japan the only country to have suffered atomic attacks, in 1945 boycotted the talks as did most NATO countries.

NATIONAL

National ST Commission to take action on video films of Jaravas on YouTube

 Taking suo-moto cognizance of objectionable video films and pictures of protected Jarava and other tribal communities of Andaman Islands on YouTube social media platform, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribe (NCST) has initiated action on it.  The commission has decided to take up the matter with Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Chief Secretary of A&N Island for removal of these objectionable video films from YouTube and initiate action on those who uploaded these video clips on social media platform.  As per provisions of Andaman and Nicobar Island (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956 (PAT), the Andamanese, Jarawas, Onges, Sentinelese, Nicobarese and Shom Pens have been identified as ―aboriginal tribes‖.  The PAT contains the provisions of protection of these communities from the outside interference.  Penalty provisions for promoting tourism through advertisement relating to aboriginal tribes has also been made in the year 2012.  Whoever enters these areas in contravention of the notification under section 7 (which prohibits entry into reserve areas) for taking photographs or making videos shall be punishable with imprisonment up to three years.  Besides, Section 3 (i) (r) of the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act) also accords protection. ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

MRP to be sole price decider from Jan 1, 2018

 From January 1, 2018, the price of a packaged good would no longer depend on where you bought it- be it a local Kirana store, a mall, a five-star hotel or an airport. The Consumer Affairs Ministry has amended the rules that govern packaged commodities to this effect.  As per the amended Legal Metrology rules for packaged commodities, the Centre has clarified that the retail sale price shall be the maximum retail price (MRP) inclusive of all taxes, with the provision to round off the price to the nearest rupee or 50 paise.

Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance ties up with Dhanlaxmi Bank for marketing bancassurance

 Private life insurance company Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance has entered into an alliance with the Kerala-based Dhanlaxmi Bank for marketing various life insurance products.

20 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  As part of the agreement, the Bank will be a corporate agent for 3 years. All the life insurance products of Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance would be made available to customers of Dhanlaxmi Bank and would be sold by the licensed staff of the bank.

First Maize Based Mega Food Park in Kapurthala, Punjab

 The foundation stone for First Maize based Mega Food Park was recently laid in Kapurthala, Punjab. Kapurthala has been declared as a Dark Zone district where slow desertification is happening because of overexploitation of water due to cash crops. Establishment of this Mega Food Park will result in the development of this Dark Zone which includes Job opportunities, Environmental Conservation.  Maize is an amazing cereal and is an alternate to Jhona (paddy) and Kanak (wheat). Maize is rich in protein, provides nutritional requirements that India needs and Maize consumes much lesser water and could contain the problem of further water depletion.  Maize Based Mega Food Park is the first major and serious step in the history of India for containing the desertification problem of Punjab and would make farmers turn to maize cultivation which need less water for more production.  Maize is being used by different industries for seed, starch, brewery, food additives, sweeteners etc and it is also a basic raw material to thousands of industrial products like oil, proteins, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, beverages, film, textile, gum, value added foods, paper industries, bio-ethanol etc.

RBI allows NBFCs to offer new pension scheme  The Reserve Bank of India has allowed systematically important non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) to sell and market the new pension scheme (NPS).  NBFCs with asset size of Rs500 crore and above that have made a net profit in the preceding financial year be permitted to sell NPS to their clients after registration with the pension regulator

GOVT SCHEME

Scheme for IPR Awareness – Creative India; Innovative India

 Taking forward the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy 2016, a ‗Scheme for IPR Awareness – Creative India; Innovative India‘ has been launched by Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.  The Scheme aims at raising IPR awareness amongst students, youth, authors, artists, budding inventors and professionals to inspire them to create, innovate and protect their creations and inventions across India including Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 cities as well as rural areas in the next 3 years.  The Scheme will conduct over 4000 IPR awareness workshops/seminars in academic institutions (schools and colleges) and the industry ,including MSMEs and Startups, as also IP training and sensitization programmes for enforcement agencies and the judiciary.  Workshops will cover all vital IP topics including international filing procedures, promotion of Geographical Indications and highlighting the ill effects of piracy and counterfeiting. EVENTS

12th G20 Summit held in Hamburg, Germany

 Hamburg hosted the twelfth G20 Summit on the 7th and 8th of July, 2017. The G20, or group of 20, is an international meeting between heads of states, finance ministers and central bank governors from the world‘s leading economies.  German Chancellor Angela Merkel is hosting this year‘s G20 Summit in Hamburg.  Leaders of the G20 countries agreed to swift action and targeted exchange of information on terrorism and its financing. The leaders also decided that the private sector will also be involved in the global efforts to counter terror financing.  The leaders have also pledged for a joint crackdown on the global scourge of terrorism and check its funding sources.

21 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY AWARDS

Indian-origin man Guruswamy Jayraman awarded Australia‟s highest civilian award

 Guruswamy Jayraman, a 69-year-old Glenwood resident who migrated from Delhi to Australia in 1991, has been awarded Order of Australia for community work, the highest civilian award in Australia.  He holds a graduate diploma in health counseling and in medical terminology and counseling.

PERSONS IN NEWS

Saima Wazed Hossain appointed WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Autism in South Asia

 Saima Wazed Hossain, a globally renowned champion for the cause of autism spectrum disorder has been appointed as the WHO's goodwill ambassador for autism in the world body's Southeast Asia region.  Her appointment is for a period of two years. As WHO Goodwill Ambassador, Hossain will be promoting the Thimphu Declaration which emphasizes on integrating the needs of autism affected people into national health and socioeconomic development plans. APPOINTMENT

Indian Ambassador to Peru Sandeep Chakravorty appointed New York Consul General

 India‘s Ambassador to Peru Sandeep Chakravorty has been appointed as the head of the Indian consulate in New York.  The 1996 Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer will replace Riva Ganguly Das as Consul General in one of the busiest Indian diplomatic missions overseas.

PLACES IN NEWS

UNESCO puts Hebron on endangered heritage list, outraging Israel:

 The U.N. cultural agency has declared the old city in the West Bank town of Hebron as a Palestinian world heritage site, a decision that outraged Israeli officials who say the move negated the deep Jewish ties to the biblical town and its ancient shrine.  The move was the latest chapter in Israel‘s contentious relationship with UNESCO, an agency it accuses of being an anti-Israeli tool that makes decisions out of political considerations.

9 JULY

NATIONAL

India plans to invite Leaders of ASEAN countries for 2018 Republic Day celebrations

India is planning to invite the leaders of the 10 ASEAN nations for the Republic Day parade for 2018. It has been announced on 8th of July 2017.

Key Points:

 It is being seen as a major step towards the government‘s ‗Act East‘ policy.  It will bring together leaders from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.  This year also marks the 25th year of dialogue partnership between India and ASEAN.  It will be the first Republic day for India where so many chief guests will be invited.  World leaders like former US President Barack Obama, former French president François Hollande and UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have been chief guests at Republic Day celebrations in the past.  Through ASEAN India has enhanced its maritime cooperation and realised the full potential of its ocean economy.

22 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  India will continue to step up cooperation in countering terrorism, piracy and other transnational crimes. About ASEAN

 Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) is an international organization.  On 8th August 1967, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines formed the ASEAN.  Chairman: Rodrigo Duterte  Secretary General: Le Luong Minh

Ahmedabad declared as India‟s first Heritage city by UNESCO

 The 600 year old Walled City of Ahmedabad has been declared as India‘s first World Heritage City.  Delhi and Mumbai were also among the race.  Ahmedabad‘s nomination received huge support from 20 countries for the peaceful co-existence of Hindu, Islamic, Jain communities in Walled City area.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

India to join new Global foreign exchange committee

 India will soon get a seat on the Global Foreign Exchange Committee (GFXC), a newly-constituted forum of central bankers and experts working towards promotion of a robust and transparent forex market.  The Financial Stability Board (FSB), an international body for global financial system, in a progress report on ‗reducing misconduct risks in the financial sector‘.  The committee was set up in London during a meeting in May 2017 of public and private sector representatives from the foreign exchange committees of 16 international forex trading centres.

Nepal SBI launches first paperless Banking services sbiINTOUCH  Nepal SBI Bank, a subsidiary of the State Bank of India, on 8th July launched its fully automatic digital banking services sbiINTOUCH in Kathmandu.  This is for the first time the State Bank of India has expanded the paperless banking system outside India.  Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Chirinjibi Nepal, SBI Banks chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri, jointly inaugurated the new service in Nepal.  It will offer customers products like Savings Bank, Saral Bachat Account and Combo Savings Account and the branch will have facilities like kiosks for account opening, debit card printing and ATM.  The digital banking unit also has a robot, which provides important information to customers in an interactive manner.  Under the DigiNepal SBI launches first paperless Banking services sbiINTOUCHtal Village initiative, the NSBL has adopted Jaharsing Pauwa village to provide financial literacy centres and other banking facilities to the 2,200 villagers. GOVT SCHEME

President Mukherjee launched four digital initiatives over e-education

 President Pranab Mukherjee on 9th July launched digital initiatives Swayam, Swayam Prabha, National Academic Depository and National Digital Library in New Delhi to push e-education in the country.  According to ministry of human resource development (MHRD) these initiatives will increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in the higher education from 5 (2015-16) to 30 by 2020.  These courses have been developed by over 1,000 expert faculty members from institutions like IITs, Delhi University and JNU. EVENTS

First International Aviation Security seminar organised by National Security Guard in Haryana

23 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  On 6th and 7th July, 2017, National Security Guard (NSG) organised First First International Aviation Security seminar organised by National Security Guard in HaryanaInternational Aviation Security Seminar in Manesar, Haryana.  The seminar was inaugurated by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha on July 6, 2017, whereas Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (I/C) Rajiv Pratap Rudy attended the seminar on the second day.  Rudy also unfurled the tricolor at the 26th highest Monumental Flagpole in the NSG campus.

First Edition of WINGS 2017 – “Sab Uden, Sab Juden”- Expanding Regional Connectivity Hosted in New Delhi

 The First edition of WINGS 2017 – ―Sab Uden, Sab Juden‖- Expanding Regional Connectivity was hosted in New Delhi by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The Plenary session was chaired by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju.  This event brought together the key stakeholders of the Aviation Sector such as States, Tourism Departments, and Tour Operators as a Group representing airline consumers to facilitate interaction with various airlines, airport operators, cargo operators and other ecosystem players at a common forum. ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

India emerging as front-runner in fight against climate change: World Bank

 According to the World Bank, India is emerging as a front runner in the global fight against climate change,with a sweeping commitment to solar power, innovative solutions and energy efficiency initiatives to supply its people with 24×7 electricity by 2030.  India is contributing to global efforts to save the planet from the effects of climate change with its conscious choice to use significantly more clean energy to fuel its growth  World Bank said the country also walked away from plans to install nearly 14 GW of coal-fired power plants.  The Indian government is setting ambitious targets that include 160 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar by 2022 which will help hundreds of million people light their homes.  With nearly 300 days of sunshine every year, India has among the best conditions in the world to capture and use solar energy. PERSONS IN NEWS

Ranveer, Prabhas in GQ‟s Most Influential Young Indians list

 Actor Ranveer Singh has featured in GQ‘s Most Influential Young Indians 2017. ‗Baahubali‘ actor Prabhas with other actors have featured in the Most Influential Young Indians Artistes list by GQ India magazine.  The GQ Power List was out on 8th July.  This year, the list includes individuals who have built companies and assembled fortunes – and none of them is older than 40.  Some of the other names to feature in the list include Reliance business scion Akash Ambani, Lipstick Under My Burkha writer-director Alankrita Shrivastava, Amrita Pandey, vice president jof studios at Disney India, Amazon India head Nitesh Kripalani.  It includes Young Indians from a diverse section of professions varying from business, media food and drinks, entertainment, , sports and real estate among others.

APPOINTMENT

John Joseph to take charge as chief of GST intelligence agency

 John Joseph has been appointed Director General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DG GSTI) on 9th of July 2017.

OBITUARY

24 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY True Blood‟ actor Nelsan Ellis dead at 39

 Actor Nelsan Ellis was best known for playing Lafayette Reynolds on the HBO series ―True Blood,‖ has died at the age of 39.

SPORTS

Atthaya Thitikul becomes youngest Ladies European Tour winner

Teenage Atthaya Thitikul became the youngest winner on the Ladies European Tour on 9th of July 2017.The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women.

10 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

G-20 leaders propose Hamburg Action Plan at summit conclusion

 The two-day G-20 summit that took place in Germany‘s Hamburg city ended with the leaders proposing the Hamburg Action Plan to address major global challenges, including climate change, harnessing digitalisation, and to contribute to prosperity and well-being.  The leaders pledged to progress towards their joint objective in the G20, which is strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. They resolved to tackle common challenges to the global community, including terrorism, displacement, poverty, hunger and health threats, job creation, climate change, energy security, and inequality including gender inequality, as a basis for sustainable development and stability.  In order to improving sustainable livelihoods, the G-20 leaders collectively committed to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through, among others, increased innovation on sustainable and clean energies and energy efficiency, and work towards low greenhouse-gas emission energy systems.  The Leaders of the other G-20 members also agreed that the Paris Agreement is irreversible reiterated the importance of fulfilling the UNFCCC commitment by developed countries in providing means of implementation including financial resources to assist developing countries with respect to both mitigation and adaptation actions in line with Paris outcomes.  The leaders stressed on the importance of harnessing the benefits of globalisation, reaffirm the importance of transparency for predictable and mutually beneficial trade relations, harness digitalisation to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  The leaders underlined to boost employment by improving sustainable global supply chains, which have been recognised as an important source of job creation and balanced economic growth.  The leaders resolved to make a resilient global financial system in agreed international standards, to support sustainable growth.  The G-20 leaders also called for safeguarding against health crises and strengthening health systems. The leaders called on the United Nations to keep global health high on the political agenda and strive for cooperative action to strengthen health systems worldwide, including through developing the health workforce.  The leaders also stressed on combatting Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), which is a growing threat to public health and economic growth.

NATIONAL

Government merges Ministries of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation

 The Union Government has merged the Ministries of Urban Development and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation to form the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. With this merger, the Union Government now has 51 ministries.  In 2004, there were total 42 ministries. The first government in independent India had just 17 ministries.

25 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The merger of ministries involved in policy making in urban areas into single ministry will help to ensure cohesiveness in formulating policies related to urban issues and cut the flab in bureaucracy.  These two ministries have a long history of mergers and de-mergers. This is third time the ministries have been merged. In 1952, they were one ministry which was known as the Ministry of Works, Housing and Supply. They were demerged in 1999, merged again in 2000 and bifurcated again in 2004.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

GMR gets Rs. 1,330 cr loan from Axis Bank for developing Mopa airport

 GMR Goa International Airports Ltd, a subsidiary of GMR Airports Ltd, has executed a debt facility agreement for the development of Greenfield airport at Mopa.  The entire debt of Rs. 1,330 crore was underwritten by Axis Bank on a long tenor door to door basis of 18 years on competitive terms. India to import crude oil from US for first time

 India, the world's third-largest oil importer, will import crude oil from the United States for the first time after Indian Oil Corp bought a cargo that will be delivered in October 2017.  India is the latest Asian country to buy US crude after South Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, Australia and Taiwan as the countries seek to diversify oil imports from other regions after the OPEC cuts drove up prices of Middle East heavy-sour crude, or grades with a high sulphur content.

Saint Mother Teresa‟s blue-bordered sari an Intellectual Property:

 The famous blue-bordered sari of Mother Teresa, who has been canonised as Saint Teresa of Calcutta by the Vatican, has been recognised as an Intellectual Property of the Missionaries of Charity.  The Trade Marks Registry, Government of India, has granted the registration of the trade mark for that pattern of blue border of sari.

GOVT SCHEME/DIGITAL INDIA

Aaykar Setu: Government launches new tax payer service module  The Union Finance Ministry has launched Aaykar Setu, a new tax payer service module.  The new e-initiative literally means taxpayer‘s bridge and will be available in android phones.  It compiles various tax tools, dynamic updates, live chat facility and important links to various processes within the Income Tax Department (ITD) in a single module.

“Programme 17 for 17”

 It is a 17 point action plan for 2017 – for building digital campuses and high quality education.  The action plan covers measures like universal adoption of digital education, digital financial transactions in the campuses from the current academic year.  It was adopted at the end of the recently concluded National Convention of Vice Chancellors of all Universities in the Country, and Heads of IISc/IITs/IIMs/NITs/IIITs.

DEFENCE India, US and Japan navies kick off 2017 Malabar Exercise  India, Japan and United States (US) navies have kicked off 2017 MALABAR trilateral naval Exercise near Chennai in Bay of Bengal.  This year it is the 21st edition of the naval exercise.  In this edition of the exercise, total of around 15 warships, two submarines and scores of fighter jets, surveillance aircraft and helicopters from three navies will take part.

26 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The 8 day long Malabar 2017 exercise consists of both ashore and at-sea activities. This year operations of the exercise include anti-submarine warfare, familiarization with inter-operability between maritime forces, search and rescue and seizure missions and many other drills. One of the main goals of this edition of the exercise is ―submarine-hunting‖.  The goal carries subtext given the ever-increasing and regular operation of Chinese Navy submarines in the Indian Ocean.  This year, two aircraft carriers from India and US and a Japanese helicopter destroyer form part of the warships that will join the naval drills. Participants from US Navy include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz with embarked Carrier Air Wing 11; guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton; guided-missile destroyers USS Howard, USS Shoup and USS Kidd; a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft; and a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine. From Indian Navy, aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya is participating for the first time.  Two Kamorta class anti-submarine warfare corvettes, two Shivalik class frigates and tanker INS Jyoti are also participating. The Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSD) ships JS Izumo and JS Sazanami are participating in the exercise. EVENTS

World Petroleum Congress at Istanbul, Turkey

 The 22nd World Petroleum Congress (WPC) International Conference has begun at Istanbul, Turkey. India is also taking part in the conference.  The tri-annual WPC Conference is widely recognized as the `Olympics` of the oil and gas industry.  It attracts Ministers, CEOs of Oil and Gas MNCs, experts and academics from the hydrocarbon sectors and provides an ideal forum to showcase potential of countries‘ hydrocarbon sector.  It also provides a platform to interact with policy makers, technologists, scientists, planners and management experts. SPORTS

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas wins Austrian Grand Prix

 Valtteri Bottas roared to the second victory of his career when he won the Austrian Grand Prix for Mercedes.  Bottas finished ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo, who finished second and third respectively. Three-time Formula One champion, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton finished fourth in the race.

