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• He was born in Naihati, Bengal on 27 June 1838. • He went on to become a significant figure in India's struggle for independence. • Bankim has left an indelible mark on modern nationalism and modern Hinduism. • His belief was that there was "no serious hope of progress in India except in Hinduism-reformed, regenerated and purified". • He got his education at the Hoogly College and Presidency Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay: College. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently • He went on to become one of paid homage to Bankim Chandra the earliest graduates of the Chattopadhyay on his 183rd birth University of Calcutta. anniversary. • He served in the Indian Civil Bankim Chandra Chatterjee or Bankim Service and retired as a Deputy Chandra Chattopadhyay,(27 June 1838 – Magistrate in 1891.It was this 8 April 1894) was an Indian novelist, work under the Raj that made poet and journalist. him deeply critical of India's colonial masters. About: Literary career: • He is considered among the pioneers of the shift in Indian, • Chattopadhyay wrote fourteen especially Bangla, literary novels and many serious, serio- tradition away from the verse comic, satirical, scientific and and towards prose. critical treatises in Bengali. He is • He was the composer of Vande known as Sahitya Samrat Mataram which has been India's (Emperor of Literature) in national song since 1937 and Bengali. sung by generations of Indians • The most noteworthy to evoke the motherland. contribution Bankim made to • Vande Mataram originally in the nationalistic imagination Sanskrit, personifying India as a was the political novel mother goddess and inspiring Anandamath. activists during the Indian ▪ The book is set against the Independence Movement. backdrop of what is known

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as the 'sanyahi bidhroho' • He also wrote other famous (rebellion of monks in late novels like like Kapalkundala in 18th century). 1866 which is considered to be ▪ The book is considered a call one of the finest works of Indian for the rise of Hindu literature, Mrinalini in nationalism, and portrayed 1869,,Vishbriksha in 1873, sanyasis (ascetics) fighting Chandrashekhar in1877, Rajani Muslims soldiers of the in 1877, Rajsimha in 1881,and British army. Devi Chaudhurani in 1884. ▪ It was in Anandamath, that • He started publishing a monthly Bankim wrote the poem literary magazine Bangadarshan 'Vande Mataram'. in April 1872. The magazine played an important role in Vande Mataram was announced as establishing a Bengali identity the National Song by Rajendra and nationalism. Prasad on January 24, 1950, in • His last work was Sitaram, recognition of its role in the published in 1886. Independence Movement, against the backdrop of demands that it be Fun Fact: Once Sri Ramakrishna made the national anthem of newly Paramahansa, playing on the meaning independent India. of Bankim (Bent A Little), asked him what it was that had bent him. Bankim It was accorded equal status to the Chandra jokingly replied that it was the National Anthem. kick from the Englishman's shoe for he Note: The song remains a popular was a well-known critic of the British evocation to national pride and has government. been interpreted and performed by Books and Authors: artistes all throughout.

• He published his first fiction work, Rajmohan's Wife in English and it is regarded as the first Indian novel to be written in English. The story was an economic exploration of the Bengal family and domesticity. • His first work in Bangla was Fiercely Female: The Dutee Chand Durgeshnandini in 1865, which Story: Journalist Sundeep Mishra’s is considered the first Bangla book titled ‘Fiercely Female: The Dutee novel. Chand Story’ the book was released on

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22 June on ‘SoftCover’ —ThePrint’s e- venue to launch select non-fiction books.

• This book chronicles Chand’s journey with a detailed narrative of the gender-identity controversy that made her an iconic figure in Indian sport. Border Infrastructure Poject: Raksha • The book was published by Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh dedicated to Westland Books. the nation 63 bridges in a virtual program from Kyungam in Leh district. About the Dutee Chand: Highlights: • Dutee Chand, the first openly Shri Rajnath Singh is an a three-day homosexual athlete from India, visit to Ladakh to review the security scripted history in 2019 when situation on the ground as India and she became the first Indian to China prepare for the 12th round of win gold in a 100-metre event at Corps Commander talks to take the World Universiade in forward the disengagement process in Naples. Eastern Ladakh. • Coming from a small village in Odisha, Dutee Chand went on to These bridges are built by Boarder hold the national record in the Roads Organization (BRO). women’s 100 metres. • She is only the fifth Indian to The combined cost of the projects is Rs participate in the women’s 100 240 crores. metres at the Olympics when Key Details: she qualified for the 2016 Rio Games. Mr. Singh inaugurated a 50-metre-long bridge constructed on the Leh-Loma Road in Ladakh.

• Defence This single span steel super \\ structure bridge replaces an National existing bailey bridge. • The Leh-Loma Road, which connects Leh with places such as Chumathang, Hanley and Tso 50 New Kendriya Morori Lake, is vital for access to forward areas in Eastern Ladakh. Vidyalaya to be setup through the country www.civilserviceindia.com

The Union Cabinet,

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• This will ensure unhindered living in the border villages as movement of heavy weapon well. systems including guns, tanks About BRO: and other specialized equipment. • It refers to the Border Roads Organization. Amongst the rest 62 bridges, he • In order to ensure coordination virtually inaugurated - and expeditious execution of • 11 in Ladakh, projects, the Government of • 4 in Jammu & Kashmir, India (GoI) set up the Border • 3 in Himachal Pradesh, Roads Development Board • 6 in Uttarakhand, (BRDB) with the Prime Minister • 8 in Sikkim, as Chairman of the Board and • 29 in Arunachal Pradesh and Defence Minister as Deputy • 1 each in Nagaland and Manipur. Chairman. The BRO was formed on 7 May 1960 to secure India's BRO’S Infrastructure Poject: borders and develop infrastructure in remote areas of • With the inauguration of 63 the north and north-east states bridges in one go, BRO has of the country. surpassed its own record of 44 • It develops and maintains road bridges launched in 2020. networks in India's border areas • These 63 bridges, combined with and friendly neighboring 12 roads dedicated to the nation countries. by Rajnath Singh on June 17, • It is responsible for the 2021, form a bouquet of 75 construction and maintenance infrastructure projects of roads along the borders with completed by the BRO. China and Pakistan. About the Bridges: • Officers from the Border Roads Engineering Service (BRES) and • BRO used the latest technologies personnel from the General in building of these bridges. Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) • These are Class-70 bridges and form the parent cadre of the can bear the load of movement Border Roads Organisation. of Tanks and other heavy • BRO has been entirely brought vehicles. under the Ministry of Defence. • These bridges facilitate strategic Earlier it received funds from the and quicker access not just to Ministry of Road Transport and Armed forces but to people Highways.

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• The current Director General of Key Details: BRO is Lt. Gen. Rajeev

Chaudhary. • The ship will transit across the Additional Info: Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Suez • Shri Rajnath Singh, on the Canal, Mediterranean Sea, North development of Ladakh, said a Sea and Baltic Sea while making number of welfare schemes are port calls at Djibouti, Egypt, being implemented, including Italy, France, UK, Russia, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Netherlands, Morocco, and National Rural Livelihood Arctic Council countries like Mission, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sweden and Norway. Sadak Yojana, Pradhan Mantri • During port visits, the ship is Kaushal Vikas Yojana and scheduled to participate in Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman bilateral exercises like Ex Nidhi. Konkan with UK Royal Navy, Ex • He also reaffirmed the Varuna with French Navy and Ex government’s commitment to Indra with Russian Federation start the democratic process in Navy, to strengthen military the region. relations, develop interoperability and project long-range sustenance. • The deployment will also see participation by the ship in the Russian Navy Day celebrations from July 22 to 27.

Aim: INS Tabar: INS Tabar was recently • These engagements are aimed at deployed to participate in joint further strengthening maritime exercises with friendly navies in Europe security in the region and and Africa. consolidating combined Highlights: operations against maritime threats. It will visit a number of ports in Africa and Europe till the September end, About INS Tabar: 2021. • The Indian Navy's Talwar-class It will also participate in a number of stealth frigate, INS Tabar, was joint exercises with friendly navies. built in Russia for the Indian Navy.

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• The ship, which is one of the borders against advanced Indian Navy's first stealth weaponry. frigates, is outfitted with a • The design principles of diverse array of weapons and Indrajaal are based on delivering sensors. autonomy to the armed forces. • The ship is part of the Western • The synergic combination of 9- Fleet of the Indian Navy, which 10 modern technologies helmed is stationed in Mumbai and is by Artificial Intelligence (AI), part of the Western Naval cybersecurity and robotics. Command. • Capable of real-time situational awareness, Indrajaal comprises all current weapons suite and infrastructure along with a honeycombed cell structure to provide a seamlessly built over a combination of 9-10 technologies for 24×7 persistent monitoring, tracking and action.

Salient Features: Indrajaal: Hyderabad-based technology R&D firm Grene Robotics I. Real-time situational awareness has designed and developed India’s first II. Integrated and Intelligent indigenous drone defence dome called meshed network “Indrajaal”. III. Integrated all current weapons suite and infrastructure Key details about Indrajaal: IV. Honeycombed cell structure for • The drone defence dome has the seamlessly built

capability to autonomously V. Synergic combination of 9-10 protect an area of 1000-2000 sq technologies km against the aerial threats by VI. 24×7 persistent and autonomous assessing and acting on aerial monitoring, action and tracking threats such as Unmanned Why is modern warfare of the Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), loitering utmost importance? munitions, and Low- Radar Cross Section (RCS) targets. • India must embark on • The ANTI-UAV systems will not responsive and autonomous only provide protection to systems to be prepared for defence bases but it will be modern warfare rather than beneficial for linear adopting reactive measures. infrastructures like international

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• Manual weapons and point December 29, 1982, and has a based defense systems cannot flying experience of more than fight modern warfare which are 3800 hrs on a wide variety of operated by Artificial fighter and trainer aircraft and Intelligence (AI) and robotics. trainer aircraft, including • For the first time in India and missions flown during Op- many times, globally rogue Meghdoot and Op-Safed Sagar. forces have adopted cutting- • He is an alumnus of the National edge technologies such as UAVs, Defence Academy and the Smart Swarms, etc. Defence Services Staff College, • Jammu Air Base on June 27th Wellington. was attacked by such • Prior to the present technologies to drop explosives appointment, he was Air Officer next to the Mi-17 hangar. Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in- C) of the Western Air x Command.

Key details:

• Air Marshal Ballabha Radha Krishna, who was the Director General (DG) Air Operations, took over as the new AOC-in-C of the Western Air Command. • Air Marshal P.M. Sinha assumed

office as DG Air Operations. IAF: Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari • Air Marshal RJ Duckworth PVSM AVSM VM recently took over as would be taking charge of the the Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 01 Jul Central Air Command in 21 while Lt. Gen. Sanjeev Kumar Prayagraj. Sharma assumed office as Deputy Chief • On the occasion, the Air of the Army Staff (Strategy). Marshals were presented the He succeeds Air Marshal H.S. Arora, ceremonial Guard of Honour at who retired on 30 June 2021 after over Air Headquarters. 39 years of service. • They also took part in the wreath laying ceremony at the About Air Marshal Chaudhari: National War Memorial.

• Air Marshal Chaudhari was About IAF: commissioned into the fighter stream of the Air Force on • IAF is an acronym for the Indian Air Force of India.

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• It is the air arm of the Indian • This biennial event which was Armed Forces. conceived by the Indian Navy in • It was officially established on 8 2008 was hosted from 28 June to October 1932 as an auxiliary air 01 July 2021. force of the British Empire • From the Indian side, Admiral which honoured India's aviation Karambir Singh, Chief of the service during World War II Naval Staff, Indian Navy, with the prefix Royal. participated virtually in the • With the government's inaugural session of the event. transition to a Republic in 1950, • He provided his congratulatory the prefix Royal was removed. remarks to the Outgoing and • The present Commander-in- Incoming Chairmen. Chief of IAF is Ram Nath Key Details of the Symposium: Kovind. The Chief of Air Staff, an air chief marshal, is a four-star During the Symposium, Subject Matter officer and is responsible for the Expert (SME) presentations were made bulk of operational command of by French Institute of International the Air Force. Relations - Observatoire du Climat, • The present Chief of the Air Staff European Union, Indian Ocean (CAS) is Air Chief Marshal Commission, IFC Singapore, RMIFC Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, Madagascar and EU led Critical PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC and the Maritime Routes Indian Ocean Vice Chief of the Air Staff (CRIMARIO). (VCAS) is Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari PVSM AVSM The Symposium also held panel VM. discussions themed on the three IONS working Groups - HADR, Maritime Security and Information Sharing & Interoperability.

The Naval Maritime Foundation (NMF) also participated in the Panel Discussion on HADR.

CoC 2021: Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): The 7th edition of Indian • IONS Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a is the decision-making body at biennial event, was recently hosted by the level of Chiefs of Navies, the French Navy at Réunion Island. which meets biennially.