11 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

Khaltmaa Battulga elected as Mongolian president

 Mongolian Businessman and Martial Arts expert Khaltmaa Battulga was sworn in as president, vowing to revive the flagging economy and pursue relations with countries outside its giant neighbors Russia and China.  Battulga replaces Tsakhia Elbegdorj after the outgoing president served the maximum four-year terms for two times.

NATIONAL

Committee formed to study legalities for separate State flag

 The Karnataka State government has constituted a nine-member committee headed by Principal Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture, to study and submit a report to the government on the possibility of ―designing a separate flag for Karnataka and providing it a statutory standing.‖  Recently, some activists had urged the government to design a separate flag for Kannada ‗naadu‘ and accord statutory standing for that.  In S.R. Bommai v/s Union of India (Supreme Court 1994) case, the Supreme Court has declared that federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution and States are supreme in their sphere. This being the Constitutional position, there is no prohibition in the Constitution for the State to have its own flag. However, the manner in which the

27 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY State flag is hoisted should not dishonour the national flag. It has to be always below the national flag. The national flag code specifically authorises use of other flags subject to the regulation by the court. So, State flag is not unauthorised.

Rajasthan: First State to fix minimum education qualification for cooperative body poll  Rajasthan has become the first State in the country to lay down the minimum educational qualifications for contesting elections to village cooperative societies and various other cooperative bodies.  In this regard, state government has amended State Cooperative Societies Rules, 2003. The new rules would benefit about 10,000 cooperative and agricultural credit societies. Moreover, the benefit of education will accrue to the societies as their management will go to expert hands.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

Finance Ministry launched next gold bond tranche

 The next tranche of sovereign gold bond (SGB) scheme was launched recently by the Government. This time, providing a 2.5 percent annual interest to investors.  The bonds will be available in banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post offices and recognized stock exchanges namely National Stock Exchange of India Limited(NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange(BSE).  Finance Ministry has announced the sixth tranche of gold bonds applications for which will be accepted from July 10 to July 14, 2017, according to the finance ministry. The bonds will be issued to eligible applicants on July 28.  The minimum investment will be 1 gram of gold. The maximum limit can be subscribed up to 500 grams per person per fiscal year.

RBI amends order on bankruptcy action on 12 large NPAs

 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has amended its earlier order asking banks to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against 12 companies which have outstanding loans amounting to over Rs 5,000 crore as on March 2016.  The amendment, made through a notification, comes after the Gujarat High Court asked the RBI to remove the stipulation on its order last month that the 12 non-performing assets (NPAs), or bad loans, would be granted priority at the National Company Law Tribunal.  Essar Steel, one of the 12 large NPAs identified by the RBI, had approached the Gujarat High Court for the RBI proceedings.

Over Rs 57,000 crore saved through DBT: Government  The Union Government has saved around Rs 57,000 crore in 2016-17 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme under which subsidies are given directly to beneficiaries.  In 2017-18, the beneficiary base rose from 10.71 crore in 2013-14 to 35.62 crore. A total of 485 schemes have been identified from 60 ministries for the DBT.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

Sri Lanka bans bottom-trawling

 Sri Lanka has banned the destructive fishing practice of bottom-trawling in their waters, making violators liable for a fine of LKR 50,000 (approximately ₹20,000) and face two years imprisonment.  In this regard, an Amendment to the country‘s Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act was passed unanimously, in effect declaring the fishing method an offence.  Bottom trawling is a destructive fishing practice which affects the marine ecosystem. The practice, which involves trawlers dragging weighted nets along the sea floor, is known to cause great depletion of fishery resources, and curbing it is in the interest of sustainable fishing.

28 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The development could directly impact a section of fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who engage in bottom-trawling and have often been found trespassing into Sri Lanka‘s territorial waters. Vaccine shows protection against gonorrhea for first time: Scientists

 Scientists from New Zealand for the first time have claimed that vaccine can protect against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea.  They have found that Men B jab vaccine originally developed to stop an outbreak of meningitis B can protect from gonorrhoea.  Scientists claim was based on analysis of vaccination data of about a million adolescents in New Zealand who were vaccinated by Men B jab vaccine between 2004 and 2006.  They found that gonorrhoea cases had fallen by 31% in vaccinated adolescents. The bacterium that causes meningitis, Neisseria meningitidis, is a very close relative of the bacterium species Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which causes gonorrhoea.  Thus, it appears the Men B jab vaccine is giving ―cross-protection‖ against gonorrhoea.

IMPORTANT DAYS

11 July: World Population Day

 The World Population Day is observed across the world on July 11 to attention on the urgency and importance of population issue.  Observance of the day aims at increase people‘s awareness on various population issues such as the importance of family planning, maternal health, gender equality, poverty and human rights.  2017 theme: “Family Planning- Empowering People, Developing Nations”. The theme highlights importance of family planning as it allows people to attain their desired number of children and determine the spacing of pregnancies. AWARDS AND HONOURS

IROAF wins Golden Peacock Award for Eco Innovation for the year 2017:

 Indian Railways Organization for Alternate Fuel (IROAF) has won the Golden Peacock Award for Eco Innovation for the year 2017 for Eco-Innovation for substitution of fossil fuels (Diesel) by environment friendly CNG in DEMU passenger train services. Use of CNG in Train Sets for passenger transportation has been done for the first time in the world.  Golden Peacock Awards, instituted by the Institute Of Directors (IOD), India in 1991, are now regarded as a benchmark of Corporate Excellence worldwide. Golden Peacock awards have become a hallmark of excellence, both locally & globally. Based on internationally recognised criteria, the credibility of these awards lies in the transparency depth & impartiality of the assessment process.  IROAF is a unique organization in the Government space which was established by Ministry of Railways to explore new environment friendly fuels/ renewable energy and eco- friendly technologies like substitution of diesel with CNG/LNG in train sets, replacing acetylene/LPG by CNG/LNG for metal cutting in Railway Workshops, proliferating and promoting use of Bio-Diesel in Railway Locomotives etc.  The organization is a premier single window agency of Indian Railways to work as a knowledge base and explore and prove out new fuels and technologies for Indian Railways with a view to being down Indian Railways fuel bill and at the same time achieve a shift towards greener fuels / renewable energy sources for a sustainable future.

APPOINTMENT

Leslie Thng to take over as new CEO of Vistara

 The board of TATA SIA Airlines Ltd, which owns and operates the full-service airline Vistara, has appointed former SilkAir head Leslie Thng as Vistara‘s new chief executive officer (CEO), effective from October 2017.

PLACES IN NEWS

29 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY Okinoshima Island: Japan‟s men-only island gets UNESCO heritage tag

 Okinoshima Island, Japan‘s men-only island was declared as a UNESCO world heritage site.  The island will be the 17th set of Japanese cultural assets to be granted this status and overall 21st in the list.  The island is part of the prefecture‘s Munakata region.  It is located in south-west Japan between the main island of Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).  It still follow strict taboos from ancient times, including the controversial ban on women from entering the island SPORTS

P V Sindhu bags „Sportsperson of the Year‟ award

 Rio Olympics silver medallist P V Sindhu was bestowed with the 'Sportsperson of the Year' award during the ‗Maruti Suzuki Sportsperson of the Year‘ Charity Gala Awards.  ii. Milkha Singh was given the Living Legend of the Year award.  Young India cricketer K L Rahul, who made a mark in the last Test series against Australia, was awarded Gamechanger of the Year award.  The 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist and the country‘s sole gold medal winner in individual events at Olympics, Abhinav Bindra was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

BCCI appoints Ravi Shastri as new head coach of Indian cricket team

 The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named former Indian all-rounder and captain Ravi Shastri as the new chief coach of the Indian cricket team till ICC World Cup 2019.  He will succeed Anil Kumble who had resigned from the post after the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. 12 JULY

NATIONAL

SC stays cattle sale rules across nation

 The Supreme Court has stayed centre‘s May 26th notification banning the sale of cattle in livestock markets for slaughter and religious sacrifices. The order came after the centre accepted that public outcry and objections from the states about the law‘s impact on livelihoods made it realise that the rules need tweaking.  The court was taking up a bunch of petitions challenging the amendments to the rules framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.  The centre, on May 26th, notified the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017. The notification banned the sale of cattle in livestock market for slaughter and religious sacrifices. This had dismayed cattle traders, butchers and beef eaters. Farmers were also hit as they were also barred from selling non-milch and ageing cattle thus being deprived of their traditional incomes. Various states too opposed the notification saying that it would impact the livelihoods of many.  The validity of the rules was challenged in various high courts and the SC. The Madurai bench of Madras HC had stayed the rules.  The centre has acknowledged that the law needs some tweaking keeping in mind the concerns raised by various stakeholders. It has also clarified that tweaking does not mean repeal. It would shortly come out with necessary amendments.

Union Cabinet approves establishment of International Rice Research Institute in Varanasi  The Union Cabinet has approved establishment of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) set up a regional centre International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a global rice research institute.  It will be named as IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) and will be set up at campus of National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates „Ashiana Annexe‟ in Dehradun, Uttarakhand

30 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY

 President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the annexe of the presidential retreat Ashiana which has accommodation facilities for accompanying officers and staff of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.  The Ashiana retreat was built originally as a bungalow of the commandant of the President's Bodyguard and was revived by Mukherjee after long years of disuse. K R Narayanan, in March 1998, was the last president to stay here.

Maharashtra, first state in the country to launch free injectable contraceptive for women  Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to provide women an injectable contraceptive for free. The state‘s public health department launched a program called Antara to offer women an injection of Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a birth-control hormone.  The announcements were made on the occasion of World Population Day (11th July). According to state health officials, the injection, a safe means of birth control, is effective for three months. The injection will be given intramuscularly to women in the age bracket of 18-45 years.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

 India to become largest milk producer in 2026: OECD-FAO report J

 According to recently released OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2017-2026, India will be the world‘s largest milk producer by 2026 and will account for the biggest increase in wheat production globally.  Over the first quarter of the 21st century, milk production in India will be nearly tripled. Over the course of the outlook period, milk production in India will grow 49% and in 2026, India will become the world‘s largest milk producer, with an output one-third above European Union, second largest producer.

Axis Bank ties up with IIC to boost trade with Latin America

 Axis Bank has entered into a collaboration with Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) to facilitate trade with Latin America and the Caribbean.  Axis Bank becomes the first Indian bank to participate in the Trade Finance Facilitation Programme as a confirming bank. IIC, a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, is a multilateral development bank committed to supporting the private sector in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Venkaiah Naidu releases new version of NHB RESIDEX  Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs M Venkaiah Naidu released the new version of NHB RESIDEX on the occasion of the annual day of National Housing Bank, entering its 30th year in New Delhi.  The NHB RESIDEX captures movements in the prices of residential real estate prices. NHB RESIDEX for January-March,2017 revealed that price indices for residential properties based on actual market prices for ongoing construction prices have increased over the previous quarter in 24 of the 47 cities covered in the Index.

DEFENCE

HAL signs MoU with Defence Ministry

 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed an MoU for the financial year 2017-18 with the Ministry of Defence. The annual MoU was signed between Ashok Kumar Gupta, Secretary, Department of Defence Production and T Suvarna Raju, CMD-HAL.  The MoU has outlined targets on various performance parameters of the company during the year 2017-18. The revenue from operations has been targeted at Rs. 17,900 crore, the highest ever.

EVENTS

India to celebrate Falun Gong

31 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Falun Gong, the ancient Chinese holistic system that is banned in China, will be celebrated in India on July 15 with a parade and Human Word Formation in the capital. The event would highlight the persecution against the practitioners in China. The practice is banned in China.  Falun Gong is a Chinese spiritual practice that combines meditation and qigong exercises with a moral philosophy centered on the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.  The practice emphasizes morality and the cultivation of virtue, and identifies as a qigong practice of the Buddhist school, though its teachings also incorporate elements drawn from Taoist traditions.  Through moral rectitude and the practice of meditation, practitioners of Falun Gong aspire to eliminate attachments, and ultimately to achieve spiritual enlightenment.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

Earth facing sixth mass extinction

 The sixth mass extinction of life on Earth is unfolding more quickly than feared, scientists have warned. Scientists call this as a case of biological annihilation occurring globally.  Globally, the mass die-off — deemed to be the sixth in the last half-billion years — is the worst since three-quarters of life on the Earth, including the non-avian dinosaurs, were wiped out 66 million years ago by a giant meteor impact. On an average, two vertebrate species disappear every year.  More than 30% of animals with a backbone — fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals — are declining in both range and population.  The mammal species that were monitored have lost at least a third of their original habitat. 40% of them — including rhinos, orangutans, gorillas and many big cats — are surviving on 20% or less of the land they once roamed. The loss of biodiversity has recently accelerated.  Several species of mammals that were relatively safe one or two decades ago are now endangered, including cheetahs, lions and giraffes. There are as few as 20,000 lions left in the wild, less than 7,000 cheetahs, 500 to 1,000 giant pandas, and about 250 Sumatran rhinoceros.  Tropical regions have seen the highest number of declining species. In South and Southeast Asia, large-bodied species of mammals have lost more than four-fifths of their historical ranges.  While fewer species are disappearing in temperate zones, the percentage is just as high or higher. As many as half of the number of animals that once shared our planet are no longer here, a loss described as ―a massive erosion of the greatest biological diversity in the history of Earth‖.

5 States, a UT sign pact with Centre on e-Marketplace

 In a spirit of cooperative federalism, 5 States and a Union Territory (UT) have formally adopted the Centre‘s initiative called the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).  The States and the UT that signed an MoU with the Centre include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Telangana, Puducherry and Arunachal Pradesh.  It aims to ensure that public procurement of goods and services in India worth more than Rs. 5 lakh crore annually is carried out through the online platform for transparency and to eliminate corruption.  It aims to transform the way in which procurement of goods and services is done by the Government Ministries/Departments, PSUs, autonomous bodies etc.  DGS&D with technical support of NeGD (MeitY) has developed GeM portal for procurement of both Products & Services.  GeM is a completely paperless, cashless and system driven e-market place that enables procurement of common use goods and services with minimal human interface.

Sensor network to map and predict pollution, effluents in Godavari

 A group of U.S. researchers is working on a system to map undulating pollution trends in the Godavari, India‘s second longest river.

32 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Using a mix of methods, including satellite-monitoring, traversing stretches of the river to collect water samples and using special sensors to measure bacterial and chemical pollution, the researchers are trying to develop a cost-effective forecast system.  Through cloud-based data collection and real-time mapping systems, the research and implementation teams intend to demonstrate the importance and value of detecting and anticipating pollutants that enter the river in the form of human waste, organic materials, and chemical contaminants.  The exercise is part of a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation project to support the programme of the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) to provide city-wide sanitation improvements in urban Andhra Pradesh. Sensors to monitor river pollution are an emerging technological approach in India.  The long-term objective is to be able to inform State officials and citizens of a probable spike in, say, levels of dangerous microbes or effluents, similar to weather and air pollution forecasts.  Also, it is to be able to access ―raw data‖ that could be used to inform the efficacy of a proposed faecal sludge treatment plant and whether behavioural interventions — including incentives or punishments — to restrict activities that pollute the river could actually work.

NASA‟s Juno spacecraft completes flyby over Jupiter‟s Great Red Spot  NASA‘s unmanned spacecraft Juno has successfully peered into the Jupiter‘s giant storm known as the Great Red Spot.  It became first space probe to complete flyby of Jupiter‘s Great Red Spot. Jupiter‘s Great Red Spot The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a massive storm (cyclone) measuring about 16,000 km in diameter.  It is largest known storm in the solar system.  It has been monitored since 1830 and has possibly existed for more than 350 years. The winds in the storm are clocked at hundreds of km an hour around its outer edges. Little is known about the forces driving it.  The spot appears as a deep, red orb surrounded by layers of pale yellow, orange and white. The storm is believed to have been shrinking in recent years

NGT imposes nationwide ban on nylon and synthetic manja

 The National Green Tribunal banned the use of ‗Chinese‘ kite strings, made of nylon or any synthetic material on the grounds that it poses threat to life and environment.  The Tribunal directed all state governments to prohibit the ―manufacture, sale, storage, purchase and use‖ of synthetic manja or nylon threads and all other synthetic strings used for flying kites with immediate effect.  A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar ordered the authorities to ban import of any synthetic manja.

OBITUARY

 Renowned cartoonist Mangesh Tendulkar passes away  Renowned cartoonist Mangesh Tendulkar passed away in Pune.  He was 83. Tendulkar was suffering from bladder cancer for the last three years.  Tendulkar was one of the most decorated cartoonists in India. He was conferred with the president‘s medal in 1980, Marathi Natya Parishad Award in 1993 and Pulotsav award in 2003 among several other honor APPOINTMENT

Debi Prasad Dash takes over as DRI chief

 Debi Prasad Dash, a 1985-batch Indian Revenue Service (Customs) officer, has taken over as director-general of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DG-DRI), the premier agency that tackles smuggling and black money.

Subhash Garg takes charge as Economic Affairs Secretary

 Senior bureaucrat Subhash Chandra Garg assumed charge as Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) in the Finance Ministry. Mr. Garg was World Bank Executive Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka prior to this appointment.

33 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  He succeeds Shaktikanta Das, who retired after an extended tenure on May 31. Corporate Affairs Secretary Tapan Ray was given additional charge of DEA Secretary after Das‘ exit.

SPORTS

India‟s Mithali Raj becomes first to score 6000 runs in women‟s ODI cricket

 Indian captain Mithali Raj (34) scripted history by becoming first player in the history of women‘s ODI cricket to score more than 6000 career runs. She also became all-time leading run-getter in women‘s ODI.  She achieved the record feat against Australia in the ICC Women‘s World Cup 2017 match at Bristol. She broke previous record of Charlotte Edwards (5992) in 164 innings – 16 less than Charlotte.

13 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

Cabinet approves interpretative notes between India, Bangladesh

 The Union Cabinet has given its approval for the Joint Interpretative Notes (JIN) on the agreement between India and Bangladesh for the promotion and protection of investments between the two countries.  The JIN includes interpretative notes to be jointly adopted for many clauses, including, the definition of investor and investment, exclusion of taxation measures, Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET), National Treatment (NT) and Most Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment, expropriation, essential security interests and settlement of disputes between an investor and a contracting party.  Joint Interpretative Statements play an important supplementary role in strengthening the investment treaty regime. With increasing Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) disputes, issuance of such statements was likely to have strong persuasive value before tribunals.  The JIN would impart clarity to the interpretation of the existing agreement between India and Bangladesh for the Promotion and Protection of Investments (BIPA).

NATIONAL

CCEA approves SASEC Road Connectivity Investment Program – Tranche

 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval for upgradation and widening of 65 kms of Imphal-Moreh Section of NH-39 in Manipur.  The Imphal-Moreh Section is a vital link in providing road connectivity up to Thailand and Malaysia. It will boost trade, commerce and tourism in the region.  The project is being developed with Asian Development Bank‘s (ADB) loan assistance under the South Asian Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Road Connectivity Investment Program. It aims at upgradation of road infrastructure in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India (BBIN) in order to improve the regional connectivity.  The project corridor is also a part of the Asian Highway No. 01 (AH01).  It will fulfil India‘s ―Look East‖ Policy and acts as India‘s Gateway to the East. Thus, it will promote and enhance trade link with South East Asia. The project will also improve connectivity between Imphal with the eastern part of Manipur which is a landlocked state with almost 90% of the area under difficult terrain.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

YES BANK Launches „YES GST‟ Program to Assist MSMEs

 YES Bank, India‘s fourth largest private sector bank, along with YES Global Institute has launched ‗YES GST‘ program for MSMEs(Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) under its MSME CSR initiative, ‗Say YES to Sustainable MSMEs in India‘.

34 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Through the program, the bank will help MSMEs to understand the impact of the changes in tax system and prepare them to know the new GST tax system.  YES Bank has also launched GST-Ready products for MSMEs.

DIPP to set up India‟s first TISC in Punjab  The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) will establish India‘s first Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) at Patent Information Centre, Punjab. In this regard, DIPP has signed an Institutional agreement with the Punjab State Council of Science and Technology.  The TISC will be set up under the World Intellectual Property Organization‘s (WIPO) TISC program.

SBI waives charge on IMPS fund transfer of up to Rs 1,000

 Country's largest bank SBI has waived charges for fund transfer of up to Rs 1,000 through its IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) to promote small transactions.  SBI had been charging Rs 5 along with the applicable service tax for IMPS fund transfer of up to Rs 1,000. IMPS is an instant interbank electronic fund transfer service through mobile phones as well as internet banking.  For IMPS, the charge will be Rs 5 along GST for fund transfer in the range of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The charge will go up to Rs 15 for transactions of Rs 1-2 lakh. GST at the rate of 18 per cent is applicable on all financial transactions.

Bitcoin trade may come under SEBI

 The government is considering the introduction of a regulatory regime for virtual or crypto currencies, such as Bitcoin, that would enable the levy of the Goods and Services Tax on their sale.  The new regime may possibly bring their trading under the oversight of the stock market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).  Proper regulation of these currencies will ―promote‖ a formal tax base, while keeping a tab on their use for illegal activities such as money laundering, terror funding and drug trafficking.

Gujarat to get India's first high-speed rail training centre

 The country is set to get its first high-speed rail training center at Gandhinagar. The center will provide for advanced training modules on cutting edge technologies.  While India‘s first bullet train is proposed to hit the track in 2023, the training center is supposed to start operating by 2020. GOVT SCHEME

Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma launches LIFE program at Songsak

 Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has recently launched an ambitious flagship program titled ―Livelihood Intervention and Facilitation of Entrepreneurship‖ (LIFE) at Songsak.  LIFE will focus on capacity building, Under the program, every 10 SHGs (Self-Help Groups) will be motivated to act like a bank and help each other. LIFE aims to bring all the poor and vulnerable women into the SHGs movement.

Various Railways initiatives launched  Following new railway initiatives were recently launched: 1. RAIL CLOUD PROJECT. 2. NIVARAN-Grievance Portal (First IT Application on Rail Cloud). 3. Cashless treatment Scheme in Emergency (CTSE) Scheme and Handing over of 1st CTSE Card.

RailCloud

35 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Rail Cloud works on popular Cloud Computing system. Most Important works are done through Cloud Computing. Cloud Computing is the emerging technology for faster and on demand commensurate deployment of Server resources which result in reduced cost. It is developed by rail PSU RailTel. Potential benefits to Railways after implementation of RailCloud are:  Faster and on-demand deployment of application.  Optimum use of Servers and storage.  Utilization of existing infrastructure as part of Cloud.  Rapid scalability and elasticity.  IT Security enhancement and Standardization.  Cost reduction.  Better user experience. NIVARAN-Grievance Portal:  ‗NIVARAN-Grievance Portal‘ is the first IT application to be launched on the RailCloud.  It is the platform for resolution of service related grievances of serving and former railway employees. The existing application was hosted on a conventional server; it has been made cloud-ready and being migrated as the first cloud application of Indian Railways.  It will save significant revenue and at the same time user experience will also improve. Cashless treatment Scheme in Emergency (CTSE)  To provide immediate care to its retired employees in ‗Golden Hour‘ Railway Board has decided to roll out a ―Cashless treatment Scheme in Emergency‘ (CTSE), in empanelled hospitals, for retired employees and their dependent family members.  A web based system of communication between private hospitals and railway authorities has been developed wherein identity of the beneficiary shall be established using biometrics stored in Aadhar (UIDAI) server, eligibility shall be determined using Railway Data Base and emergency shall be verified by Railway Medical Officer based on private hospital‘s clinical report. The whole system is online and even the bill processing shall be online.  This scheme shall provide help and succor to the retired railway employees at the time of need and at the same time will have a morale boosting effect on the serving employees. EVENTS

India to host 8th edition of Theatre Olympics in 2018

 India will host 8th edition of Theatre Olympics in 2018, the biggest theatre celebration of the world. The greatest carnival will start from February 17-April 08, 2018. India is hosting this event for the first time.  There will be five hundred plays and seven hundred ambiance performances from across the world.

Model United Nations Regional Conference begins in Kathmandu  A Model United Nations (MUN) Regional Conference is being held at Kathmandu. The event is organised by the US Embassy in partnership with the Youth Thinker‘s Society. Youths from 12 South and Central Asian countries including India are participating in 5-day conference.  The basic aim of the MUN is to provide a platform to young minds to channelize energy and resources for a more prosperous and peaceful world.  The conference simulate four UN committees-United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Economic and Financial Committee (ECOFIN), United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

Indigenously developed S-band Doppler Weather Radar commissioned in Kochi

 A state-of-the-art, indigenously developed S-band doppler weather radar (DWR) of India Meteorological Department (IMD) was commissioned at Palluruthy in West Kochi, Kerala.  It has been manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) based on the indigenous technology provided by ISRO.

36 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  It joins the latest in a chain of 27 such advanced radars already installed in various parts of the country.  The S-band DWR is capable of predicting weather events such as storms and cyclones, other severe weather conditions occurring in 500-km radius from Kochi with increased accuracy.

NGT declares 100m from edge of Ganga as No-development Zone  The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has passed a slew of directions, measures, fines, and strict deadlines to rejuvenate River Ganga.  It declared ‗No-Development Zone‘ along an area of 100 metres from the edge of the river in the stretch between Haridwar in Uttarakhand and Unnao in Uttar Pradesh. This zone must be turned into green belts.

Scientists discover smallest star known in the universe  Scientists from University of Cambridge, UK have discovered the smallest star in the universe. It has been named as EBLM J0555-57Ab.  The star was identified by SuperWASP, a planet-finding experiment run by several universities. It was detected when it passed in front of its larger parent star, forming an eclipsing stellar binary system. OBITUARY

China‟s Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo passes away

 China‘s most famous political prisoner, the Nobel laureate and democracy icon Liu Xiaobo passed away in custody following a battle with cancer.  He was 61.  Liu was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.

14 JULY NATIONAL

Health Ministry of India launches the National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination 2017-22

 Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched the National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017-22). The Strategic Plan gives year wise elimination targets in various parts of the country depending upon the endemicity of malaria in the next 5 years.  The strategies involve strengthening malaria surveillance, establishing a mechanism for early detection and prevention of outbreaks of malaria, effective indoor residual spray and augmenting the manpower and capacities for effective implementation for the next five years.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

BRPL, TERI in MoU to explore opportunities in solar rooftops, e-vehicles

 BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have entered into a partnership to explore collaboration opportunities for solar rooftop, electric vehicles, energy storage systems, energy efficiency and smart grid technologies.  The MoU has been signed for two years. The collaboration will help in research and explore newer collaboration opportunities in the domain of emerging technologies.

India contributes additional $1 million to India-UN Development Partnership Fund

 India has contributed an additional $1 million to India-UN Development Partnership Fund launched to support sustainable development projects across the developing world.  Earlier, India had made an initial contribution of $1 million when the fund was created. The amount was allocated for the implementation of a project benefiting seven Small Island Developing States in South Pacific Ocean.

37 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY Google acquires Bangalore-based artificial intelligence firm Halli Labs  American technology giant Google has acquired Bangalore-based artificial intelligence (AI) firm Halli Labs for an undisclosed sum.  The firm becomes the latest AI start up to be snapped by a technology giant after a spate of similar acquisitions by firms such as Microsoft, Facebook, Apple among others.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

India ranks 116 out of 157 nations on SDG index

 The SDG index, that assesses the performance of countries towards achieving the ambitious sustainable development goals (SDGs), has been released for the year 2017.  The SDG Index and Dashboards Report produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Bertelsmann Stiftung shows that world leaders need to strengthen their joint efforts to realise the 17 global goals.  The SDG Index and Dashboard collect available data for 157 countries to assess where each country stands in 2017 with regard to achieving the SDGs.  The SDG Index ranks countries based on their performance across the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.  Sweden leads the list, followed by Denmark and Finland. Among the G7 countries, only Germany and France can be found among the top ten performers.  The United States ranks 42nd on the Index, while Russia and China rank 62nd and 71st respectively.  India is ranked 116th on the index with a score of 58.1, behind countries such as Nepal, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and China. Pakistan is ranked 122.  The countries which are closest to fulfilling the goals are not the biggest economies but comparably small, developed countries.  Many of the richest countries in the world are nowhere near achieving the global policy objectives but also deteriorate the implementation process for poorer countries because of negative spillover effects.  One of the greatest obstacles to achieving the global goals for high-income countries are poor performances regarding sustainable consumption and production. All countries that score lowest on electronic-waste generation, for example, are high-income countries.  Not only does a rising trend of nationalism and protectionism impede the implementation of the goals, but as the report shows, industrialised countries are not serving as role models.

When DNA is the new hard drive  Scientists have successfully encoded a movie in the DNA of a living cell, where it can be retrieved at will and multiplied indefinitely as the host divides and grows. It is the latest and perhaps most astonishing example of the genome‘s potential as a vast storage device.  The geneticists ended up with a sequence of DNA molecules that represented the entirety of the film. Then they used a powerful new gene editing technique, Crispr, to slip this sequence into the genome of a common gut bacteria, E. coli.  Despite the modification, the bacteria thrived and multiplied. The film stored in the genome was preserved intact with each new generation of progeny. CRISPR?  CRISPR, short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, was named ―2015 Breakthrough of the Year‖ by the U.S. journal Science.  It allows scientists to selectively edit genome parts and replace them with new DNA stretches.  Cas9 is an enzyme that can edit DNA, allowing the alteration of genetic patterns by genome modification.  CRISPR is a collection of DNA sequences that direct Cas9 where to cut and paste.

India‟s first solar powered DEMU train launched  Indian Railways has launched India‘s first solar powered diesel multiple unit (DEMU) broad gauge train. It is 1600 Horse Power (HP) train with all solar powered coaches.  The train will run from Sarai Rohilla in Delhi to Farukh Nagar in Haryana. It will replace an existing non-solar powered rake on the same route.

38 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY

Saraswati: Indian scientists discover supercluster of galaxies  A team of Indian astronomers have identified previously unknown, extremely large supercluster of galaxies located in the direction of constellation Pisces.  It has been named ―Saraswati‖. It was discovered by astronomers from Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), both in Pune, Maharashtra.  Saraswati supercluster is one of the largest known structures in the nearby universe. It is 4 billion light years away from Earth and may contain the mass equivalent of over 20 million billion suns.  It has 43 galaxies that may contain thousands of suns, besides having billions of stars, planets, other bodies, gases and dark matter.  It is estimated to be stretched over 650 million light years in distance. The discovery of Saraswati supercluster will help astronomers in understanding galaxy formation and evolution, effect of superclusters on environment of the galaxies.

AWARDS

President awards IIMB

 President Pranab Mukherjee has awarded IIM Bangalore (IIMB) for making management education accessible to all through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).  IIMB is the national coordinator for management education on the government‘s Swayam platform and has completed five MOOCs on the platform so far.

APPOINTMENT

Tata Sons appoints Aarthi Subramanian as Chief Digital Officer

 Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, has appointed Aarthi Subramanian as the conglomerate's chief digital officer. Subramanian, who is an executive director at TCS, will join Tata Sons in August.  Subramanian is the second TCSer whom Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran has picked up to be a part of his core team after Suprakash Mukhopadhyay.

15 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

EU, India set up fund for investments

 The European Union (EU) and India have announced the establishment of an Investment Facilitation Mechanism (IFM) for EU investments in India.  The IFM has been established with the key objectives of paving the way for identifying and solving problems faced by EU companies and investors with regard to their operations in India.  The mechanism will allow for a close coordination between the European Union and the Government of India with an aim to promote and facilitate EU investment in India. The IFM will cover new investors as well as those already established in India.  The IFM is also going to serve as a platform for discussing general suggestions from the point of view of EU companies and investors with regard to ease of doing business in India. Ease of doing business is a fundamental

39 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY priority of the Indian Government‘s Make in India Campaign and the establishment of IFM for facilitating EU investments in India is another step to achieve this goal.  As part of the IFM, the EU Delegation to India and the DIPP will hold regular high level meetings to assess and facilitate ―ease of doing business‖ for EU investors in India. This will include identifying and putting in place solutions to procedural impediments faced by EU firms and investors in establishing or running their operations in India.

US House of Representatives passes Bill on defence co-operation with India

 The United States House of Representatives has passed an amendment to National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA), 2018, a $621.5 billion defence expenditure bill to advance defence cooperation with India. India related amendment in the bill was adopted by a voice vote in the House by 344-81.  Now, NDAA needs to be passed by the US Senate before it can be sent to US President Donald Trump to sign into law.  The India-related amendment in NDAA 2018, requires the US Secretary of Defence, in consultation with the Secretary of State to develop a strategy for advancing defence cooperation between US and India.  The amendment asks the State Department and Pentagon to develop a strategy to addresses common security challenges, the role of US partners and allies in India-US defence relationship, and role of the defence technology and trade initiative.  It also asks them to address issues to advance communications interoperability and security memorandum of agreement and the basic exchange and cooperation agreement for geospatial cooperation.

NATIONAL

Mahadayi: Goa open to out-of-tribunal settlement

 Goa has said that it is open to talks with Karnataka and Maharashtra to explore an out-of-tribunal settlement on Mahadayi issue.  Mahadayi, also known as the Mandovi river, is known as a lifeline in the northern parts of Karnataka. The river originates and flows in Karnataka and goes through Goa before meeting the Arabian Sea. The Mahadayi catchment area covers around 2,032 km and includes some parts of Maharashtra near the Maharashtra-Karnataka border region. About the dispute:

 The Karnataka government and Goa government are fighting on sharing of waters of the Mahadayi river (called Mandovi in Goa).  In order to divert 7.56 tmcft of water to the Malaprabha river basin, Karnataka government proposed to build canals to link Kalasa and Banduri, the tributaries of Mahadayi. However, objecting the move, Goa government argued that if Karnataka implemented the Kalasa-Banduri project, it would prove disastrous for the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats as the proposed project was deep inside the forest.  Karnataka had petitioned the tribunal seeking release of 7.56 tmcft of water for Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. The tribunal, which gave its interim order after hearing arguments from both Karnataka and Goa, had rejected the state‘s plea citing various grounds including ecological damage that the project may cause.

India tops global index of countries with most confidence in their government: OCED Report  India has topped in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development‘s (OECD) Government at a Glance 2017 report.  It states that Narendra Modi led NDA coalition has secured 73% trust of people, highest in the world. OECD‘s Government at a Glance report presents an index of countries that trust their governments the most.  It determines government‘s trust levels by whether or not people consider their government stable and reliable, if it‘s able to protect its citizens from risk and whether it can effectively deliver public services.  Canadian government headed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was ranked second with confidence of 62% citizens. Turkey was in third place with 58% of the populace placing its trust in the Reciep Erdogan government. Russia and Germany were ranked fourth and fifth with confidence levels at 58% and 55% respectively.

40 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY

GOVT SCHEME/DIGITAL INDIA

Railways launches mobile app that does more than just booking

 Indian Railways launched an integrated mobile application to cater to various passenger requirements over and above ticket booking. The new app will include inquiry, on-board cleaning and ordering meal on a single platform. The app is called Rail SAARTHI and was launched by Railway Minister.  The Rail SAARTHI (synergised advanced application rail travel help and information) such as safety for women, complaint facility and suggestion for improvement. One can also book air ticket through the app and give feedback. ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

Antarctica iceberg break off

 A massive iceberg has broken away from Antarctica. The Trillion-tonne iceberg is considered as the one of the largest ever. The 5,800 square kilometre iceberg left the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica and has changed the landscape of the region.  The final breakthrough of the rift was detected in data from NASA‘s Aqua MODIS satellite instrument, which images in the thermal infrared at a resolution of one kilometre and confirmed by NASA‘s Suomi VIIRS instrument. The development of the rift over the last year was monitored using data from the European Space Agency Sentinel-1 satellites – part of the European Copernicus Space Component.  Although the remaining ice shelf will continue naturally to regrow, researchers have previously shown that the new configuration is potentially less stable than it was prior to the rift. There is a risk that Larsen C may eventually follow the example of its neighbour, Larsen B, which disintegrated in 2002 following a similar rift-induced calving event in 1995.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Youth Skills Day: 15 July

 World Youth Skills Day is being observed globally on 15th July. The objective of the day is to raise awareness about the importance of investing in youth skills development.  The theme of this year is "Skills for the Future of Work". About World Youth Skills Day  It was in 2014 that the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared July 15 as WYSD – with the aim of creating greater awareness regarding the importance of technical, vocational education, and training, especially among youth across the world.  Young people, said United Nations Organization (UNO), are more vulnerable to unemployment than adults, are exposed to labor market inequalities and have to put up with low quality jobs.  In addition, UNO said, women are not only underemployed but also under-paid, often were forced to work under temporary contracts.  An estimated 71 million young people unemployed in 2015, contributing to 13.1 percent youth unemployment rate, which is expected increase in most regions by 2017, according to a recent International Labour Organization (ILO) publication, ―Global Employment Trends for Youth 2015‖.  Recognizing the need to empower the youth with necessary skills to succeed in their lives and to improve global economy, WorldSkills International – a not for profit agency operating world wide -- recognized WYSD on July 15, 2017, and used #SkillsForAll and #WYSD, to raise awareness on the importance of youth developing skills.