Highlights:

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• The 6th IONS abd CoC was • The chairmanship of IONS has conducted by the Iran Navy in been held by India (2008-10), april 2018 at Tehran, Iran. UAE (2010-12), South Africa • Due to the Pandemic, the CoC (2012-14), Australia (2014-16), 2021 will be hosted by the Bangladesh (2016-18) and Islamic French Navy later this year. Republic of Iran (2018-21). • France assumed the About IONS: Chairmanship in June 2021 for • Indian Ocean Naval Symposium two-year tenure. (IONS) was initiated by the IONS Members: Indian Navy in 2008. • The symposium was first held in IONS include 24 member nations that 2008 with India as host. touch or lie within the Indian Ocean • The IONS is a voluntary and Region (IOR), and 8 observer nations. inclusive initiative that brings The members have been geographically together navies of Indian Ocean grouped into the following four sub- Region littoral states of the regions: Indian Ocean region. • It provides a forum to increase 1. South Asian Littorals: maritime security cooperation, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, discuss regional maritime issues, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and promote friendly and United Kingdom (British relationships among the Indian Ocean Territory) member states. 2. West Asian Littorals: Iran, • It also serves to develop an Oman, Saudi Arabia and United effective response mechanism Arab Emirates and humanitarian assistance and 3. East African Littorals: France disaster relief (HADR) against (Reunion), Kenya, Mauritius, natural disasters. Mozambique, South Africa, and • In addition to the symposiums, Tanzania. numerous other activities like 4. South East Asian and workshops, essay competitions Australian Littorals: Australia, and lectures are also held under Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the umbrella of the organization. Singapore, Thailand and Timor- Leste. IONS chairmanship: Observers: • The chairmanship and location of the Symposium rotates The Observers nations are China, between the various member Germany, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, the states. Netherlands, Russia and Spain.

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Significance for India: About Agni-P:

• IONS fit into India’s three-fold • Agni P is a new generation ambitions in the region: advanced variant of the Agni I. Strengthening and class of missiles. deepening the relations • Agni P is a canisters based with the Indian Ocean missile. littoral states; o Canisterisation of missiles II. Establishing its reduces the time required to leadership potential and launch the missile while aspirations of being a net- improving its storage and security provider; mobility, III. Fulfilling India’s vision of o This means that it can be a rules-based and stable launched from rail and road maritime order in the and stored for a longer IOR. period. It can also be • It will help India to consolidate transported across the length its sphere of influence from the and breadth of the country. Straits of Malacca to Hormuz. • The missile weighs 50% less than • IONS can be used to counter- Agni III and has new guidance balance the increasing presence and a new generation of of China in the region. propulsion. • The missile has a range between ------1000km to 2000km. ------• It has been developed specifically to strike targets in Pakistan. • Its range is too short to reach targets in the Chinese mainland. • The Agni-P will replace the Prithvi, Agni-1 and Agni-2 missiles that were built two decades ago with technologies that are now considered Agni P: The Defence Research and outdated. Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully flight-tested a New About Agni Missiles: Generation Nuclear-Capable Ballistic • Agni Missiles trace their origins Missile Agni P from Dr APJ Abdul back to the Integrated Guided Kalam island off the coast of Odisha.

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Missile Development • The Minister currently Programme(IGMDP). responsible for DRDO is Rajnath • IGMDP was conceived by APJ. Singh, Minister of Defence. Abdul Kalam in 1980s to enable • The present Chairman of DRDO India attain self-sufficiency in is Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy. the field of missile technology.

• The missiles developed under Economics this programme include – (a) Agni

(b) Akash, ironment

(c) Trishul

(d) Prithvi

(e) Nag. Expansion of SMCs Definition : The About DRDO: Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) recently expanded the definition of small • It is an acronym for the Defence and medium businesses (SMCs) by raising Research and Development the turnover and borrowing limits. Organisation. DRDO is India's Highlights: largest research organisation. • It was founded in 1958. • As per the new definition, SMC is • It is headquartered in New an unlisted company, a bank, an Delhi, India. insurance or a financial institution • It is an agency under the with sales up to Rs 250 crore and borrowings up to Rs 50 crore. Ministry of Defence, • The earlier threshold for sales was Government of India (GoI). Rs50 crore and that for borrowings • It is charged with the military's was Rs10 crore. research and development. • Now, SMCs are permitted to avail • It has a network of laboratories number of exemptions under engaged in developing defence Company (Accounting Standards) technologies covering various Rules 2021. It will reduce fields, like aeronautics, complexity of regulatory filings for armaments, electronics, land smaller firms. combat engineering, life • The Companies (Accounting sciences, materials, missiles, and Standards) Rules, 2021, will be effective 1 April, 2021. naval systems. • The accounting standards for SMC, which were earlier notified in December 2006 and amended from

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time to time, are much simpler as Australian SMEs accounts for 98% compared to Indian Accounting of all Australian businesses produce Standards. one-third of GDP and employ 4.7 million people. Companies classified as SMCs: • SMEs are also responsible for • Banks, insurance companies, driving innovation and competition financial institutions, and listed across different sectors. companies cannot be classified as SMCs. • SMC which is a holding company or subsidiary company of a non-SMC will not qualify as a SMC.

Exemptions available to SMCs:

• They have been completely exempted from filing cash flow statements and providing segmental break up of their financial performance. Independent Directors: The Securities • They can avail partial reporting and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) exemptions in areas like reporting recently overhauled the norms pertaining on employee benefits obligations. to the appointment, removal, and For instance, on pensions. remuneration of independent directors in • They are not only exempted from order to curtail the sway of promoters over providing detailed analysis of them. benefit obligations to employees but they are also exempted from The SEBI Board made a number of changes reporting diluted earnings per share based on a discussion paper issued in in their filings. March 2021.

Significance: • Key Details: • As per the new rules, the • This move will promote ease of appointment, removal of doing business for firms which are independent directors shall be included under definition of SMC. through a special resolution About Small and medium-sized approved by shareholders. enterprises (SMEs): • It will require 75% votes in support instead of 51%, as in the case of an • SMEs are businesses whose ordinary resolution. personnel numbers are kept below • The nomination and remuneration certain limits. committee (NRC), which selects • SMEs sometimes outnumber big candidates for appointment as companies by wide margin and independent directors, will be employ more people. For instance,