APPOINTMENT

Mukesh Kumar Jain appointed MD & CEO of Oriental Bank

41 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The Centre has appointed Mukesh Kumar Jain as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Oriental Bank of Commerce, a public sector bank.  His appointment is for a period of three years. Prior to this appointment, Jain was an Executive Director at Punjab & Sind Bank PLACES IN NEWS

 Raipur Airport Ranked First in Customer Satisfaction Index Survey  Raipur‘s Swami Vivekananda Airport was ranked first in Customer Satisfaction among 49 airports in the country.  Raipur Airport achieved 4.84 score on a five point scale index in the latest CSI (Customer Service Index) survey conducted by an independent agency for the period of January-June 2017, followed by Udaipur, Amritsar and Dehradun airports which have scored 4.75, 4.74 and 4.73 respectively.

SPORTS

Sundar Singh wins gold at World Para Athletics Championships

 India's Sundar Singh Gurjar has won gold on the opening night of 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London. He triumphed in the men's javelin throw with a personal best of 60.36 meters.  Sri Lanka‘s Dinesh Priyantha Herath came second with 57.93 meters while defending champion Guo Chunliang of China was third with a season‘s best 56.14 meters.

16 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

Indonesia Re-named part of South China Sea.

 Indonesia has renamed northern parts of its exclusive economic zone of South China Sea as ‗North Natuna Sea‘.  The move is considered as an act of defiance against Beijing‘s territorial ambitions in the region.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

French firm EDF makes fresh proposal for Jaitapur plant.

 A French firm EDF has submitted its fresh proposal to NPCIL(Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.) proposing to share a larger role in engineering aspect of the project.  EDF has to build six atomic reactors at Jaitapur each with capacity of 1650MW.

BSNL unveils next generation optical fiber based technology to offer 1000mbps broadband service.

 Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha launched New generation optical fiber based technology which will enable BSNL to provide speed of 1000mbps.  Bharat Sanhcar Nigam Ltd at present offers broadband facility with top download speed of 100 megabit per second on its fibre-to-the-home network.

Mahindra Group to invest USD 1 billion in the US over the next five years  Mahindra Group plans to invest USD 1 billion (approximately Rs 64.27 billion) across various business areas in the United States in the next five years.  The conglomerate‘s aim is to double revenue in the United States market to $ 5 billion (approximately Rs 321 billion) over the next five years.

Reliance Jio, Patanjali among Top 10 influential brands.

42 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Making an impressive entry for first time among the top 10 most influential brands in India, Reliance Jio and Patanjali have grabbed 4th and 9th position respectively.  Besides, Google has been ranked top while Microsoft and Facebook ranked second and third as per a study by global research firm Ipsos.

Govt launches GST training programme

 The government has launched a GST training programme to skill around two lakh youths in six months to handle tax compliance issues like invoice making. The people would be trained under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).  The new training course would cater to the need of GST trained professionals to help businesses in areas such as registration and calculation of tax liability under the new tax regime.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Chitraveen Maestro N. Ravikiran selected for Sangit Kalanidhi award.

 Noted Chitraveena Maestro N. Ravikiran has been selected for Sangit Kalanidhi award of this year.  The awards are given every year by Madras Music Academy.

IIFA Awards 2017: List Of Winners

 The 18th edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards was held in New York. Sonam Kapoor‘s film Neerja won the best film award. Actor Shahid Kapoor earned the Best Actor award for his role in Udta Punjab, while Alia Bhatt won the Best Actor (Female) award for the same film.

 Here‘s the complete list of the IIFA 2017 winners:

 Best Film- Neerja  Best Director- AnirudhRoy Chaudhary for Pink  Best Actor (Male)- Shahid Kapoor for Udta Punjab  Best Actor (Female)- Alia Bhatt for Udta Punjab  Best Actor in Supporting Role (Female)- Shabana Azmi for Neerja  Best Actor in Supporting Role (Male)- Anupam Kher for MS Dhoni: The Untold Story  Best Debutant (Female): Disha Patani for M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story  Best Debut (Male)- Diljit Dosanjh for Udta Punjab  Best Lyricist- Amitabh Bhattacharya for the song Channa Mere Ya from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil  Best Playback Singer (Male)- Amit Mishra for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil  Best Playback Singer (Female)- Kanika Kapoor for Udta Punjab and Tulsi Kumar for Airlift  Best Music Direction- Pritam for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil  Best Actor In Comic Role- Varun Dhawan for Dishoom  Myntra Style Icon Award- Alia Bhatt  IIFA Woman Of The Year- Tapsee Pannu

APPOINTMENT

K K Venugopal: new Attorney General

 Senior advocate K K Venugopal‘s name has been cleared for appointment as the Attorney General for India following the decision of Mukul Rohatgi to step down as the top law officer.  The Law Ministry had recently referred the file relating to the appointment of Venugopal as the Attorney General. PERSONS IN NEWS

Superwoman Lilly Singh appointed UNICEF‟s Global Goodwill Ambassador

43 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  UNICEF appointed Indian- origin Canadian YouTube star Lilly Singh as its newest Global Goodwill Ambassador at a special event in New Delhi.  Lilly was in the capital to support UNICEF‘s Youth4Change initiative, a programme for youth that brings them together to support their peers and communities in taking action on issues such as health, hygiene, child labour and gender equality. PLACES IN NEWS

San Miguel de Allende named as world‟s best city.

 Mexican city San Miguel de Allende is named as world‘s best city by Travel and Leisure Magazine.  Notably, Only one Indian city could make it for Top 15, Udaipur ranked 14th.

Matunga becomes India's first railway station run by women

 Central Railway has taken a step towards women empowerment by appointing an all-female work staff at the suburban Matunga station. Matunga station has now become the first such ladies special station.  According to the official, women have been manning this station, which falls on the Central Railway, since the past two weeks.  A total of 30 women staffers, including 11 booking clerks, five RPF personnel, seven ticket checkers are working under the supervision of station manager Mamta Kulkarni since last two weeks. SPORTS

Roger Federer wins record eighth Wimbledon title

 The 35-year-old Swiss champion became the tournament‘s oldest winner with a straight-sets victory over his opponent Marin Cilic.  This was Federer‘s 19th Grand Slam title marked by 6-3, 6-1, 6-4  Federer became the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to win Wimbledon without dropping a set in the entire tournament.

Muguruza clinches maiden Wimbledon title

 Garbine Muguruza of Spain came out with the spectacular performance as she defeated seven-time Grand Slam Champion Venus Williams in straight sets to clinch her maiden Wimbledon title.

Lewis Hamilton wins fourth consecutive British Grand Prix

 Lewis Hamilton cruised to a fourth successive British Grand Prix victory on Sunday as he cut Sebastian Vettel‘s lead in the championship to a single point.

17 JULY

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

IBBI notifies rules for bankruptcy probe

 The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has notified regulations for inspection and investigation of service providers registered with it.  Under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) implemented by IBBI, service providers are insolvency professional agencies, entities, professionals and information utilities. New regulations  The investigation authority has to serve a notice intimating the entity concerned about the probe at least 10 days in advance.  However, this requirement can be done away with on grounds such as apprehensions that the records of the particular service provider might have been destroyed before the probe starts.

44 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY

MobiKwik Partnered with Samsung Pay Mini  Digital payments company MobiKwik has partnered Samsung Pay, under which consumers will be able to make payments with a single tap using select Samsung handsets.  Samsung had unveiled a 'Mini' version of the platform that integrates UPI and mobile wallets to work on mid-range priced smartphones.

Five P Venture inks pact with Central Silk Board  Erode-based Five P Venture India Private Ltd and Central Silk Board (CSB) inked an agreement for development and commercialization of handloom silk products.  This MoU signed at the first-ever mega trade fair for the textile sector organized by the Ministry of Textiles at Gandhinagar. This step will also help revive the heritage skills of the handloom weavers in Chennimalai belt.

Govt. clears three export infra plans  The Centre – for the first time under a new scheme called Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) launched in March to address the infrastructure problem — has given its approval for three proposals.  An Integrated Cargo Terminal (ICT) at the Imphal International Airport.  Modernisation of infrastructure facility in Karnataka for marine exports.  Construction of a new ‗Standard Design Factory‘ building at Cochin Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

GSI discovers millions of tonnes of precious metals and minerals in Indian waters

 Scientists from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have discovered the presence of millions of tonnes of precious metals and minerals deep under the waters within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of peninsular India.  They have confirmed the presence large amount of lime mud, phosphate-rich and calcareous sediments, hydrocarbons, metalliferous deposits and micronodules.  They believe that deeper and more extensive exploration could lead to a larger treasure trove.  The presence of lime mud, phosphate-rich sediments was discovered off Karwar, Mangaluru and Chennai coasts, gas hydrate in the channel-levee system of Mannar Basin off the Tamil Nadu coast, icro-manganese nodules around Lakshadweep

SOHUM: Indigenously developed low-cost hearing screening device for newborns launched  The Union Ministry of Science and Technology has launched SOHUM, an indigenously developed low-cost hearing screening device for newborns.  The innovative medical device has been developed by the School of International Biodesign (SIB) startup Sohum Innovation Labs India Pvt Ltd under Department of Biotechnology (DBT) supported (SIB).

Scientists develop super-flexible and strong artificial silk

 Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed super-stretchy and strong artificial (synthetic) spider silk, almost entirely composed of water.  The synthetic spider silk mimics properties of spider silk, one of nature‘s strongest materials for a range of applications such as making eco-friendly textiles and sensors.

APPOINTMENT

Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli to be the new Chief Justice of Nepal

 Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli will be the new Chief Justice of Nepal. The Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee (PHSC) unanimously endorsed Justice Parajuli‘s name for the post of Chief Justice of Supreme Court.

45 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  After endorsement by PHSC the President will now appoint him as the Chief Justice. He will head the Judiciary till April 28, 2018.

Shri R K Pachnanda takes charge as Director General, ITBP  Shri R K Pachnanda, an IPS officer, took charge as the new Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), recently.  Shri Krishna Chaudhary, DG who retired on superannuation, handed over the customary baton to Shri Pachnanda. Shri Pachnanda is the 29th Chief of the ITBP.

OBITUARY Former Sikkim CM Nar Bahadur Bhandari passes away  Nar Bahadur Bhandari, one of the longest-serving chief ministers of Sikkim has died recently. Mr. Bhandari, a three-term former Chief Minister was 77 years old.  He became the Chief Minister of Sikkim for the first time in 1979 on a Janata Parishad ticket and then again in 1984 and 1989 on a Sikkim Sangram Parishad ticket.

SPORTS

India‟s Harinder Pal Sandhu wins Victorian Open squash tournament

 India‘s Harinder Pal Sandhu (28) won the Victorian Open squash tournament held in Melbourne, Australia. In the final he defeated Rex Hedrick of Australia by 12-14, 11-3, 11-4 score.

I H Manudev wins 1st National Masters snooker tournament title

 I H Manudev has won the first National Masters snooker tournament title in Chennai. Alok Kumar, a former national men‘s champion, had been in fine form coming into the summit clash but found Karnataka‘s Manudev a tough proposition.

18 JULY NATIONAL

Smriti Irani gets I&B ministry, Narendra Singh Tomar Urban Development

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the Information and Broadcasting portfolio to Smriti Irani. The Urban Development Ministry, which was also being handled by Naidu, has been given to Narendra Singh Tomar.  This announcement came after BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu, who is the government's nominee for the position of Vice-President, resigned from his ministerial responsibilities.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

SBI launches website for home buyers

 State Bank of India, the country‘s largest commercial bank, has launched 'SBI Realty' - a one-stop integrated website www.sbirealty.in for home buyers.  SBI Realty will help customers to choose their dream home from 3,000 SBI approved projects across the country.  These projects are spread across 13 states and Union Territories covering 30 cities, including metros, semi metro and towns.  The site is developed by SBICAP Securities in association with PropEquity in terms of data support, project information.

Does a minimum wage kill jobs?

46 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY

 The Union Cabinet is expected to approve a bill that, among other things, mandates a universal minimum wage. The code empowers the Centre to set a minimum wage to help poor, unskilled workers earn more.  Economists, however, have warned for long that price floors prevent the available supply of goods from being fully sold. So, the minimum wage would logically hurt workers by increasing unemployment.  A study found that employment among the youth in Denmark decreased by one-third when they attained the age at which their minimum wage increases by 40%. Other economists have found similar evidence suggesting that a minimum wage increases unemployment.

Reliance Industries market capitalisation hits Rs 5 lakh crore mark  Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) for the first time in its trading history has crossed Rs 5 lakh crore in market capitalisation. The market cap of RIL stood at Rs 5,04,458.09 on BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange.  RIL is second firm to cross Rs 5 lakh crore in market capitalisation. It is also RIL‘s highest market cap in its lifetime and also currently it is the most valued company on the bourses. Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) was first company to hit Rs 5 lakh crore in market capitalisation milestone in July 2014.  Later in November 2014, its market capitalisation had surged to 5.43 lakh crore. Now, it is the second most valuable company in terms of market-capitalisation.

EVENTS

J-K govt launches weekly festival at Dal Lake

 The spectacular Dal Lake here hosted first ever 'Culture of Cruise', a weekly cultural programme organised by the Jammu and Kashmir government aimed to bring artists from various fields on one stage.  The innovative programme series brings writers, performance artists, musicians, poets and academics together and offers a program of performances, workshops, talks, forums and debates.

Kolkata to host global business meet in November

 The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in association with the West Bengal government, will host Horasis Asia Meeting, a global business meet, in the city in November.  The two-day business meet, starting November 26, will focus on sustainable business practices in various areas, including power and energy.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

Eco-bridges for the movement of tigers

 Telangana State is planning to construct eco-friendly bridges over a canal cutting across the tiger corridor linking the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra with the forests in Telangana‘s Kumram Bheem Asifabad district.  The Telangana Irrigation Department has given its consent for the construction of the eco-bridges. Recommendations on the size and locations of the bridges are awaited from the National Board of Wildlife.  The ‗eco-bridges‘ will be constructed at key spots along the 72 km-long, and at some places over a kilometre wide. The plan involves laying of fertile soil to grow grass and plants over the structure, so that fragmentation of the reserve forest is camouflaged.

Tata Motors unveils India‟s first Bio-CNG bus  India‘s largest Commercial Vehicles manufacturer Tata Motors has unveiled country‘s first Bio-CNG (bio-methane) bus. The bus was rolled out at the Urja Utsav, bio-energy programme, organised by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

47 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY Scientists develop 3D-printed soft silicone heart

 Scientists from ETH Zurich in Switzerland have developed a 3D-printed soft silicone heart that closely resembles and functions like the human organ.  It is not exact biological replica of the actual, but can help to save lives of people who suffer from cardiac failure. It can be also used as an artificial heart in cases when patient is awaiting a heart transplant.  The 3D-printed soft artificial heart is a silicone monoblock with complex inner structure. It weighs 390 grams and has a volume of 679 cubic centimetres. It is made of silicone using a 3D printed mold.  It represents one of the most advanced replicas yet created of one of human‘s most important organs. The artificial heart has a right and a left ventricle which are not separated by a septum but by an additional chamber. This chamber is inflated and deflated by pressurised air required to pump fluid from the blood chambers.  This current model is not yet stable enough to be used in an actual patient. At present, it can only work for several thousand beats, lasting around 30 to 45 minutes. Researchers are planning to develop an advanced model which could conceivably work over a period of years.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Nelson Mandela International Day: 18th July

 Nelson Mandela International Day (or Mandela Day) is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela's birthday.  The Nelson Mandela Foundation is dedicating this year's Mandela Day to Action Against Poverty, honouring Nelson Mandela's leadership and devotion to fighting poverty and promoting social justice for all. PERSONS IN NEWS

UK‟s first woman Sikh MP Preet Kaur Gill elected to Home Affairs Select Committee

 Britain‘s first woman Sikh MP Preet Kaur Gill was elected to Home Affairs Select Committee in the UK Parliament. She will be one of 11 MPs on the cross-party home affairs committee. The Home Affairs Select Committee is an influential cross-party panel in the UK Parliament that examines the workings of the Home Office. It investigates the spending, policy and administration of the ministerial department.

BOOK LAUNCH

The Book „Future of Indian Universities: Comparative and International Perspectives‟ has released

 Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen released a book titled "Future of Indian Universities: Comparative and International Perspectives" at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Pranab Mukherjee, who received the first copy of the book.  The book ‗Future of Indian Universities: Comparative and International Perspectives‘ has been compiled by Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor of JGU University and is published by Oxford University Press.

19 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

India & Sri Lanka sign MoU to develop village in Anuradhapura District

 India and Sri Lanka have signed a MoU to develop a village in Anuradhapura District (in Sri Lanka) at a cost of 30 crores Sri Lankan rupees. The village in the name of a famous Buddhist monk Sobitha Thero, envisages construction of 153 new houses, a multi-purpose community building, internal water supply system and renovation of monk‘s quarters & library.  The project is in line with Government of Sri Lanka‘s policy of rehabilitation of rural villages for economic development. It will benefit 153 families residing in the village.

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NATIONAL

TR Zeliang sworn in as 19th Chief Minister of Nagaland

 Senior Naga People‘s Front (NPF) legislator TR Zeliang (65) was sworn in as the 19th chief minister of Nagaland.  He was administered oath to office and secrecy by Governor P.B. Acharya. Earlier Governor had dismissed the Shurhozelie Liezietsu government under Clause (I) of Article 164 of the Constitution after he failed to prove majority on the floor of the Assembly.  Prior to it, Zeliang had staked claim to form government in Nagaland with a majority support of 47 members in the 60 member Legislative Assembly. TR Zeliang will now have to prove his majority on the floor of the House. This is his second stint as chief minister in a little more than three years.

Indians among top asylum-seekers, according to the International Migration Outlook 2017

 According to the International Migration Outlook 2017 report on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries, Indians are among top asylum-seekers in other countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Finland, Japan, and the United States of America.  According to the report on OECD member-nations, top asylum-seekers to New Zealand between 2012 and 2016 were from China, India, Fiji, and Iraq. Among these, India and China were the largest source countries of asylum-seekers (11% and 9%), followed by Fiji (8%), Iraq (7%) and Pakistan (6%).

Union Cabinet approves draft bills to replace GST ordinances for J&K

 The Union Cabinet approved promulgation of the Central Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu & Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017 and Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Extension to Jammu & Kashmir) Ordinance, 2017.  Both ordinances replace Ordinance by the Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and Ordinance by the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2017 respectively.  The ordinances extend the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 referred to as (CGST Act) and Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 referred to as (IGST Act) to Jammu & Kashmir to complete rolling out GST regime the Himalayan State.