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required to have two-thirds IDs, as • Accredited investors can be against the existing requirement of individuals, HUFs, family trusts, a majority. partnership firms, sole • The NRC will have to disclose and proprietorships, trusts and body justify the skill-sets while selecting corporate on the basis of financial a candidate. parameters. • Key managerial personnel and their About SEBI: relatives or employees of the promoter group will have to • The Securities and Exchange Board observe a three-year cooling-off of India (SEBI) is the regulatory period before they get appointed as body for securities and commodity an independent director. market in India under the • SEBI has also tightened rules jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance, related to the resignation of Government of India (GoI). independent directors. • It was established on 12 April 1988 • The regulator has said the new and given Statutory Powers on 30 framework will come into play from January 1992 through the SEBI Act, January 1, 2022. 1992. • SEBI will also initiate discussions • The Preamble of the Securities and with the Ministry of Corporate Exchange Board of India describes Affairs (MCA) for giving greater the basic functions of the Securities flexibility to companies while and Exchange Board of India. deciding the remuneration for • The main function of SEBI is to directors, including IDs. safeguard the rights and interests of the investor, reduce malpractices Other decisions by SEBI: related to the stock exchange, ➢ Minimum investment ticket size for establishing a code of conduct and REITs and InvITs lowered sharply promoting the healthy functioning ➢ Fund houses asked to invest more of the stock exchange. in their NFOs depending on risk level Note: Controller of Capital Issues was ➢ Banks other than scheduled banks the regulatory authority before SEBI came into existence; it derived also allowed to act as investment bankers authority from the Capital Issues ➢ Reward for informants raised from (Control) Act, 1947. Rs 1 crore to Rs 10 crore to curb • It is headquartered in Mumbai, insider trading Maharashtra. ➢ Concept of accredited investors; • The current Chairman of SEBI is new regulation to deepen the debt Ajay Tyagi. market ➢ Rules for Indian fund managers to act as FPIs streamlined

Who are accredited investors?

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Shopsy: Flipkart, India’s homegrown e- commerce marketplace recently launched its new app called ‘Shopsy’ for online business.

With Shopsy, Flipkart aims to enable over 25 million online entrepreneurs by 2023 as they reap the benefits of digital commerce.

Key details about Shopsy: SBI Foundation Day: State Bank of India • Shopsy will enable Indians to start (SBI) which is the oldest commercial bank their online businesses without any in the country is celebrated its 66th year on investment. 1st July 2021. • This app will also help in deepening About SBI: e-commerce penetration, particularly in non-metros. • SBI is an Indian multinational, • Users can register on the Shopsy public sector banking and financial app using their phone numbers and services statutory body. begin their online entrepreneurial • It is a government corporation journey. statutory body headquartered in • Once registered, the users of Mumbai, Maharashtra. Shopsy will be able to share • It was founded on 1 July 1955. catalogues of a wide selection of 15 • The Bank of Madras merged into crore products offered by Flipkart the other two presidency banks, the sellers. bank of Calcutta and the bank of • These users can share catalogues Bombay to form the Imperial Bank with potential customers via of India which in turn became the popular social media and State Bank of India on this day in messaging apps, place orders on 1955. their behalf and earn commissions • SBI is ranked as 221st in the Fortune on the transactions. Global 500 list of the world's • Commission percentage will vary biggest corporations of 2020. based on the category of products • The current Chairman of SBI is being ordered. Dinesh Kumar Khara. • Products range across fashion, beauty, mobiles, electronics and home, with potential customers via popular social media and messaging apps.

Objective:

• Shopsy’s objective is to power e- commerce for communities and

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third-party channels where these New TDS Rules: A new Tax users spend time/trust. Deducted at Source (TDS) rule • It also aims to provide digital commerce consumers access to has come into effect from July 1, products by simplifying process by 2021. interacting with trusted person. The Finance Act 2021 amended About Flipkart: rules relating to tax deducted at • Flipkart is an Indian e-commerce source. The particular provision company with its headquarters in to tax non-filers of income tax Bangalore, India and incorporated in Singapore as a private limited returns for two years at higher company. rates was introduced in Budget • It was founded in October 2007. 2021. • This company initially started online book sales and then Key details: expanded into other product categories like consumer • Under the new rules, non- electronics, home essentials, filer of income tax for past fashion, groceries and lifestyle two financial years will be products. • The service competes primarily subjected to higher with Amazon's Indian subsidiary taxation. and domestic rival Snapdeal • Such non-filers will have to • Flipkart has a dominant position in apparel segment, supported by its bear higher tax deducted at acquisition of Myntra. source (TDS) and tax • It also owns PhonePe which is a collected at source (TCS) if mobile payments service based on such tax deduction Unified Payments Interface (UPI). • The current CE of Flipcart is Kalyan amounted to Rs 50,000 or Krishnamurthy. more in each of the past two years. • Provisions of this section will be applicable to TDS deductions on resident payments including shareholder dividends and service payment to vendors

rent.

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• However, it will not be • The benefits of using this applicable on salary, horse tool is that the Tax race, trust income, deductor would be able to winnings from lottery or conduct a single PAN crossword, and cash (permanent account withdrawals. number) search or bulk • A higher rate of TDS is also search with the help of not applicable in the case of Compliance check tool. a non-resident Indian (NRI) • For a single search, who does not have any deductor can get income permanent establishment in tax return filing information India. about specific person on portal. Who will enforce these rules? • This information can be • To enforce the rule, the downloaded in PDF format. Central Board of Direct • Tax deductor can also get Taxes (CBDT) has bulk search involving introduced a utility tool, multiple PANs. known as the Compliance • To enable this service, tax Check for Section 206AB & deductors & collectors 206CCA. would be required to check • The toll will ease the functionality of PAN of compliance burden of tax vendor from whom TDS is deductions who will be able to be deducted. to use this functionality to About CBTD: identify non-filers. • This functionality is already • It is an acronym of the functioning on reporting Central Board of Direct portal of income tax Taxes. CBDT is a statutory department. authority functioning under the Central Board of What are the benefits of this Revenue Act, 1963. utility tool? • The officials of the Board in their ex-officio capacity also

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function as a Division of the Aegean Sea, recently witnessed Ministry dealing with the largest outbreak of ‘sea snot’. matters relating to levy and Highlights: collection of direct taxes. It functions as a division of • The sludge has also been the Ministry of Finance spotted in the adjoining under the Department of Black and Aegean seas. Revenue. • A ‘sea snot’ outbreak was • Its functions include first recorded in the country formulation of policies, in 2007. dealing with natters relating • Back then, it was also to levy and collection of spotted in the Aegean Sea direct taxes, and near Greece. supervision of the • The President of Turkey functioning of the entire Recep Tayyip Erdogan has Income Tax Department. said that considerable steps • The CBDT is headed by a will be taken to solve the chairman and can have six problem and protect the members. All of these country’s seas. officers are in the rank of Steps taken by Turkey to special secretary. contain its spread:

• Turkey has decided to

Environment declare the entire Sea of Marmara as a protected area. • Steps are being taken to reduce pollution and improve treatment of waste water from coastal cities and ships. • A disaster management Sea Snot' outbreak in Turkey: plan is being prepared. Turkey’s Sea of Marmara, which connects the Black Sea to the What is sea snot?

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• ‘Sea snot’ is marine • The ‘sea snot’ outbreak has mucilage, which floats up affected the livelihoods of on the surface of the sea fishermen. like a brown phlegm. • The collection of sludge in • This thick slimy layer of their nets is making them organic matter looks like a so heavy that they break or viscous, brown and foamy get lost. substance. • Moreover, the mucilage • It can cause considerable coating the strings makes damage to the marine the nets visible to fish and ecosystem. keeps them away. • It is formed when algae are Water-borne Diseases: overloaded with nutrients. • Overloading of nutrients • It can also cause an happens because of warm outbreak of water-borne weather caused by global diseases such as cholera in warming, water pollution, cities like Istanbul. uncontrolled dumping of Threat to the Marine household and industrial Ecosystem: waste into the seas etc. • The most important factor Impacts and concerns of Sea is that it is posing a severe Snort: threat to the marine It has spread through the sea ecosystem of the country. south of Istanbul and also • It has caused mass deaths blanketed harbours and among the fish population, shorelines. The impacts and and also killed other aquatic concerns of sea snot are as organisms such as corals follows: and sponges. • If unchecked, this can Livelihoods of Fishermen collapse to the bottom and Affected: cover the sea floor, causing major damage to the marine ecosystem.

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• Over a period of time, it Sustainable Development could end up poisoning all Goals (SDGs). aquatic life, including Theme of International Day of fishes, crabs, oysters, the Tropics 2021: mussels and sea stars. • As per the State of the Tropics Report 2021, the theme this year is ‘The Digital Divide in the Tropics’.

Significance of International Day of the Tropics:

International Day of the • It provides opportunity to Tropics: The International Day of take stock of progress the Tropics is observed every year across tropics, to share on 29 June to celebrate tropical stories and extraordinary diversity of tropics. expertise. The Day also highlighting unique • It also acknowledges challenges the Tropical nations diversity and potential of face. tropics region.

Aim: History:

• It aims to raise awareness • On June 14th, 2016 the UN about specific challenges General Assembly adopted faced by tropical regions a resolution that declared across the world, far- June 29th as the reaching implications of International Day of the issues affecting world’s Tropics. tropical zone and to • The UN chose the date June underline important role 29th to mark the that topical countries will anniversary of the inaugural play in achieving “State of Tropics Report” (SOTT).

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• The report was launched in the Sahara Desert, get only 2014 by Nobel Laureate 2 to 10 centimeters of rain a Aung San Suu Kyi from year. Myanmar (Burma). • This difference in precipitation affects which About Tropics: plants and animals live in • Tropics are a region of the different parts of the Earth, defined as area Tropics. between tropic of Cancer Important Facts of Tropics: (23°27 N) and the tropic of Capricorn (23°27 S). • The Tropics are home to • The Tropics account for 36 approximately 80% of percent of the Earth’s world’s biodiversity (much landmass. of its language and cultural • It includes the Equator and diversity). parts of North and South • It hosts about 95% of America, Africa, Asia, and world’s mangrove forests by Australia. area and 99% of mangrove species. Climatic Condition of the • Although since 1980, area of Tropics: mangrove forest has • This region is warm all year decreased in all tropical round. regions. • The temperature in the • The Tropics are important Tropics ranges from 77 to because of the number of 82 degrees F. economic exports come • The Tropics get a lot of sun from these regions. and only have two seasons • Also, about 40 percent of i.e., the wet season and dry the world’s population lives season. within the tropical zone. • Some parts of the Tropics, Loss of Biodiversity: like the Amazon Basin, get nearly 9 feet of rain per year • While biodiversity is greater while other areas, such as in the Tropics, the loss of

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biodiversity is also greater Heat Dome: Canada and parts of here than in the rest of the United States are experiencing world. extreme temperatures, due to • This loss of biodiversity is which hundreds of people have partly attributed to human died. activity, such as: Highlights: o Destruction of forests and marine • The abnormal heat wave ecosystems caused the temperature in o Spread of diseases and Canada to rise to 49.5 invasive species degrees Celsius, an all-time o Overexploitation of record. industrial fishing • According to the weather fleets experts the heat dome o Commercial hunters effect is the cause for the o Growing impacts of sudden rise in temperature. climate change • Apart from the US, cities as • Due to the reasons given far north as the Arctic above, many species of Circle broke heat records plants and animals in the this week. Tropics face the loss of their What is heat dome? habitats. They become vulnerable and endangered. • According to National • Humans too living in the Oceanic and Atmospheric Tropics face many Administration (NOAA) of challenges as well. US department of • More people live in slums in commerce, a heat dome the Tropics than in the rest occurs when the of the world. atmosphere traps hot ocean air like a lid or cap. • It is created when strong high-pressure atmospheric conditions combine with weather patterns like La

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Niña, creating vast areas of electricity, leading to sweltering heat that get pushing up rates. trapped under the high- • The heat domes can also act pressure "dome". as fuel to wildfires, which • The phenomenon begins destroys a lot of land area in when there is a strong the US every year. change (or gradient) in • Those living without an air ocean temperatures. conditioner see the • In the process known as temperatures of their convection, the gradient homes rising to unbearably causes more warm air, high, leading to sudden heated by the ocean surface, fatalities like those which to rise over the ocean are being reported in surface. Canada and parts of the US. • As prevailing winds move the hot air east, the northern shifts of the jet stream trap the air and move it toward land, where it sinks, resulting in heat waves. • A heat dome typically lasts a week.

Effects of heat domes: Glacial Lake Atlas: The Secretary, Department of Water • The trapping of heat can Resources, River Development also damage crops, dry out and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, vegetation and result in droughts, according to RD & GR) Pankaj Kumar recently released the Glacial Lake Atlas of weather experts. Ganga Basin. • The sweltering heat wave also leads to rise in energy The Atlas was released in a virtual demand, especially event, in the presence of Secretary, Department of Space &