Cabinet approves MOC in respect of tax matters between India and BRICS countries  The Union Cabinet has approved signing of Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in respect of tax matters between India and the BRICS countries namely, Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa Decision in this regard was taken at the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.  The MoC aims to promote cooperation amongst BRICS Revenue administrations on common areas of interest in tax matters and capacity building and knowledge sharing. It envisages regular interaction amongst the heads of Revenue administration of BRICS countries to continue discussion on common areas of interest.  It also strive towards convergence of views and meeting of the experts on tax matters to discuss the contemporary issues in areas of international tax. MoC will also accord confidentiality and protection to information exchanged under it.  The MoC will stimulate effective cooperation in tax matters.  Moreover, the collective stand of BRICS countries can prove to be beneficial not only to member countries but also to other developing countries in long run in tax matters steered by the G20.

Supreme Court allows Centre to replace MCI oversight committee  The Supreme Court has allowed the Union Government to replace the oversight committee set up to supervise the functioning of the Medical Council of India (MCI) with a fresh panel of five eminent doctors.

49 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The Supreme Court also gave the Government liberty to replace any doctor in the list with another if he does not wish to be a part of the oversight committee. Earlier, Government had proposed the names of five eminent doctors to replace the earlier members of the oversight committee whose term had just expired

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

Gujarat retains top slot of states with most investment potential:

 Gujarat has retained the top position in the list of 21 states and UTs with most investment potential, according to a report by economic think-tank NCAER.  The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) State Investment Potential Index (N-SIPI 2017) report ranks states on their competitiveness in business and their investment climate. The ranking of 20 states and one Union Territory of Delhi was based on six pillars — labour, infrastructure, economic climate, governance and political stability, perceptions and land — and 51 sub-indicators.  Gujarat is followed by Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.  While Gujarat topped in economic climate and perceptions, Delhi ranked one in infrastructure. While Tamil Nadu topped the chart in labour issues, Madhya Pradesh ranked one in land pillar. GOVT SCHEME/DIGITAL INDIA

UIDAI launches mAadhaar app for Aadhaar data on phone

 The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched „mAadhaar‘, a new mobile application for syncing Aadhaar data on mobile phones.  The app allows users to carry their unique Aadhaar information including name, date of birth, gender, address, and the linked photograph, on their smartphones. The app also allows users to lock or unlock biometrics data.

Maharashtra government approved revised policy of scheme to improve girl child ratio  The Maharashtra government has approved a revised policy of the 'Majhi Kanya Bhagyashree' scheme, according to which families who have a yearly income of up to Rs 7.5 lakh will be benefited. The scheme was launched by the state government on April 1, 2016, in place of 'Sukanya' scheme.  It is aimed at improving the skewed girl child ratio, prevent sex determination and female foeticide, and support female education.  Earlier provision: The 'Majhi Kanya Bhagyashree' scheme catered to girls from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and those whose annual income was up to Rs 1 lakh.  Revised provisions: Families having an income up to Rs 7.5 lakh will be eligible for the scheme.  After bearing the first girl child, if the mother or the father undergoes a family planning operation, a sum of Rs 50,000 shall be deposited in a bank in the name of the girl child. The scheme will be valid only if there are a maximum of two girl children born. In case a third child is born, the scheme shall become invalid for the first two as well.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

World‟s 1st Laser Weapon:

 The US has launched the world‘s first laser weapon known as the Laser Weapons System (LaWS). The LaWS is currently deployed aboard the USS Ponce, an amphibious transport ship, in the Persian Gulf.  Operationally, it works just like a laser pointer. There‘s a chamber inside with special materials that release photons.  The LaWS laser beam is completely silent and invisible. It‘s also fast: The laser travels at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second, or about 300,000 kilometers per second), meaning it‘s about 50,000 times the speed of an incoming intercontinental ballistic missile.

50 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  In addition to being able to take down threats in the air, the LaWS can hit and disable objects in the water.

Underwater ghost nets posing threat to marine ecosystem: Study

 According to recent study, ghost nets (abandoned, lost or dumped fishing nets) have emerged as the greatest killers of the marine ecosystem off Kerala coast.  These ghost notes may have long-term implications for marine life if no proper correctives are taken to deal with them.  It may become major threat to the natural habitat and breeding ground of underwater fish. Problem Ghost nets have destroyed or threatened many of the underwater reefs identified with flourishing fish stock because of its ‗stifling cover‘.  Globally, it is estimated that at least 10% of the reduced fish catch can be blamed on ghost nets, some of which have survived deep underwater for decades together.

Australia and US jointly launched multimillion hypersonic missile – HIFiRE  The US and Australia have jointly test-fired a hypersonic missile capable of moving at a speed eight times faster than sound as part of a $54-million research project.  The test was part of a project called the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation Program (HIFiRE) involving the US and Australian militaries, Queensland University, Australia‘s Defence Science and Technology Group.  A hypersonic glider capable of moving at a speed eight times faster than sound has launched from a rocket range in the town of Woomera, South Australia.

SPORTS

Bharat Arun appointed Team India bowling coach

 Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Bharat Arun as the Indian Cricket team‘s bowling coach.  BCCI‘s acting Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary announced that the cricket body has also decided to retain Sanjay Bangar as an assistant coach and R Sridhar as fielding coach till the 2019 ODI World Cup.

FIFA has lifted their ban on the Sudan Football Association

 World football's governing body FIFA lifted the ban on the Sudan Football Association (SFA) imposed on it for the failure to abide by agreements mentioned in articles 14 and 19 of the FIFA statute.  The SFA and its member officials are now eligible to benefit from the FIFA development program, course or training.

20 JULY

NATIONAL

Ram Nath Kovind elected as India‟s 14th President

 Former governor Ram Nath Kovind was elected as India‘s 14th President. He will be only the second Dalit leader after RK Narayanan since Independence to occupy India‘s highest ceremonial post.  In the final vote count, NDA nominee Kovind received 65.6% votes translating into 702,044 electoral college votes, while UPA candidate Meira Kumar managed to get 34.35% (367,314 votes). 522 MPs voted for Kovind, while 225 parliamentarians voted for Meira Kumar. In the last Presidential polls held in 2012, Pranab Mukherjee had defeated PA Sangma by over 69% votes. About Ram Nath Kovind

51 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Ram Nath Kovind was born on October 1, 1945, in Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh. He was an advocate by profession and had practiced in Supreme Court and Delhi High Court.  Kovind has a long career in politics behind him. He has headed the BJP's Dalit Morcha and is among one of the few Dalit faces the party could boast of in it's folds in north India.  The party has also nominated him as its Rajya Sabha MP from the Hindi heartland twice in the past, where he enjoyed consecutive terms from 1994 for the next 12 year till March, 2006.  A lawyer by profession, Kovind is a commerce graduate from Kanpur University. He has been a Central government advocate in the Delhi High Court from 1977 to 1979 and a Central Government Standing Counsel in the Supreme Court from 1980 to 1993, according to News 18.  He is married to Savita Kovind and has a son and a daughter. Kovind, who emerged as the dark horse, is known for his clean image and Dalit outreach. He has extensively worked for providing free legal aid to the weaker sections of society, specially SC/ST women.  He has been the chairman of the Rajya Sabha House Committee and has served as a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes/Tribes and Social Justice and Empowerment among others. Kovind joined a stir by SC/ST employees when in 1997 certain orders were issued by the Centre which adversely affected their interests. These orders were later declared null and void after the passage of three amendments in the Constitution during the rule of the first NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.  Kovind is also known for his work in the field of education. He has served as member on the board of management of the Dr BR Ambedkar University, Lucknow. He was also a member of the board of governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata.  He has also represented India in the United Nations and addressed the UN General Assembly in October, 2002. As a member of Parliament, Kovind visited Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom and the USA.

Lok Sabha passes Indian Institutes of Information Technology (PPP) Bill, 2017

 The Lok Sabha passed the Indian Institute of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT-PPP) Bill, 2017 to allow 15 IIITs established on a PPP model to grant degrees and get statutory status.  The bill also seeks to grant institute of national importance status to IIITs on the lines of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs). Background The Union Government had initiated the opening of 20 IIITs with private partnership of which 15 are already operational. These engineering and tech schools were established at a cost of Rs. 128 crore each. The centre had contributed 50% of the amount, states 35% and private partners remaining 15% (i.e. 50:35:15 ratio). However, these institutes were not been eligible to grant degrees.

Union Cabinet nod for IWAI bond issue  The Union Cabinet gave its nod to Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to raise Rs.660 crore in bonds for extra budgetary resources (EBRs) in 2017-18. The proceeds from the bonds will be utilised by IWAI for development and maintenance of National Waterways (NWs) under National Waterways Act, 2016.  Moreover, the funds received will be used exclusively for capital expenditure to improve infrastructure funding. Modalities The principal and interest in respect of the EBRs will be financed by the Union Government by making suitable budgetary provisions in the demand of the Union Ministry of Shipping. The interest payment on the bonds will be on semi-annual basis and the principal on maturity.  The whole exercise would be undertaken by IWAI through appointment of lead managers and coordination with SEBI. Background Gross budgetary support from the Union Government and external financial support for funding development and maintenance of 106 new National Waterways under National Waterway Act, 2016, is grossly inadequate.  So far, the World Bank has sanctioned a loan of $ 375 million (around Rs 2,421 crore) for Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) along with other sources. But still there is funding gap which may be bridged by raising bonds. About Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) IWAI is the statutory body in charge of the waterways in India. Its headquarters is located in Noida, UP.  Its main function is to build the necessary infrastructure in the inland waterways, surveying the economic feasibility of new projects and also carrying out administration and regulation.

52 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY MoU Signed Between Department of Defence Production and GSL  Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), a Miniratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) signed an MoU for the financial year 2017-18 with Ministry of Defence.  This year‘s MoU target for ‗Revenue from Operations‘ has been set at Rs1150 crore, which is 43 percent higher than the financial year 2016-17 target of Rs800 crore.  Notably, in the financial year 2016-17, the Shipyard achieved historical high VoP of Rs1030 crore and PBT of Rs177 crore. GSL was adjudged as ‗Best Performing Shipyard‘ by MoD.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

India on track to grow at 7.4 per cent in 2017: ADB report

 According, to Asian Development Bank supplement report India is expected to achieve the projected growth rate of 7.4 per cent in 2017 and further up to 7.6 per cent next year on strong consumption demand, with South Asia leading the growth chart in Asia and the Pacific.  According to the report, South Asia will be the fastest growing of all sub-regions in Asia and the Pacific, with growth on track to meet original projections of 7 per cent in 2017 and 7.2 per cent in 2018.

Google introduces recruiting app 'Hire' for businesses  Google has launched 'Hire', a recruiting app for small- and medium-sized businesses that also integrates seamlessly with G Suite. It is a move to compete with Microsoft-owned LinkedIn.  Hire makes it easy to identify talent, build strong candidate relationships and efficiently manage the interview process end-to-end"

GOVT SCHEME

Union Cabinet approves Phase II of BharatNet project

 The Union Cabinet has extended the second phase of the BharatNet project that forms the backbone for the Union government‘s Digital India initiative. The second phase aims at covering the remaining 1.50 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPS). The approval entails a total estimated expenditure of Rs.42,068 crore for the implementation of project bankrolled from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). Moreover, the Union Cabinet also has approved a modified implementation strategy of BharatNet project for providing broadband connectivity to all GPs by March 2019.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

Environment Ministry approves Projects in 3 States under NAFCC

 The Union Environment Ministry approved three projects for climate change adaptation in three states viz. Rajasthan, Gujarat and Sikkim for funding under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC). In this regard, the National Steering Committee on Climate Change (NSCCC) headed by Environment Secretary has approved the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) submitted by these three state governments.

Projects approved

 Sikkim: The investment aims to address the issue of water security which are directly identified as climate resilience building interventions under the SAPCC.  Rajasthan: It aims to bolster water security in villages under the Mukhya Mantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan. It aims to enhance the adaptive capacity of villages by making them self-reliant in terms of water requirement.  Gujarat: The project seeks enhance the adaptive capacity of natural resource dependent communities to climate change in targeted villages of Kachchh district.

Australia joins International Solar Alliance led by India and France

53 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Australia became the 35th country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2015 in Paris. It is co-led by India and France.  The aim of ISA is to support developing countries to boost their solar production capacity. India on its part through the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is contributing $1 million to the ISA fund.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

L K Advani receives Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions in Lok Sabha

 Veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions as a parliamentarian in the Lok Sabha.  JD-U leader Sharad Yadav also received the Lifetime Achievement Award as a Rajya Sabha representative from Vice President Hamid Ansari at a function organized by the Lokmat Media Group to honor distinguished Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members.

PERSONS IN NEWS

Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi tops poll of most powerful Arab women: Forbes

 Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE Minister of State for Tolerance has topped a poll of the most powerful Arab women in government for 2017, according to Forbes Middle East.  Ms. Qasimi was followed by two women from Egypt - Sahar Nasr, the country‘s minister of investment and international cooperation and Ghada Wali, the minister of social solidarity.  Forbes has also released a list of the top 100 most powerful Arab business women for 2017, and the UAE represents the highest number of women, with 18, followed by Egypt, with 16.

21 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

India-Japan agreement on peaceful uses of N-energy comes into force

 India-Japan agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy has come into force recently. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Ambassador of Japan to India Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu exchanged diplomatic notes in this regard. The agreement was signed on 11th November 2016 in Tokyo during Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit to Japan.  The agreement is a reflection of the strategic partnership between the two sides and will pave the way for enhanced cooperation in energy security and clean energy.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

FM Arun Jaitley releases National Trade Facilitation Action Plan

 Finance Minister Arun Jaitley released the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan. The WTO-Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) was a major milestone for the global trading system.  This Action Plan gives a time bound map, not only for implementing TFA, but also for India's initiatives for trade facilitation and ease of doing business which goes beyond TFA. According to a Finance Ministry statement, all actions covered under the plan have been categorised by prioritising the activities into short, mid and long term.

SEBI inks pact with ESMA for information exchange on CCPs

54 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Markets regulator SEBI has entered into a pact with the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) for exchange of information concerning Central Counterparties (CCPs). CCPs are entities that help facilitate clearing and settlement activities.  The MoU establishes cooperation arrangements, including exchange of information regarding CCPs which are established and authorised or recognised in India by SEBI and which have applied for EU recognition under EMIR.

GOVT SCHEME/DIGITAL INDIA

Telangana launches 'Janahitha' for speedy redressal of public grievances

 The Telangana government launched a special portal called ―Janahitha‖ to receive complaints from the public.  The programme was inaugurated in Suryapet district on a pilot basis by Telangana Energy minister G Jagadish Reddy. The portal, which has been developed by Telangana‘s IT department, is a single window for all grievances and their redressal management.

Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY)

 Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY), a pension scheme exclusively for senior citizens, has been launched.  PMVVY is a Pension Scheme exclusively for the senior citizens aged 60 years and above.  The Scheme can be purchased offline as well as online through Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India which has been given the sole privilege to operate this Scheme.  Pradhan-Mantri-Vaya-Vandana-Yojana  Scheme provides an assured return of 8% p.a. payable monthly (equivalent to 8.30% p.a. effective) for 10 years.  Pension is payable at the end of each period, during the policy term of 10 years, as per the frequency of monthly/ quarterly/ half-yearly/ yearly as chosen by the pensioner at the time of purchase.  The scheme is exempted from Service Tax/ GST.  On survival of the pensioner to the end of the policy term of 10 years, Purchase price along with final pension installment shall be payable.  Loan upto 75% of Purchase Price shall be allowed after 3 policy years (to meet the liquidity needs). Loan interest shall be recovered from the pension installments and loan to be recovered from claim proceeds.  The scheme also allows for premature exit for the treatment of any critical/ terminal illness of self or spouse. On such premature exit, 98% of the Purchase Price shall be refunded.  On death of the pensioner during the policy term of 10 years, the Purchase Price shall be paid to the beneficiary.

DEFENCE

Indian Army inks MoU with DRDO to raise MRSAM defence system regiment

 The Indian Army has signed MoU with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to raise one regiment of the advanced Medium Range Surface to Air Missiles (MRSAM) defence system.  The Indian Army is planning to have a total of five regiments of MRSAM defence system, which will be deployed opposite to China and Pakistan. Each regiment consists of four launchers with three missiles each.  So five regiments will have total 60 missiles. Earlier the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by PM Narendra Modi had approved proposal for procuring MRSAM system for the army.

Indian Navy‟s second LCU Mark IV L52 ship launched by GRSE  Indian Navy‘s second LCU (landing craft utility) Mark IV L52 ship built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata, was formally launched in Kolkata, West Bengal.  The LCU Mark-IV vessels are designed for multipurpose amphibious operations jointly carried out Indian Navy and Indian Army to ensure maritime security of Andamans and Lakshadweep islands. LCU L52 ship is the second in series of the eight Mark IV LCU vessels built by GRSE for Navy.  The first ship of the series was commissioned in 2016. EVENTS

55 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY 200th anniversary celebrations of the Paika Rebellion

 The President of India Shri Pranab Mukharjee recently inaugurated the ―Bicentenary celebration of the heroic Paika Rebellion of Odisha, a valiant uprising of Paikas against the British rule‖ organised by the Ministry of Culture.

About Paika rebellion:

 Two-hundred years ago in 1817, a valiant uprising of soldiers led by Buxi Jagabandhu (Bidyadhar Mohapatra) took place in Khurda of Odisha. This is known as Paika rebellion.  The Paikas were the traditional land-owning militia of Odisha and served as warriors. When armies of the East India Company overran most of Odisha in 1803, the Raja of Khurda lost his primacy and the power and prestige of the Paikas went on a decline. The British were not comfortable with these aggressive, warlike new subjects and set up a commission under Walter Ewer to look into the issue.  The commission recommended that the hereditary rent-free lands granted to the Paikas be taken over by the British administration and this recommendation was zealously adhered to. They revolted against the British.  However, the rebellion had several other underlying causes – like the rise in the price of salt, abolition of the cowrie currency for payment of taxes and an overtly extortionist land revenue policy.  Although initially the Company struggled to respond they managed to put down the rebellion by May 1817. Many of the Paik leaders were hung or deported. Jagabandhu surrendered in 1825.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

Astrosat, Chandra and Hubble jointly detect massive cosmic explosion on Proxima Centauri

 India‘s first dedicated space observatory AstroSat along with other space and earth-based observatories have detected a massive coronal explosion on Proxima Centauri, sun‘s closest star neighbour.  The explosion was detected as part of joint multi-wavelength simultaneous observational campaign undertaken by three space-based observatories, Astrosat, Chandra and Hubble Space Telescope and the ground-based High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) observatory.

India's first Eco-bridges for the movement of tigers in Telangana  In a first of its kind, Telangana State will have eco-friendly bridges over a canal cutting across the tiger corridor linking the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra with the forests in Telangana's Kumram Bheem Asifabad district.  The ‗eco-bridges‘ will be constructed at key spots along the 72 km-long, and at some places over a kilometre wide, right flank canal of the Pranahita barrage in the Bejjur and Dahegaon mandals.

22 JULY

NATIONAL

India performs miserably in war on inequality

 The index and the inequality report was recently released by the international NGO Oxfam and Development Finance International.  It measures the efforts of governments that had pledged to reduce inequality as part of the sustainable development goals.  The index mainly focusses on redistributive actions governments can take, rather than those that would prevent rising inequality in the first place.  OECD countries headed by Sweden ranked the highest while Nigeria was at the bottom.  The US had the highest level of inequality among developed countries, though it is the wealthiest country in history.  Bhutan, known for coining the term `Gross National Happiness‘, is ranked even lower than India at 143.

56 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Of India‘s immediate neighbours, all but Nepal (81) and China (87) ranked between 138 and 150.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

BoB signs MoU with DGS&D for services to govt‟s e-marketplace

 Bank of Baroda has entered into an agreement with Directorate General of Supplies & Disposal (DGS&D) for extending various banking services to Government e-Marketplace (GeM).  DGS&D has been mandated to set up GeM, an initiative intended to bring greater transparency and efficiency in public procurements.

Partnership with PNB MetLife to provide insurance cover for borrowers

 Karnataka Bank, in association with its PNB MetLife, has launched Met Loan and Life Suraksha (MLLS), a single premium plan covering the loan liability of a customer.  The bank has also introduced KBL MLLS, an app for its employees to instantly calculate the insurance cover and premium based on loan liability of the borrowers

SBI and Carlyle to jointly acquire GE Capital's stake in SBI Card

 State Bank of India (SBI), the Carlyle Group and GE have announced that they have signed definitive agreements, whereby SBI and Carlyle Group will acquire GE Capital's entire stake in SBI Card, the second-largest credit card franchise in India.  SBI Card is operated through two joint venture companies , SBI Cards & Payment Services and GE Capital Business Process Management Services, which issue credit cards and process card transactions in the Indian market. Following the transactions, SBI and Carlyle will own 74 percent and 26 percent respectively in each of the two entities. GOVT SCHEME/DIGITAL INDIA

Government to launch Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana J

 The Union Ministry of Rural Development will launch Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY), a sub-scheme under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).  AGEY aims to provide an alternative source of livelihood to members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) by facilitating them to operate public transport services in backward rural areas.

EVENTS

Kerala to host literary festival with „Tolerance‟ as theme

 Kerala will be hosting the fifth edition of South India Writers Ensemble (SIWE) at Chengannur, a town in Kerala‘s coastal Alappuzha district from 24 July 2017.  The core theme of the festival this year is ‗tolerance‘. So creative writers, journalists, theatre and film personalities from across the industry will be seen deliberating on the theme at a time when the country as a whole is witnessing raging debates over intolerance.

APPOINTMENT

Sanjay Kothari appointed Secretary to new President

 Sanjay Kothari, Chairman of Public Enterprises Selection Board, has been appointed as Secretary to President-elect Ram Nath Kovind.

57 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Senior journalist Ashok Malik has been named as Press Secretary to Kovind, by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Senior Gujarat-cadre forest service officer Bharat Lal will be Joint Secretary to Kovind.

MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay appointed Joint Secretary in PMO  Senior diplomat and External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay appointed as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister‘s Office.  Baglay, a 1992 batch Indian Foreign Service Officer. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Baglay's appointment to the post for three years.

SPORTS

Karamjyoti Dalal wins bronze medal at World Para Athletics

 India‘s Karamjyoti Dalal has won bronze medal at the World Para Athletics Championships 2017 in the discus-throw. In the women‘s F55 category of discus-throw, she managed a throw of 19.02 m.

23 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

North Korean economy growing at fastest rate in 17 years

 Despite the sanctions to nuclear and missile programs, the country‘s GDP(Gross Domestic Product) grew by 3.9% in 2016 when compared to previous year.  The growth was largely from mining and energy and increase in exports to China.

NATIONAL

NEET question paper to be same in all languages

 Union HR Development Minister Prakash Javedkar has said that the question paper will be same in all languages from next year onwards.  The Madras High Court stayed the exam results this year on a petition that claimed that questions were tougher in vernacular languages.

Collector claims EVM fraud in Maharashtra

 The collectorate in Buldhana district has claimed an EVM malfunctioning favouring BJP.  Every time a voter pressed a Coconut symbol corresponding to the independent candidate ,the light of the lotus flashed.  The incident took place in the Zilla Parishad elections. SPORTS

England beat India in thrilling final to win Women‟s Cricket World Cup

 England came back from the brink to beat India by nine runs in a thrilling Women‘s World Cup final. England 228-7; India 219 all out .

Mithali first ever captain to lead India in 2 ODI WC finals

 Mithali Raj is the first skipper across men‘s and women‘s cricket to lead India in two ODI World Cup finals.  Jhulan Goswami is the only other member to have played both the finals.

India wins 2 high jump medals at World Para Athletics Championship

58 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Sharad Kumar and Varun Singh Bhati clinched silver and bronze medals respectively in high jump in the championship in London Saturday.  They took the India‘s medal tally to five. 24 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

Iran, Iraq ink pact on military cooperation

 Iran and Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to step up military cooperation and the fight against terrorism and extremism.  The MoU encourages promotion of interaction and share of experiences in the fight against terrorism and extremism, border security, training and logistical, technical and military support between both countries.

India, Bangladesh sign pact to connect both countries by waterways  India and Bangladesh have signed a pact to connect both the countries by waterways. The waterways will facilitate movement of passengers and goods between India‘s northeast and West Bengal with Bangladesh.  Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya stated in Agartala that infrastructure for the services would be set up along the major rivers in Bangladesh, West Bengal and the Brahmaputra in Assam.

World‟s largest supercarrier USS Gerald R Ford commissioned in USA  US Navy commissioned world‘s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R Ford into the fleet. The commissioning ceremony was held at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia in presence of US President Donald Trump.  USS Gerald R. Ford is the first ship in this new class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy. The ship is named after the 38th President of the United States Gerald Ford and has been built by Newport News Ship Building Company. The massive 1,106-foot-long carrier is powered by two new generation nuclear reactors.

NATIONAL

Bengaluru Declaration calls for SC/ST quota in judiciary

 The Bengaluru Declaration was recently adopted by the Karnataka State government sponsored Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Conference 2017. The theme of the conference: ―Quest for Equity‖.  The declaration recommends a slew of affirmative action measures in private sector, judiciary, educational institutions, government contracts and promotions for Dalits.  The declaration has 40 recommendations under six broad categories — safeguarding the people, strengthening democratic institutions, deepening social justice, enhancing human development, ensuring responsive governance, and promoting social security.  The Preamble of the declaration states, ―This Peoples‘ Declaration hopes to be a dynamic blueprint that addresses the needs and aspirations of all Indians, and a starting point for an ‗alliance of equity‘ of all progressive forces committed to safeguarding the idea of India‖.

Kiren Rijiju inaugurates RIWATCH Museum in Arunachal Pradesh  Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has inaugurated the Research Institution of World Ancient, Traditional, Culture & Heritage (RIWATCH) Museum at Roing in Arunachal Pradesh.  Later, on the sideline of his visit to Roing, Rijiju also inaugurated the 235-meter long Chimari Bridge, which would serve as a life line between the National Highway 52 of Roing-Tezu.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

MPC members to get Rs. 1.5 lakh per meet, must disclose assets

 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently notified the Monetary Policy Committee and Monetary Policy Process Regulations, 2016.

59 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Remuneration: Members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will be paid Rs. 1.5 lakh per meeting along with air travel and other reimbursements.  Silent period: Members will have to observe a ―silent period‖ of seven days before and after the rate decision for ―utmost confidentiality‖. Members are also required to be mindful of any conflict between their personal and public interest while interacting with profit making organisations and making personal financial transactions.  Voting pattern: Each member of the MPC has one vote and in case the numbers are equal, the governor has the casting vote.  Report: The MPC, which has the responsibility of achieving a set inflation target, should submit a report to the government in case of failure to achieve the required target. In such instances, the report shall be sent to the central government ―within one month from the date on which the bank has failed to meet the inflation target‖.  Meetings: MPC has to hold meetings at least four times in a year. The schedule of the MPC meetings for the entire fiscal year needs to be announced in advance. At least 15 days of notice is required for convening a meeting ordinarily, but an emergency meeting can be called with 24 hours notice for each member and technology-enabled arrangements need to be made for even shorter notice period meetings.  Assets declaration: All members need to disclose their assets and liabilities and update this information once every year.  After conclusion of MPC meeting, a resolution needs to be made public including on the policy repo rate and any other monetary policy measures at the discretion of the Chairperson while keeping in view the functioning and timing of financial markets.

Government plans new agency to keep check on Chartered Accountants

 The government is reviewing plans to put in place the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) as it seeks to rein in the Institute of Chartered Accounts for India (ICAI) for its perceived failure in enforcing discipline.  While Companies Act 2013 had provided for NFRA as a regulatory agency for audit, accounts and financial reporting, Section 132 of the law has remained on paper as the rules are yet to be notified. It is one of the few sections of the law that has not been notified yet.

EVENTS

Cyber space global conference

 India will be hosting the 5th Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) in 2017, one of the world‘s largest conference on Cyber Space and related issues.  The GCCS is taking place outside OECD nations for the first time.  It is being held in India for the first time.  The theme for the GCCS 2017 is ‗Cyber4All: An Inclusive, Sustainable, Developmental, Safe and Secure Cyberspace‘.  The conference will see participation of around 2000 delegates from senior Government officials, industry leaders, academia and civil society from over 100 countries.

ENVIRONMENT.SCIENCE AND TECH

World‟s first wind farm being built off Scotland coast

 The world‘s first full-scale floating wind farm is being built off the coast of Scotland. The wind farm, known as Hywind, is a trial project which will bring power to 20,000 homes.  The technology will allow wind power to be harvested in waters that are too deep for the existing bottom-standing turbines.

Spanish scientists discover novobiocin compound as anti-Zika drug  Researchers San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia, Spain have discovered novobiocin compound that could be used as a potential drug to fight the effects of a Zika virus infection.

60 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The novobiocin molecule (compound) was previously used in antibiotic drug to fend off ―nosocomial‖ infections (those acquired inside a hospital).  However, the drug was withdrawn from the market because it had lost its potency as an antibiotic. OBITUARY

Former ISRO Chairman U R Rao passes away at 85 years of age

 Internationally-renowned space scientist and former chairman of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), Udupi Ramachandra Rao passed away in Bengaluru.  Prof Rao is credited with having played an instrumental role in building up Indian satellite programmes right from nation‘s first satellite Aryabhatta.

APPOINTMENT

UK govt appoints Brenda Marjorie Hale as first female President of SC

 The UK government appointed Brenda Marjorie Hale as the first female President of the Supreme Court, the senior-most judge of the country. Hale, 72, will take charge as the head of Britain‘s top judging panel in September following the retirement of current President, Lord Neuberger.  She has served as Neuberger‘s deputy since 2013. Three new justices have also been appointed to the Supreme Court – Lady Justice Black, Lord Justice Lloyd Jones and Lord Justice Brigg – who will take up the role when Lady Hale is sworn in officially as President on 2nd October.

SPORTS

Meghalaya CM launches „Mission Football‟ in Shillong

 Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma launched ‗Mission Football‘ at a grand ceremony at JN Sports Complex, Shillong recently.  Mission Football is an initiative to help develop skills of football enthusiasts and develop young footballers for the country. It is a dedicated program for talent identification and nurturing of talents to develop national and international players.

H S Prannoy wins US Open Grand Prix Gold badminton title

 Ace Indian Shuttler H S Prannoy won the 2017 Yonex US Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament title.  It was his third grand prix gold title of badminton. In the final match held at Anaheim, California, Prannoy defeated his compatriot Parupalli Kashyap by 21-15, 20-22, 21-12.  In the women‘s singles category of the tournament, Aya Ohori of Japan won the final by defeating Michelle Li of Canada.

25 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

UN selects Dubai as data hub for MENASA region

 The UN has selected Dubai as the data hub for the Middle East North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region for the city‘s integrated initiatives to mine and manage its data.  The designation will be part of a portfolio of local and regional data portals, analytics and reports to engage stakeholders and help accelerate progress. It will also serve as a dedicated platform for city-to- city learning and ‗solutions transfer‘ across metropolitan, national and global contexts.

NATIONAL

61 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY Ram Nath Kovind takes over as country‟s 14th President

 Mr. Ram Nath Kovind took over as the 14th President of India. He administered the oath of office by the Chief Justice of India Justice J S Khehar at a special function in the Central Hall of Parliament.  The stage was shared by President and President-elect, Speaker, Vice President and Chief Justice of India. After the oath of new President, a 21-gun salute was honored followed by the acceptance speech of Mr. Kovind.

Union Government launches „SHe-Box‟ portal for Sexual harassment

 The Minister of Women & Child Development, Smt. Maneka Gandhi launched an online complaint management system titled Sexual Harassment electronic–Box (SHe-Box) for registering complaints related to sexual harassment at workplace in New Delhi.  The complaint management system has been developed to ensure the effective implementation of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (the SH Act), 2013. Currently, this facility has been extended to employees of Central Government, the scope of the portal will soon be extended to women employees of the private sector also.

FSSAI bans stapler pins in tea bags from January 2018  The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned the use of stapler pins in tea bags from January 2018.  FSSAI ban order issued under Section (15) FSS Act, 2006 has deemed that any loose staple pin consumed inadvertently with tea may cause a serious health hazard. Key Facts Currently, tea bags are either stapled or knotted.  According to industry estimates, the tea bag segment contributes 3-4% by value of total tea sales but it is one of the fastest growing segments at 50-60% year-on-year.  The FSSAI order directs the concerned food business operators to discontinue the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import of stapled tea bags by 1 January 2018. It also directs all food safety commissioners to take action to prevent the use of unsafe packaging materials by companies and take up measures for enforcement of its order.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

Bill introduced to replace Banking regulation ordinance

 The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to authorise the RBI to direct banking companies to resolve the problem of stressed assets has been introduced in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.  The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2017, seeks to amend the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and replace the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, which was promulgated in May this year.  It gives powers to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to ask any bank to initiate insolvency proceedings and give directions for resolution of stressed assets.  The RBI would also be empowered to issue other directions for resolution, appoint or approve for appointment, authorities or committees to advise the banking companies for stressed asset resolution.

CCEA approves selling 51% stake in HPCL to ONGC

 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved sale of government‘s 51.11% stake along with management control in HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum) to ONGC.  HPCL will continue as PSU after the acquisition. HPCL will add 23.8 million tonnes of annual oil refining capacity to ONGC‘s portfolio, making it the third-largest refiner in the country after Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Reliance Industries.  Prior to the merger, HPCL will take over Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) to bring all the refining assets of ONGC under one unit. ONGC currently owns 71.63% of MRPL while HPCL has 16.96% stake in it. MRPL will be the third refinery of HPCL, which already has units at Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.

62 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY

GOVT SCHEME/DIGITAL INDIA

Aarambh app for Road maintenance

 The government has launched a mobile app- Aarambh- for road maintenance.  This Mobile Phone App aims at use of GIS based mapping for making road inventories, condition surveys, and producing cost estimates and other relevant data for preparation and monitoring of annual road maintenance plans.  Its usage would greatly enhance the service delivery of the state level institutions in planning and implementing performance based rural roads maintenance contracts.

DEFENCE

Meet on island development

 Ten islands from Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep have been identified by the government for improving maritime economy, preserving the eco-system and addressing security concerns. The decision was taken at the first meeting of the newly- constituted Islands Development Agency (IDA).  The islands include Smith, Ross, Aves, Long and Little Andaman in Andaman and Nicobar and Minicoy, Bangaram, Suheli, Cherium and Tinnakara in Lakshadweep.  The IDA was set up on June 1 this year following Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s review meeting for the development of islands.  The meetings of the agency are chaired by the Union Home Minister.  Members of the IDA include cabinet secretary, home secretary, secretary (environment, forests and climate change), secretary (tourism) and secretary (tribal welfare).

Parliament passes The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016

 Parliament has passed The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016.  Admiralty laws deal with cases of accidents in navigable waters or involve contracts related to commerce on such waters. The Bill seeks to upgrade existing laws related to civil matters of admiralty jurisdiction of courts, maritime claims, arrest and detention of ships.  It repeals laws such as the Admiralty Court Act, 1861, Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890.

Features of the Bill

 The bill confers admiralty jurisdiction on High Courts located in coastal states of India, thus extending their upto territorial waters.  It empowers central government to extend the jurisdiction of these High Courts. Under the earlier laws enacted during the colonial era, the admiralty was only by the High Courts of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.  The bill now extends the provisions of admiralty jurisdiction to every vessel irrespective of place of domicile or residence of owner. It does not apply to naval auxiliary, warships and vessels used for non-commercial purposes.  It empowers High Courts to exercise jurisdiction on maritime claims arising out of conditions such as disputes regarding ownership of a vessel, mortgage on a vessel, construction, repair, or conversion of the vessel, disputes between co-owners of a vessel regarding employment or earnings of the vessel, disputes arising out of the sale of a vessel, and environmental damage caused by the vessel, etc.  India is a leading maritime nation and maritime transportation caters to about 95% of its merchandise trade volume. However, the admiralty jurisdiction of Indian courts under the present statutory framework flow from laws enacted in the British era. The repealing of five archaic admiralty statutes is in line with the Union Government‘s commitment to do away with archaic laws which are hindering efficient governance.

63 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY OBITUARY

Renowned scientist Yash Pal passes away

 Veteran scientist, administrator and popular science communicator, Professor Yash Pal died in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. He was 90. Mr. Pal made significant contributions to the field of science and to the study of cosmic rays, high-energy physics, astrophysics and development, among others.  A scientist of international repute, Mr. Pal was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1976 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2013.

SPORTS

Mithali Raj named captain of ICC Women‟s World Cup team

 India skipper Mithali Raj was chosen as the captain of the ICC Women‘s World Cup 2017 team by the International Cricket Council. The 34-year-old Indian was selected as captain after she led India to the final of the just-concluded ICC Women‘s World Cup.  Mithali led by example, scoring 409 runs during the 30- day tournament. The side includes four players from England, three from South Africa, and Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry. Mithali has been picked in the Team of the Tournament for the second time in her career.