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Chairman, ISRO, Dr. K. Sivan, ❖ Based on its process of lake senior officers of DoWR, RD & formation, location, and GR, Department of Space, and type of damming material, National Remote Sensing Centre glacial lakes are identified (NRSC). in nine different types, majorly grouped into four Key Details about Glacial Lake categories. Atlas: ❖ A total of 4,707 glacial lakes ❖ It is an initiative under have been mapped in the National Hydrology Project Ganga River basin with a (NHP)a Central Sector total lake water spread area Scheme implemented by of 20,685 ha. DoWR, RD & GR. Note: Ganga basin is the ❖ The present glacial lake biggest river basin in the atlas is based on the country draining an area of inventoried glacial lakes in 8,61,452 sq.km. part of Ganga River basin from its origin to foothills ❖ In total, Ganga has 11 basin of Himalayas covering a states. They are Uttar catchment area of 2,47,109 Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, sq. km. Rajasthan, Bihar, West ❖ The study portion of Ganga Bengal, Uttarakhand, River basin covers part of Jharkhand, Haryana, India and transboundary Chhattisgarh, Himachal region. Pradesh and Delhi. ❖ In the present study, glacial ❖ The Atlas is available on lakes with water spread area Bhuvan portal of NRSC, greater than 0.25 ha have ISRO, India WRIS Portal been mapped using and National Hydrology Resourcesat-2 (RS-2) Linear Project (NHP) web site of Imaging Self Scanning DoWR, RD & GR. Sensor-IV (LISS-IV) satellite Utility of the Atlas: data using visual interpretation techniques. ❖ The atlas provides a comprehensive and

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systematic glacial lake National Remote Sensing database for Ganga River Centre (NRSC), Indian Space basin with size > 0.25 ha Research Organization (ISRO), ❖ In the context of climate Hyderabad as one of the change impact analysis, the Implementing Agency under atlas can be used as the National Hydrology Project reference data for carrying (NHP).They are carrying out out change analysis, both hydrological studies using with respect to historical satellite data and geospatial and future time periods techniques. ❖ The atlas also provides Explained: Why Glacial Lakes authentic database for and Water Bodies in regular or periodic Himalayan Region need to be monitoring changes in closely monitored? spatial extent (expansion/shrinkage), and About Glaciers: formation of new lakes ❖ Glaciers are made of layers ❖ The atlas can also be used of compressed snow that in conjunction with glacier move or “flow” due to information for their retreat gravity and the softness of and climate impact studies. ice relative to rock. ❖ The information on glacial ❖ A glacier's “tongue” can lakes like their type, extend hundreds of hydrological, topographical, kilometers from its high- and associated glaciers are altitude origins, and the useful in identifying the end, or “snout," can potential critical glacial advance or retreat based on lakes and consequent GLOF snow accumulating or risk. melting. ❖ Central and State Disaster ❖ Glaciers are found on every Management Authorities continent except Australia can make use of the atlas and some are hundreds of for disaster mitigation thousands of years old. planning and related program.

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❖ A large cluster of glaciers until seepage or overflow are in the Himalayas limits the lake level. ❖ Such moraine-dammed What is a Glacial Lake? lakes appear to be the most ❖ A glacial lake is a body of common type of glacial water with origins from lakes. glacier activity. ❖ The impoundment of the ❖ Glacial lakes are common in melt may sometimes be the high elevation of unstable, leading to sudden glacierised basin. release of large quantities of ❖ They are formed when a stored water. glacial ice or moraines ❖ Failure of these ice or erodes the land, and then moraine dams leading to melts, filling the depression disastrous destruction created by the glacier. events has been ❖ There are varieties of such documented throughout lakes, ranging from melt the world. water ponds on the surface ❖ Flash floods caused by the of glacier to large lakes in outburst of glacial lakes, side valleys dammed by a called as Glacial Lake glacier in the main valley. Outburst Flood (GLOF), are ❖ These lakes normally drain well known in Himalaya their water through seepage where such lakes had often in front of the retreating been formed by landslides. glacier. ❖ GLOFs have immense ❖ The moraine creates potential of flooding in topographic depression in downstream areas, causing which the melt water is disastrous consequences generally accumulated due to release of large leading to formation of volumes of water in very glacial lake. short interval of time. ❖ When this lake is ❖ Most often, the watertight, melt waters will consequences arising out of accumulate in the basin such situations are highly unpredictable primarily due

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to lack of availability of water and electricity supply from sufficient data regarding the dam. • According to the 1979 award of the rainfall intensity, location of Narmada Water Dispute Tribunal, landslide, impounded the power benefits from the project volume and area and are to be shared in the following ratio: physical conditions of o Madhya Pradesh at 57 per lakes/ water bodies. cent, ❖ Therefore, Glacial Lakes o Maharashtra at 27 per cent, and Water Bodies in and o Gujarat at 16 per cent. Himalayan Region need to be closely monitored. Background:

Geography: • The Sardar Sarovar project was a vision of the first deputy prime Sardar Sarovar Dam: For the first time in minister of India, Sardar history, Sardar Sarovar Dam is providing Vallabhbhai Patel. irrigation water in summer. • The foundation stone of the dam was laid out by Prime Minister Key Details: Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961. • However, the construction of the • According to the Sardar Sarovar dam was stopped by the Supreme Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL), as Court of India in 1995 over many as 35 dams and reservoirs, concerns of displacement of people. close to 1,200 check dams and 1000 • Then in 2000–2001, the project was village tanks have been filled with again revived but with a lower Narmada water. height under directions from SC. • The dam released about 1.3 Million • But its height was later again Acre Feet (MAF) water for increased to 139 metres in 2017. irrigation between April 1 and May • The dam was then inaugurated in 31 in its command area of 21.29 lakh 2017 by the present Prime Minister hectares. Narendra Modi. About Sardar Sarovar Dam: About Narmada River: • Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam is a • The Narmada River, also called the terminal dam built on the Narmada Reva and previously also known as river at Kevadia in Gujarat’s Narbada or anglicized as Nerbudda Narmada district. is the 5th longest river in India, the • The dam is called the ‘lifeline of largest west-flowing River and Gujarat’. largest flowing river of Madhya • The four Indian states namely Pradesh. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan receive

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• This River rises from Narmada • The total height of the weir will be Kund, located at Amarkantak range 31.75 metre. of mountains and traverses Madhya • Hydro electricity will be produced Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat through this weir. between Vindhya and Satpura hill • The reservoir formed will also ranges before and falling into Gulf provide a navigation channel of 7 of Cambay in the Arabian Sea. kilometre for ferry service from the • This river is located in Madhya Shreshtha Bharat Bhawan to the Pradesh and Gujarat state of India. Statue of Unity.

Importance of river Narmada in Indian Culture:

• Narmada is considered the mother National and giver of peace. • The river basin is home to India's best teak and hardwood forests. • The sacred Narmada River, the lifeline of Central India, is worshipped as Narmada maiyya (mother) or Ma Rewa (derived from “rev” meaning leaping one). • She is one of the five holy rivers of India. • It is the only one which has the tradition of being circumambulated National Statistics Day: from source to sea and back, on a National Statistics Day is pilgrimage or yatra. celebrated on June 29 on the birth Additional Info: anniversary of late Professor About Garudeshwar weir: Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis.