Boxer Sachin Siwach wins Gold at Commonwealth Youth Games

 World Youth Champion Sachin Siwach clinched a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games, Bahamas after defeating Welsh boxer James Nathan Prober 4-1 in the final.  Siwach, who won gold last year, was the only one of the 103 boxers to have clinched a gold so far in the tournament, taking place in Bahamas. The World Youth Champion was also the flag bearer of India for the tournament. 26 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

Sri Lanka clears revised deal for Hambantota port

 Sri Lanka‘s Cabinet has cleared a revised deal for the Chinese-built port in Hambantota. The modified agreement is believed to be more profitable to Sri Lanka and also addresses security concerns raised by other countries.  As per the deal, while the Chinese would manage port operations, no naval ship, including Chinese ones, can call at Hambantota without Sri Lanka‘s permission.  India‘s apprehensions about the apparently growing Chinese presence in the island are well known, given the two countries‘ competing strategic interests in the island. The Hambantota port is part of China‘s Belt and Road Initiative.  Chinese control of Hambantota, which is part of its modern-day ―Silk Route‖ across Asia and beyond, as well as a plan to acquire 15,000 acres (23 sq miles) to develop an industrial zone next door, had raised fears that it could also be used for Chinese naval vessels.

NATIONAL

Parliament passes Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Bill,2017

 The parliament has passed The Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Bill, 2017 after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.  The Lok Sabha has passed it earlier.  The bill aims at amending the Collection of Statistics Bill, 2008, which facilitates the collection of statistics related to social, economic, demographic, scientific and environmental aspects, by central, state and local governments.

64 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  It also allows the appointment of statistics officers to collect information and contains provisions to ensure security of information.  The Bill extends jurisdiction of the parent act to the state Jammu and Kashmir for the collection of statistics pertaining to subjects under the Union (List-I) or the Concurrent list (List-II) of the Constitution. These subjects include citizenship, banking, education, labour and forests as applicable to J&K.  It adds provisions for the appointment of a nodal officer by the Union or state government.  The function of nodal officer is to coordinate and supervise statistical activities under the government which has appointed him. Further, the Union government can also determine the powers and duties of the nodal officer.  The Bill removes provision from parent act dealing with information collected under it only is used for statistical purposes. It also allows the Union government to determine the manner in which such information collected will be used for statistical purposes.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

National Anti-profiteering Authority

 The GST Council has formed a Selection Committee under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary to identify and recommend eligible persons for appointment as the Chairman and Members of the National Anti-profiteering Authority under GST.

About the National Anti-profiteering Authority?

 The National Anti-profiteering Authority is tasked with ensuring the full benefits of a reduction in tax on supply of goods or services flow to the consumers.  When constituted by the GST Council, the National Anti-profiteering Authority shall be responsible for applying anti-profiteering measures in the event of a reduction in rate of GST on supply of goods or services or, if the benefit of input tax credit is not passed on to the recipients by way of commensurate reduction in prices.  The National Anti-profiteering Authority shall be headed by a senior officer of the level of a Secretary to the Government of India and shall have four technical members from the Centre and/or the States.  The constitution of the National Anti-profiteering Authority is expected to bolster consumer confidence and ensure all stakeholders reap the intended benefits of GST. Powers and functions of the authority:

 In the event the National Anti-profiteering Authority confirms the necessity of applying anti-profiteering measures, it has the power to order the business concerned to reduce its prices or return the undue benefit availed along with interest to the recipient of the goods or services.  If the undue benefit cannot be passed on to the recipient, it can be ordered to be deposited in the Consumer Welfare Fund. In extreme cases the National Anti-profiteering Authority can impose a penalty on the defaulting business entity and even order the cancellation of its registration under GST.

SIDBI starts merchant banking operations to help MSMEs tap market  Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has started full-fledged merchant banking operations to benefit the expanding number of growth-oriented micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially those with a strong technology and innovation quotient.  The initiative is aimed at enhancing the access of MSMEs to the capital markets, including the SME Trading Platform and Institutional Trading Platform

Standard Chartered Bank unveils forex card

 Standard Chartered Bank has launched a Multi-currency Forex Card for overseas travelers. The card will allow customers the convenience of loading up to 20 widely used currencies on one card with an online reload facility during overseas travel.

65 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The card will offer travelers protection against the frequent currency fluctuations by locking in the currency exchange rate they availed during the time of loading the card, and not pay different rates every time they use the card.

Aurionpro launches a Bank in a Box to reduce branch expansion cost for banks

 Aurionpro Solutions a global leader in digital innovation, enterprise security and banking solutions, announced its Branch-in-a-Box product, the Virtual Teller Machine (VTM) a fully integrated self-service kiosk for automating 90% of banking transactions at the branch level.  The VTM helps in migrating routine transactions like eKYC, account opening, passbook and statement printing, video assistance, bill payment, cash and cheques (single and bunched) deposit, cheque account summary, cash withdrawal, personalised instant card issuance, activation and replacement from the branch to the teller machines.

Yatra acquires Air Travel Bureau to expand corporate travel business

 Yatra Online Inc, India‘s second-largest online travel operator, has acquired corporate travel services provider Air Travel Bureau (ATB).  ATB is India‘s ‗largest corporate travel services provider‘ with gross bookings of Rs 1,500 crore and a client base of 400 companies in the country.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai joins Alphabet Board of Directors  Google CEO Sundar Pichai has been appointed to the board of directors of Alphabet, the search giant‘s parent company.  Alphabet is the second most valuable U.S. company behind Apple. Alphabet shares have risen by more than 50% since Pichai, following a steady rise through Google‘s managerial ranks.

Transfer unclaimed accruals to fund: IRDA

 As per the new direction from IRDA, insurance companies can no longer retain unclaimed amounts of policyholders if those accruals are more than 10 years old. Such sums need to be, instead, transferred to the Senior Citizens‘ Welfare Fund (SCWF) of the Centre.  The direction from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has come in the backdrop of the amendment made in April to the Senior Citizens‘ Welfare Fund Rules. The amendment expanded the purview beyond the unclaimed amounts in small savings and other saving schemes of the Centre, PPF and EPF.  It brought in unclaimed amount lying with banks, including cooperative banks and RRBs; dividend accounts, deposits and debentures of companies coming under the Companies Act; insurance companies and Coal Mines PF.

GOVT SCHEME

Government approves first housing project on private land under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

 The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has approved construction of 30,000 affordable houses in Maharashtra‘s Sholapur district for the urban poor on private land under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).  It was approved by an Inter-ministerial Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC), chaired by HUA Secretary. It is first such project to be taken up on private land under PMAY(U). Earlier the approved projects for affordable housing projects were built on lands belonging to the state government or municipal corporations.  The approval of this first housing project on private land is expected to trigger more such projects on private lands under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) component of PMAY(U). The State Level Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (SLSMC), set up under PMAY(U), will oversee the implementation of the project.

DEFENCE

First Two NOPVs Shachi and Shruti Launched

66 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited (RDEL) has launched the first two Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPVs) at their shipyard in Pipavav, Gujarat.  The ships are part of a five ship project being constructed for the Indian Navy.  The primary role of NOPVs is to undertake surveillance of the country‘s vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) besides operational tasks such as anti-piracy patrols, fleet support operations, maritime security of offshore assets, coastal security operations, and protection of shipping lanes.  The NOPVs would increase the ocean surveillance and patrolling capabilities of the Indian Navy.  The NOPVs are patrol ships and are armed with 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) system along with two 30mm AK-630M guns which provide medium range and short range offensive and defensive capabilities.  The armament is remotely controlled through an electronic Fire Control System.  The ships are fitted with diesel engine driven propulsion systems and can deliver speeds upto 25 knots.  All ship operations are controlled by an intelligent Integrated Platform Management System which has interfaces for all operational activities onboard the ship.

EVENTS

BRICS Youth Forum opens in Beijing

 The 2017 BRICS Youth Forum opened in Beijing, China to discuss the development of the youth in the countries of the grouping. The theme of three-day forum is 'Enhance BRICS Partnership, Promote Youth Development'.  It gathered 50 youth representatives working as civil servants, scholars, entrepreneurs, artists and journalists from the BRICS countries. The five BRICS countries first came up with the idea of establishing a dialogue mechanism for BRICS youth in 2014 during a meeting between BRICS leaders in South Africa. IMPORTANT DAYS

Nation celebrates Kargil Vijay Diwas: 26 July

 The country celebrated the 18th Anniversary of ‗Kargil Vijay Diwas‘. On the occasion, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and three Chiefs of Services laid floral tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate.  Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 26 July, commemorates India‘s emphatic victory against Pakistan and honors the war heroes.  On this day in 1999, the Indian Army successfully took control of posts at a treacherous high altitude and glaciated terrain across the Himalayas in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, after fighting for 60 days.

APPOINTMENT

Janalakshmi Financial Services appoints Ajay Kanwal as CEO

 Gearing up for the launch of their small finance bank, Janalakshmi Financial Services (JFS), the largest microfinance company, has announced the appointment of its new CEO Ajay Kanwal.  Kanwal, a veteran banker having 27 years of experience in both consumer and commercial banking sector, will take charge of office from August 1.

SPORTS

India to host maiden men's World Boxing Championship in 2021

 The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has announced that India will host their first Men‘s World Championship in 2021. The announcement was made after a two-day executive committee meeting that was held in Moscow.  The AIBA Men‘s World Championships 2019 will be held in Russia city of Sochi. The 2018 Women‘s World Championships will also be held in New Delhi.

67 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY 27 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

CAC adopts Codex standards for three spices

 The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) has adopted three Codex standards for black, white and green pepper, cumin and thyme.  It is for first time pepper, cumin and thyme, spices will have such universal standards. These standards were adopted at 40th session of CAC held in Geneva.  The adoption of Codex standards paves the way for universal agreement on identifying quality spices in various countries.  It also set reference points and benchmarks for member-nations to align their national standards for spices with Codex.

NATIONAL

Amidst internal Rifts, Nitish Kumar takes oath as Chief Minister for the 6th time

 Less than a day after resigning as Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar took oath at 10 am today at Raj Bhawan in Patna as the head of the government that would include BJP and its allies. Prior to this, the party of Nitish Kumar, JD-(U) was supported by Mahagathbandhan allies with Lalu Yadav led RJD.  Kumar met Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi yesterday with NDA leaders and staked claim to form a new government with the support of 132 MLAs. He has been asked by the governor to prove his majority in the Assembly within two days of taking the oath. Nitish Kumar took oath as chief minister of Bihar. Sushil Kumar Modi took oath as deputy chief minister.

Madras High Court makes Vande Mataram mandatory in Schools, Govt. and Private Offices

 The Madras High Court ruled that Vande Mataram should be sung in all schools and colleges across the state ―at least once a week‖, and in government and private offices ―at least once a month‖.  Issuing the order, Justice M V Muralidharan stated, Considering the larger public interest and to instil a sense of patriotism in each and every citizen of the state, the national song ‗Vande Mataram‘ shall be played and sung in all schools/ colleges/ universities and other educational institutions at least once a week (preferably on Monday or Friday).

PM Modi inaugurates APJ Abdul Kalam‟s memorial in Rameswaram

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam‘s memorial at Pei Karumbu in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu on the second death anniversary of the former President. Mr. Modi unveils a statue of Dr. Kalam and hoisted the National flag at the memorial.  Mr. Modi will flag off Kalam Sandesh Vahini, an exhibition bus which will travel across the country and reach Rashtrapati Bhavan on 15th of October, which marks the birth anniversary of the former President.

Cabinet approves new wage code bill to ensure minimum wage across all sectors  The Union Cabinet has approved the Labour Code on Wages Bill which will ensure a minimum wage across all sectors by integrating existing labour related laws. The Labour Code on Wages Bill consolidates the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.  At present, laws on wages do not cover workers getting monthly wage of more than Rs 18,000. Moreover, these laws are only applicable for scheduled industries or establishments. Even there are about half a dozen definitions of wages in various acts across the Centre and states, which employers have to grapple with.

68 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The Second National Commission on Labour has recommended that the existing labour laws should be broadly grouped into four or five labour codes on Wages; Industrial Relations; Social Security & Welfare and Safety and Working Conditions on functional basis.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

Microsoft launches „Made for India‟ Kaizala app

 Technology giant Microsoft has officially launched ‗Kaizala‘, a productivity app that has been designed to enhance the collaboration and communication experience for Indian enterprises.  The ‗Made for India‘ app is designed for large group communications and work management and works even on 2G networks. The product will make it possible for organizations to interact with people within the organization as well as outside like partners and vendors in a seamless manner.

Axis Bank acquires FreeCharge for Rs. 385 crore  Axis Bank announced the acquisition of Snapdeal-owned mobile payments provider Freecharge in an all-cash deal worth Rs385 crore. The deal is subject to regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the indicative time-frame to complete the acquisition is two months, the private sector lender said in an exchange filing.  With this buyout, Axis Bank will get over 50 million customers of Freecharge along with its niche and patented technology and human resources.  Founded in 2010 by Mumbai based entrepreneur Kunal Shah, FreeCharge started as a recharge deal coupons platform before turning into a full-scale mobile wallet.

Cabinet approves revision of guidelines of Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval for revision of guidelines of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) Scheme with a view to achieve its intended objectives. The changes  Specific changes have been made in the attributes of the scheme to make it more attractive, mobilize finances as per the target and reduce the economic strains caused by imports of gold and reduce the Current Account Deficit (CAD).  Flexibility has been given to Ministry of Finance to design and introduce variants of SGBs with different interest rates and risk protection/pay-offs that would offer investment alternatives to different category of investors. Ministry of Finance (the issuer) has been delegated this power to amend/add to the features of the Scheme with the approval of the Finance Minister to reduce the time lag between finalizing the attributes of a particular tranche and its notification. Following specific changes in the scheme have been approved:  The investment limit per fiscal year has been increased to 4 kg for individuals, 4 Kg for Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) and 20 Kg for Trusts and similar entities notified by the Government from time to time.  The ceiling will be counted on Financial year basis and will include the SGBs purchased during the trading in the secondary market.  The ceiling on investment will not include the holdings as collateral by Banks and Financial institutions.  SGBs will be available 'on tap‘. Based on the consultation with NSE, BSE, Banks, and Department of Post, features of the product to emulate 'On Tap' sale would be finalized by Ministry of Finance.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

NASA jets for first time will chase solar eclipse

 Scientists from NASA for first time are planning to chase the shadow of the moon using two of NASA‘s WB-57F research jets during the upcoming total solar eclipse in US. The purpose of the chase is to capture the clearest ever images of the Sun‘s outer atmosphere.

69 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  The research jets (planes) will have twin telescopes mounted on the noses of the planes to capture clearest images of Sun‘s corona to date.  They will also undertake first-ever thermal images of Mercury to reveal how temperature varies across the planet‘s surface. Need for research The corona of sun (gaseous envelope surrounding sun) is heated to millions of degrees, but the lower atmospheric layers like the photosphere are only heated to a few thousand degrees.  So far, scientists are not sure how this inversion happens. One theory proposes micro explosions, termed nanoflares (too small and frequent to detect individually) with a large collective effect might be releasing enarmous heat into the corona.

Uttarakhand records second highest tiger count in India

 The count of tigers in Uttarakhand shot up to 242 with an increase of 63 big cats in the year 2017. The news was announced by Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.  In addition, 11 cubs were also found in the two tiger reserves, the Corbett Tiger Reserve and the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, in the state. Uttarakhand is the second state in terms of tiger count behind Karnataka, which has 400 big cats.  According to the latest statistics, at least 208 tigers have been identified in Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, up from last year's 163. Also, six cubs were identified there.

Scientists discover glow-in-the-dark shark in Pacific

 Scientists have discovered new species of glow-in-the-dark shark living 1,000 feet below the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the northwestern Hawaiian islands.  It has been named Etmopterus lailae and belongs to lanternshark family.  It has an unusually large nose, weighs a little less than a kilo and measures less than a foot. This unique features and characteristics make it different form other lanternsharks.

APPOINTMENT

Subhash Chandra Garg appointed as India‟s Alternate Governor on the Board of Governors of ADB

 Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg has been appointed as Indias Alternate Governor on the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Finance Ministry announced recently.  Garg has been appointed in place of former DEA Secretary Shaktikanta Das.  The appointment came into effect from July 12.

OBITUARY Dharam Singh, former Karnataka CM passes away  N. Dharam Singh, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, passed away following a heart attack. He was 80. He was the 17th Chief Minister of the state. He headed the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government from May 2004 to February 2006.  Dharam Singh represented the Karnataka Legislative Assembly seven times without a defeat and was a member of the Lok Sabha from Bidar constituency once (2009).

28 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

BRICS nations sign Taxation Cooperation Memorandum

 Tax authorities of the BRICS- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have signed BRICS Taxation Cooperation Memorandum to establish a mechanism for taxation cooperation.  The landmark document is the bloc‘s first document that elevates taxation cooperation to the institutional level.

70 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  It was signed at the fifth meeting of BRICS Heads of Tax Authorities.

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif resigns over Panama Papers verdict  Nawaz Sharif has resigned as prime minister of Pakistan following a decision by the country's Supreme Court to disqualify him from office.  The ruling came after a probe into his family's wealth following the 2015 Panama Papers dump linking Mr Sharif's children to offshore companies.

NATIONAL

Mumbai Metro launches India‟s first mobile ticketing system

 Mumbai Metro announced the launch of India's first Mobile Ticketing System 'OnGo' which will help commuters pass the AFC gates using their mobile phones.  Commuters will be able to generate a QR Code through 'OnGo' service for current or future journeys upto a week in advance by clicking the mobile app wherein they would pay for their journey.

Lok Sabha passes Indian Institutes of Management Bill, 2017

 The Lok Sabha passed the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) Bill, 2017 by voice vote. The Bill declares the IIMs as institutions of national importance.  The bill seeks to empower these institutions to attain standards of global excellence in management, management research and allied areas of knowledge.  It also promises to grant administrative, academic and financial autonomy to these B-Schools and allow them to grant degrees.  It establishes coordination Forum of IIMs as an advisory body. It empowers board of an IIM to drive the management of the institution.  It will select Chairperson and Director of IIM. The board will have greater participation of experts and alumni.  It will also include women and members from Scheduled Castes/Tribes.  Besides, it adds provisions for periodic review of the performance of IIM by independent agencies and their results will be placed in public domain.  Besides, it also has provision to place the Annual Report of the IIMs in the Parliament and CAG (Comptroller and auditor general of India) auditing their accounts.