• Garudeshwar weir is being Key Points: constructed on the river Narmada near the Statue of Unity. • The day is observed to • Located at Garudeshwar at a popularize the use of distance of 9 kilometre from Sadhu Statistics in everyday life. bet island and 12 kilometre downstream from Sardar Sarovar • This year's National dam; Garudeshwar weir will Statistics Day marks the increase visual beauty of both – the 128th birth anniversary of Statue of Unity and the Valley of Flowers by creating a small Professor Mahalanobis. reservoir or lake.

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• The first National Statistics Implementation (MoSPI) Day was observed on June and Ministry of Planning. 29, 2006. • During the event the Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis National 2021 National Statistics Day Award winner, 2021 will be Theme: felicitated. • End Hunger, Achieve Food • The winners of Prof. P.C. Security and Improved Mahalanobis National Nutrition and Promote Award in Official Statistics, Sustainable Agriculture 2021 and Prof C. R. Rao (Sustainable Developent National Award for Young Goal or SDG 2 of the UN) is Statistician, 2021 will also be the theme of this year's announced. National Statistics Day. • The winners of the ‘On the • Goal 2 seeks "sustainable Spot Essay Writing solutions to end hunger in Competition, 2021’ for Post all its forms by 2030 and to Graduate Students on the achieve food security." subject relevant to statistics organized at the All India Events of National Statistics level will also be felicitated. Day 2021: History: • This year, due to COVID-19 pandemic, the main event • The Government of India of the Statistics Day, 2021 is (GoI) decided to celebrate being organized through National Statistics Day on Video Conferencing/ the outstanding Webcasting at NITI Aayog, contribution made by Late New Delhi. Professor Prasanta Chandra • The Chief Guest of the Mahalanobis in the field of event is Rao Inderjit Singh, economic planning and Hon’ble Union Minister of statistics and therefore State (Independent Charge) National Statistics Day of Ministry of Statistics and mark his birth anniversary. Programme

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• Notification to this effect • Fellow of the Royal Society, was published in the London(1945) Gazette of India on June 05, His Contributions: 2007. • The key contribution of PC Note: World Statistics Day is Mahalanobis is known as held every five years on "Mahalanobis distance'. October 20th. The day • He was the member of the celebrates the achievements of planning commission (1956- the Fundamental Principles of 61) and he gave two-sector Official Statistics. Input-output model for the About PC Mahalanobis: Second Five Year Plan which later became known • PC Mahalanobis is often as the Nehru-Mahalanobis referred to as the 'father of model. Indian statistics'. • He founded Indian • He was born on June 29, Statistical Institute (ISI) in 1893 in Calcutta (now Calcutta on 17 December, Kolkata), West Bengal. He 1931. died on 28 June, 1972 in • A few of his major works Calcutta. include the introduction of • He was a key member of the techniques for conducting first Planning Commission large-scale sample surveys. of independent India. • He was a pioneer in Awards: anthropometry studies and in pilot surveys. He was honoured with many • He is credited with prestigious awards by India as calculating acreages and well as foreign countries. They crop yields by using random are: sampling methods. • Padma Vibhushan (1968) • He had also devised a • Weldon Memorial Prize statistical method, which from the University of could be used to compare Oxford (1944) the socio-economic

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situation of different groups • Statistics helps in of people. formulating economic plans • He was instrumental in and policies. It presents formulating India's strategy facts in a precise form. for industrialization. • It also plays an important • He was a pioneer in role in health field and applying statistics to helps conduct social planning for flood control. surveys. • It is an important part of About Mahalanobis distance: Mathematics. • The formula is used to find the distance between a point and a distribution. • It is based on measurements in multiple dimensions. • It is widely used in the field

of cluster analysis and classification. NATRAX – HST: Minister of Heavy Industries and Public What is Statistics? Enterprises Prakash Javdekar on • Statistics is the discipline 29 June 2021 inaugurated The concerning collection, National Automotive Test Tracks analysis, organization, (NATRAX) - the High-Speed interpretation, and Track (HST) located in presentation of data. Pithampur, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Importance of Statistics: • This HST is the longest • Statistics is applied to a such track in Asia and scientific, industrial, or world's fifth-longest in the social problem which starts world. with studying a statistical • Speaking at the e- population or statistical inauguration of the world- model. class 11.3 km High Speed

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Track, Javdekar termed this • The NATRAX centre has as a proud moment for multiple test capabilities India and a key initiative in like measurements of realizing Prime Minister maximum speed, Narendra Modi's vision of acceleration, constant speed Aatmanirbhar Bharat. fuel consumption, emission tests through real road About NATRAX Facility: driving simulation, high • The NATRAX facility speed handling and stability measures 11.3 km in length. evaluation during • NATRAX is one of the state- maneuvered such as lane of-the-art automotive change, high speed testing and certification durability testing, etc. and centre under NATRiP. is a Centre of excellence for • It is a flagship project of the Vehicle Dynamics. Ministry of Heavy What is High Speed Track Industries, planned under (HST)? the Automotive Mission Plan launched by the • The High-Speed Track Centre. (HST) is used for measuring • It is located near the vibrant the maximum speed industrial township of capability of high-end cars Pithampur (District Dhar), like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, which is 50 km from the Ferrari, Lamborghini, Tesla commercial capital of and so forth which cannot Madhya Pradesh i.e. Indore, be measured on any of the situated on NH-3 By-Pass Indian test tracks. Road (Indore– Mumbai). Key Highlights of HST: • The center has been developed in approx 3,000 • The high-speed track has acres of land. been developed in an area of 1000 acres of land. Power of NATRAX Centre: • It is a one-stop solution for all sorts of high-speed

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performance tests for the fulfilling Prime Minister’s widest categories of vehicles dream of ensuring that ranging from 2 wheelers to India becomes a hub of auto heavy tractor-trailers. manufacturing. • It will be used for • The expansion of the measuring the maximum automobiles and speed capabilities of high- manufacturing industries end cars and other will help generate categories of vehicles. employment. • It also includes different • The promotion of test tracks to aid manufacturing and automotive and component automobile industry will testing. help empowering the • It is located centrally in nation at a larger scale. Madhya Pradesh, which makes it accessible for most of the major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). • Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will be looking at NATRAX HST for the development of National Doctors' Day 2021: In prototype cars for Indian India, Doctor's Day is observed on conditions. 1st July by the Indian medical • At present, foreign OEMs Association (IMA) to mark the go to their respective high- importance of doctors hold in our speed track abroad for high- lives. This day is also meant to speed test requirements. commemorate the medical industry and its advancements. Significance: On the occasion of National • The Union Ministry of Doctor’s Day, PM Modi Heavy Industries and Public addressed the doctor’s Enterprises is committed to