Supreme Court puts end to immediate arrests in dowry cases

 The Supreme Court has ruled that the police cannot arrest the accused without conducting a preliminary inquiry under dowry harassment cases.  The ruling was made by a SC bench of Justices A K Goel and UU Lalit.  With this, apex court put an end to immediate arrest of the husband and his family members in the dowry harassment cases filed under Section 498A of Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Supreme Court passed the order keeping in view the fact of suspected misuse of the anti-dowry harassment law framed in 1983.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

BSE inks cooperation pact with Egyptian Exchange

 Leading bourse BSE joined hands with Egyptian Exchange (EGX) for cooperation in exchange of information across business areas.  Through this MoU, a range of opportunities has been explored for the development of their businesses, products and markets to share knowledge and strengthen international connectivity.

Punjab National Bank ties up with Bajaj Allianz General for distribution

71 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance have signed an agreement for the distribution of insurance products through the branches.  Under this agreement, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance will offer personal lines of insurance products such as health, personal accident, home, motor and travel along with the commercial line of insurance products such as property, marine and engineering insurance, etc to the bank's customers.

NITI Aayog clears six proposals for high-tech public transport

 The NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog has approved 6 transport proposals of the transport ministry exploring options to improve public transport.  It includes high-tech mass rapid transportation technologies such as metrino, hyperloop, pod taxis, stadler buses, hybrid buses and freight rail road.  The proposals of the transport ministry were approved with a condition that the transport ministry conducts trial run of all these technologies and puts in place safety measures before starting operations commercially.  Following the go-ahead from NITI Aayog, the transport ministry has formed a six member committee, headed by former top official of Railways, to study safety parameters associated with these technologies and their best global practices.

GOVT SCHEME/DIGITAL INDIA

National Centre for Seismology launches an App „India Quake‟

 Union Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Dr. Harshvardhan launched an app ―India Quake‖ for Earthquake Parameter Dissemination on the occasion of Foundation Day of Ministry of Earth Sciences.  The App will make information dissemination faster with no restrictions on the number of recipients. Any citizen can download this App and get the real time earthquake location information on his/her mobile.

Sagar Vani

 ―Sagar Vani‖, a mobile app, was launched recently on the occasion of Foundation Day of Ministry of Earth Sciences.  The ‗Sagar Vani‘ is a software platform where various dissemination modes will be integrated on a single central server. The ‗Sagar Vani‘ includes Multi Lingual SMS, Voice Call / Audio Advisory, Mobile Apps (User / Admin modules), Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), Email, GTS, Fax, Digital Display Boards, Radio / Television broadcast units, IVRS, Cloud Channels, etc.  The system also has facility to provide access to various stakeholders (NGOs, State Fishery Departments, Disaster Management Authorities, etc.) so that they too will be able to further disseminate these ocean information and alerts to the user community.  This ‗Sagar Vani‘ system compares with the most advanced countries‘ services in terms of speed of delivery, omni channel capabilities and diverseness of services. With this system, the services will be disseminated in local languages using advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.  For the first time in India, the power of television and cable network mediums for topical and alert dissemination services is being used.  The ‗Sagar Vani‘ will now serve the coastal community, especially the fishermen community with the advisories and alerts towards their livelihood as well as their safety at Sea.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles Installed in Bengaluru

72 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India [FAME-India] Scheme of the Government, 25 Charging Stations have been installed at 6 different locations in Bengaluru by M/s. Mahindra REVA Electric Vehicles Pvt. Ltd, as a pilot project.  Based on the proposals received under FAME Scheme, charging infrastructure in selected cities/ locations were sanctioned by the Department of Heavy Industries.  The FAME-India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (hybrid &) Electric vehicles in India) scheme is proposed to be implemented over a period of 6 years, till 2020, wherein it is intended to support the hybrid/electric vehicles market development and its manufacturing eco-system to achieve self-sustenance at the end of the stipulated period.  The scheme has four focus areas, technology development, demand creation, pilot projects and charging infrastructure.  FAME India – Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India – is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan.  The scheme envisages Rs 795 crore support in the first two fiscals starting with the current year.  It is being administered by the Heavy Industries Ministry.

NABARD takes first step to access Green Climate Fund

 India‘s National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has signed an Accreditation Master Agreement (AMA) with the Green Climate Fund.  With the signing of the AMA, NABARD becomes the first Indian organisation to get Direct Access Entity status and is the first step for the body to access GCF resources.  The GCF was set up in 2010 under the UNFCCC‘s financial mechanism to channel funding from developed countries to developing countries to allow them to mitigate climate change and also adapt to disruptions arising from a changing climate.  It was central to the Paris climate agreement signed in 2015, that the world‘s largest historical emitter.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Hepatitis Day: 28 July

 World Hepatitis Day (WHD) takes places every year on 28 July and brings the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change.  The Theme for World Hepatitis Day 2017 is 'Eliminate Hepatitis'.

APPOINTMENT

Axis Bank approves re-appointment of Shikha Sharma as CEO

 Axis Bank has re-appointed Shikha Sharma as MD & CEO of Axis Bank for the three-year term from June 2018. Her current term was to end in June 2018.

OBITUARY

Bollywood actor Inder Kumar passes away

 Bollywood actor Inder Kumar passed away recently. He was 44. Inder Kumar suffered a heart attack at his residence in Andheri‘s Four Bungalows. He has worked in more than 20 films.  He also shared the screen space with Salman Khan in Wanted and Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge among others.

SPORTS

73 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY PV Sindhu appointed Group-I officer in Andhra Pradesh

 Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu has been appointed a Group-I officer in Andhra Pradesh. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu handed over the government order to the Rio Olympics silver winning shuttler.  Chandrababu Naidu had promised a Group-I post to Sindhu when she won the silver medal in Olympics. Accordingly, she was appointed the deputy collector.

Indonesia to host AFC U-19 championship

 The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Competition Committee officially awarded Indonesia the hosting of the AFC Under-19 Championship 2018.  The AFC U-19 championship is scheduled to be held from October 18 to November 4 of 2018.

Ajay Singh wins bronze medal in Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships

 India‘s Ajay Singh has won the bronze medal in Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships at Kathmandu, taking India‘s tally to three.  Ajay got third place in 77 kgs men‘s junior category lifting 143 kgs in snatch and 172 kgs in clean and jerk

29 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

Iran successfully launches satellite-carrying rocket into space

 Iran successfully launched its most advanced satellite-carrying rocket called ‗Simorgh‘ into space. The launch took place at the Imam Khomeini National Space Station in Semnan.  The development marks a significant step forward for the Islamic Republic's young space program. It also raises alarm among the nation‘s adversaries who fear that the same technology could be used to produce long-range missiles.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi declared as interim Pakistan Prime Minister

 The ruling Pakistan Muslim League has selected Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to be the interim prime minister of Pakistan.  Nawaz Sharif had recently resigned as Pakistan Prime Minister after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office. The court disqualified Sharif under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution. He will remain on he post for 45 Days.

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

NPCI receives final nod from RBI to function as Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit

 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the umbrella organization for all retail payment systems has received a final nod from the Reserve Bank of India to function as the Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (BBPCU) and operate the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS).  On August 31, 2016, 8 BBPS operating units, which received in-principle approval from RBI, took part in the pilot. Almost after a year of running the pilot, streamlining the technology and business processes, NPCI has now received final clearance from RBI.

IOB goes live with Bharat Bill Payment system

74 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Public sector Indian Overseas Bank has offered Bharat Bill Payment System, introduced by the National Payments Corporation of India, for its customers. BBPS is an integrated bill payment system that offers inter-operable online bill payments to customers.  The services include online payments of electricity, telecommunication, DTH, water and gas bills, the Chennai headquartered bank said in a statement. Indian Overseas Bank is one of the three public sector banks (apart from Bank of Baroda and Union Bank of India) to get the approval from RBI for providing the service.

RBI sets up Supervisory Colleges for six Scheduled Commercial Banks  Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up Supervisory Colleges for six Scheduled Commercial Banks which have sizeable international presence: - State Bank of India, ICICI Bank Ltd., Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank Ltd. and Punjab National Bank.  The objectives of the colleges are to enhance information exchange and cooperation among supervisors, to improve understanding of the risk profile of the banking group and thereby facilitate more effective supervision of internationally active banks.

DEFENCE

Muntra: India‟s first unmanned tank rolled out by DRDO

 The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has rolled out Muntra, India‘s first unmanned, remotely operated tank at its Chennai lab.  It has been launched in three variants Muntra-S, Muntra-M and Muntra-N for surveillance, mine detection and reconnaissance in areas with nuclear and biological threats. It is also likely to be used in Naxal-hit areas.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

Delhi Metro becomes world‟s first completely „green‟ Metro system

 The Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) has become the world‘s first completely ‗green‘ Metro system for adhering to green building norms for its residential colonies.  In this regard, Delhi Metro has secured the platinum rating for adherence to green building norms for its 10 residential colonies from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

China successfully produces gas from flammable ice under South China Sea

 China has successfully produced natural gas from methane hydrate, also known as ―flammable ice‖, in an experimental project in the South China Sea (SCS).  As part of the experiment, a drilling platform had produced a total of 309,000 cubic metres of natural gas from gas hydrate in 60 days.  Methane hydrate has been identified as a potential new gas source for China, with the South China Sea thought to contain some of the world‘s most promising flammable ice deposits. India, Canada and US are also believed to be looking at hydrates as an alternative energy source.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Tiger Day: 29 July

 The 7th International Tiger Day is observed globally on 29 July. This year‘s International Tiger Day would be celebrated with the slogan ‗Fresh Ecology For Tigers‘ Protection‘.  The conference of the heads of 13 countries – where tigers are available – held at Saint Petersburg of Russia in 2010 took the decision to mark the world tiger day on July 29 every year.

75 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY AWARDS AND HONOURS

Former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar conferred with Japanese honour

 Former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar was conferred with the Japan‘s imperial decoration „Order of the Rising Sun‟ award for his contribution to fostering Japan-India ties.

 Kumar had served as Special Envoy of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Japan during the visit of the Emperor and Empress of Japan to India in December 2013, and contributed to the success of the visit.

30 JULY

INTERNATIONAL

Iran Majlis(parliament) adopts motion to reciprocate US sanctions.

 National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran‘s Majlis (parliament) on  Saturday passed the general outlines of a motion to reciprocate the US sanctions on the country.  It also envisages measures to support the Iranian armed and security forces as well as those Iranians who would be affected by the US actions. ECONOMY,BUSINESS AND FINANCE

Over 12 lakh businesses apply for new GST registration.

 Over 12 lakh businesses have applied for fresh registration under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has reported  Although businesses with turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh are exempt from GST and hence registration is not mandatory, traders and manufacturers are getting themselves registered so that the input tax credit can be passed on in the supply chain

RBI to procure 50 note verifying machine

 RBI is planning to buy 50 Currency Verification & Processing Systems for its regional offices for counting & authenticating banknotes of all denominations.  Machine is proposed to be installed at its 18 regional offices throughout India.  As per the Request for Proposal, machines should be computer based & microprocessor controlled having capacity to process at least 30 banknotes per second.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

AI solution for visually impaired

 Accenture has developed an artificial intelligence powered solution to help visually impaired people improve the way they experience the world & enhance their productivity in workplace.  Known as Drishti, It is a part of Accenture‘s focus on Tech4Good, which aims to apply technology to improve the way world lives.  Accenture plans to introduce it to 100+ visually impaired employees in India.

Mission to uncover secrets of Zealandia  Scientists have set sail on a mission to uncover the secrets of ―lost continent‖ of Zealandia.  Zealandia, which is mostly submerged beneath the South Pacific, was once part of Gondwana super-continent but broke away some 75 million years ago.  The drill ship JOIDES Resolution is undertaking 2 month expedition to Zealandia to better understand major changes in global tectonic configuration.

India to see launch of two moon missions

76 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  India will witness launch of 2 lunar missions from Indian soil early next year.  ISRO will launch its Chandrayaan-2 mission, an advanced version of its previous 2018 mission with the objective of deeper lunar surface probe.  The other mission is by Team Indus, a group of space enthusiasts who want to unfurl the tricolour on moon‘s surface as part of a global lunar competition.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Day against Trafficking in Persons

 The United Nations World Day against Trafficking in Persons is observed annually across the world on July 30.  This year the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has chosen ‗act to protect and assist trafficked persons‘ as the focus of the World Day.  This day highlights importance of prevention of trafficking in persons and to protect victims, whether in ordinary time or in crisis. SPORTS

Sunil Subramaniam appointed Manager of team India.

 The BCCI appointed former Tamil Nadu Ranji team captain Sunil Subramaniam as the administrative manager of the Indian Cricket team

India wins FIBA women‟s Asia Cup Final.

 Beating Kazakhstan by 73-71 Indian women‘s team won FIBA Asia Cup Final.  In a similarly nail-biting finish, Japan defeated Australia 74-73 in the Division A summit clash.

31 JULY

NATIONAL

India is world‟s third-biggest beef exporter: OECD-FAO report

 According to recently released OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2017-2026 report, India is the world‘s third-biggest exporter of beef.  Brazil was ranked as the world‘s top beef exporter followed by Australia.  The report was released jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OECD).

ECONOMY,BANKING AND FINANCE

Canara Bank launches 'CANDI' - its first digital branch in Bengaluru

 Canara Bank has launched its first ‗Digital Banking Branch‘ named 'CANDI' in Bengaluru. The branch will provide an end-to-end digital experience to customers.  The most attractive feature of the Digital Branch is a humanoid robot that addresses basic queries of customers on banking products and services. This is a first-of-its kind initiative by a public sector bank in the country.

SBI cuts savings bank rate to 3.5% on deposits up to Rs. 1 cr  The decline in the rate of inflation and high real interest rates have prompted State Bank of India to cut the savings bank deposits rate from 4 per cent to 3.5 per cent on deposits below Rs. 1 crore.  The savings bank deposits above Rs. 1 crore will continue to earn 4 per cent interest. The cut in SB rate will enable it to maintain the marginal cost of funds based lending rate at the current level.

77 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY

RBI slaps Rs. 3 cr penalty on Union Bank for KYC non-compliance

 The RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs. 3 crore on state-owned Union Bank of India for ―non-compliance‖ with the directions on Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.  This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.

GOVT SCHEME

Punjab launches „Apni Gaddi Apni Rozgar‟ scheme

 The Punjab government has recently announced the launch of its flagship 'Apni Gaddi Apna Rozgar' scheme by flagging off over 100 Uber MOTO bikes. Under the scheme, the state government will be providing commercial two wheelers and four wheelers to unemployed youth at subsidized rates.  The scheme aims to generate job opportunities for youth and providing better mobile transport in Punjab.

Jiyo Parsi:  ―Jiyo Parsi Publicity Phase-2‖ was recently launched by the government. The scheme aims to fulfil the objective of inclusive growth of the government.  Declining population of parsi community in India is a matter of concern. Therefore, ―Jiyo Parsi Publicity Phase-1‖ was initiated in 2013 for containing the declining trend of population of the Parsi community and reverse it to bring their population above the threshold level.  The main objective of the ―Jiyo Parsi‖ scheme is to reverse the declining trend of Parsi population by adopting a scientific protocol and structured interventions, stabilize their population and increase the population of Parsis in India.  Ministry of Minority Affairs‘ scheme has two components: Medical Assistance and Advocacy/Counselling.

EVENTS

7th edition of SAARC Artists Camp & Exhibition of Paintings begins in Nepal

 The 7th edition of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Artists Camp and Exhibition of Paintings has begun at Kathmandu.  Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal, Jitendra Narayan Devhas inaugurated the event. These events provide platform to artists for exchanging ideas with fellow artists and helping in creating special bonding among them and 40 artists from SAARC member countries except Afghanistan taking part in the 4-day camp.

ENVIRONMENT,SCIENCE AND TECH

IISER Scientists develop Gelator to remove oil from spills

 Scientists from the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram have developed gelator that can suck up oil and congeal it.  The gelator is hydrophobic material that has property of oleilophilic (oil-loving) and takes up oil when it comes in contact with it.  It can be used to recover marine oil spills with a simple, efficient and cost-effective method. The Process  In this process the mannitol gets adsorbed on the cellulose fibre through hydrogen bonding. The adsorption process changes the cellulose matrix from being very hydrophilic (water-loving) to hydrophobic (water repelling).  The property of gelator to self-assemble to form micro fibres makes congealing of oil possible and the oil loses its fluidity and gets trapped within the entangled fibrous network to form a rigid gel.

78 VEDANTA INSTITUTE CURRENT AFFAIRS 1 JULY-31 JULY  Gelation essentially turns the liquid oil into semi-solid and this allows congealed oil to be simply scooped out using a scoop or a sieve.

AWARDS

Japanese, Sri Lankan among Magsaysay award winners

 Yoshiaki Ishizawa, a Japanese historian who helped Cambodians preserve the Angkor temples, and Gethsie Shanmugam, a Sri Lankan teacher who counseled war widows and orphans to overcome their nightmares, are among the six winners of this year‘s Ramon Magsaysay Awards.  The other recipients named are Abdon Nababan, an Indonesian, a Singaporean businessman Tony Tay, a Philippine theater group and Lilia de Lima, a Filipino.

APPOINTMENT

Ravi Mittal appointed part-time member on IRDAI board

 Ravi Mittal, who has joined as additional secretary in the Finance Ministry in place of Anil Khachi, is now a part-time member of the board of IRDAI.  Mittal has replaced N S Rao at IRDAI. Maruthi Prasad Tangirala has been appointed as an Executive Director (ED) at IRDAI. Suresh Mathur will be handling reinsurance portfolio at IRDAI as Executive Director. SPORTS

Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari wins Hungarian Grand Prix

 Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari took the chequered flag at the Hungaroring to claim his fourth victory of the season.  In a nail-biting finish, Vettel had his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen behind complaining that he could go faster but being used by the team as a buffer against Hamilton. Valtteri Bottas from Mercedes was in third place.

Shiva Thapa, Manoj Kumar strike gold at Czech Republic boxing tournament

 Indian boxers packed quite a heavy punch at the 48th Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem, clinching five gold, two silver, and one bronze medal at the event in the Czech Republic.  World Championships bronze-medallist Shiva Thapa (60kg), former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Manoj Kumar (69kg), Amit Phangal (52kg), Gaurav Bidhuri (56kg) and Satish Kumar (+91kg) claimed gold medals after winning their respective summit clashes.

Caeleb Dressel becomes first ever Swimmer to win three gold medals in one night at worlds Championship

 The 20-year-old Caeleb Dressel established himself as America‘s newest star of the pool recently, becoming the first swimmer to win three gold medals on a single night at either the worlds or the Olympics.  Caeleb Dressel accomplished this feat at 2017 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Not even Phelps managed such an audacious feat. Dressel raced three times over the course of about two hours and won every time.