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community at a program Institution (college), and organized by the IMA. Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital, among others. Why is National Doctor's Day • Apart from his service to celebrated on July 1? the nation and to the field National Doctors’ Day is actually of medicine, Dr Roy was celebrated on July 1 to mark the also instrumental in the birthday of Dr Bidhan Chandra establishment of the Roy, who was a world renowned Medical Council of India physician, freedom fighter, and a (MCI) and the Indian politician who held the post of Medical Association (IMA). chief minister of West Bengal. More about Dr Bidhan History: Chandra Roy:

• The first National Doctors’ • Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy was Day was celebrated in the born in Patna, Bihar. year 1991 in the honour of • He studied at Patna Dr BC Roy’s contributions Collegiate School, to serving humanity and to Presidency College Calcutta the medical field. and Patna College. • He was born on July 1, 1882, • He did his post-graduation and incidentally passed from St Bartholomew’s away on the same date in Hospital, London, where his the year 1962. application was accepted by • Dr Roy was awarded with the Dean after 30 rejections. the Bharat Ratna on • There he became a member February 4, 1961. of the Royal College of • He was instrumental in Physicians and a fellow of establishment of the Royal College of institutions like Surgeons. He returned to Chittaranjan Cancer India in 1911 and whole- Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva heartedly devoted himself Sadan, Jadavpur T.B. to community service and Hospital, Victoria to the freedom movement.

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• Dr Roy actively helped • In the US it is observed on students and freedom March 30, fighters during the struggle • In Cuban the day is for independence. observed on December 3. • He was also close • For the first time the confidante and doctor of Doctor's Day was observed Mahatma Gandhi. in March 1933 in the US • He was also the second state of Georgia and was chief minister of West celebrated by sending a Bengal. card to the physicians and offering flowers on the National Doctors’ Day – graves of doctors who have Significance: passed away. • The day is dedicated to all the doctors and healthcare workers who have been serving the people by risking their lives. • The day is observed to recognize their functions and obligations. • Pandemic has once again has become a reminder Goods and Services Tax (GST) about the contributions and Day: GST Day is celebrated on 1st sacrifices made by doctors July every year by the and healthcare workers Government of India (GoI) to around the globe. mark the roll-out of the historic Additional info: tax reform.

• Doctor’s day is not just Highlights: celebrated in India but also • This year, marks 4th in different countries but on anniversary of the Goods different dates. and Services Tax (GST).

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• The date of July 1 was • The celebration of the 1st designated by the central GST day included listing the government as 'GST Day'. remarkable successes • The main objective behind achieved that year, followed the implementation of this by the motto, “One Nation, tax is to make a uniform tax One Tax, One Market.” system in the country. • The tax implementation • During these years, several was deemed to be the 2nd key policy initiatives were historic moment in India’s taken by the government to independence despite the make the GST system and initial hardships. compliance mechanism Significance: simple, transparent and technology driven. • India’s biggest tax reform is • This year on GST day, the a perfect example of Union ministry of finance cooperative federalism and will issue certificates of its motto of ‘One Nation, appreciation to over 54,000 One Tax, One Market’- GST payers for timely filing binds India into an of returns and a cash Economic Union. payment of the tax. • One Nation, One Tax, One Market became a reality History: one year ago with the stroke • The government decided to of midnight on 1st July. celebrate July 1, 2018, as • Before implementation of 'GST Day' to mark the first GST, Indian taxation system anniversary of the new was a mix of central, state indirect tax regime. and local area levies. • GST was launched on the • GST replaced multi-layered, 1st July, 2017 in a majestic complex indirect tax ceremony held in the structure with a simple, Central Hall of Parliament transparent and on the midnight of 30th technology-driven tax June, 2017. regime.

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What is GST? 20 key facts related GST:

• The Goods and Services Tax 1. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indirect, multi- (GST) was first implemented in stage, comprehensive tax in France. India, imposed on the 2. India's GST is based on the supply of goods and Canadian model. services. • It is intended to replace 3. GST in India was made on the other indirect taxes like recommendation of Vijay Kelkar Value Added Tax (VAT). Committee. • The tax came into effect 4. GST in India was implemented from 1 July 2017 through the on July 1, 2017 implementation of the One Hundred and First 5. The first state which Amendment of the implemented the GST was Assam. Constitution of India by the 6. Amitabh Bachchan has been Indian government. The made the brand ambassador of GST replaced the existing GST. multiple taxes levied by the central and state 7. GST has been implemented governments. under Article 279 of the Indian • As per the newly constitution. implemented tax system, 8. GST Council was formed by the there are 4 different types of President of India in September GST: 2016. 1. Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) 9. At present Finance Minister 2. State Goods and Nirmala Sitharaman is the Services Tax (SGST) Chairman of the GST Council. 3. Central Goods and 10. At present GST Council has 33 Services Tax (CGST) members out of which 2 members 4. Union Territory are of centre and 31 members are Goods and Services Tax (UTGST).

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from 28 state and 3 Union 19. The biggest reason behind the territories with legislation. implementation of the GST is to bring uniformity in the tax system 11. GST has been implemented by of the country. the 101st Constitution Amendment Act, 2016. 20. After the implementation of GST, tradition of 'Tax upon Tax' 12. The GST was the 122nd will be eliminated. constitutional amendment bill to be introduced in the Parliament Importance of tax payment: of India. • Taxes paid by citizens 13. The President of India contribute to their approved GST bill on 8th economic benefit via September 2016. services and operations. • They basically help the 14. During passing of GST bill in government run the parliament; 336 votes casted in country as a budget and the favour of GST bill and 11 votes source of income. were against it. • This helps to finance public 15. There is a provision of 5 years sector services that indeed imprisonment for those who do aid the population. not pay GST. • These include healthcare, defense, and the legal 16. There are 5 rates of taxes in administration of the GST i.e. 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% and country. 28%. • In addition, tax payments 17. GST is an indirect tax in help foster social security broader terms it can be said a and the development of the federal tax. economy.

18. After the implementation of Architecture and education are GST, sales tax, service tax, also aided by tax funding. customs duty, excise duty, VAT, Octroi tax etc. will not exist. How does GST Help?

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• GST also helps level the National Chartered inequalities in income due Accountants Day: Institute of to the progressive structure. Chartered Accountants of India • The income effect is curved (ICAI) celebrates its Foundation due to the reduced Day each year on July 1 as purchasing power of 'Chartered Accountants' Day' or taxpayers. 'CA Day'. • There is also a substitution Highlights: effect imposed between taxed and untaxed goods. This year, 2021 is the 73rd • GST checks all the celebration of the day. necessities of tax and helps It is observed to celebrate and consolidate all the indirect acknowledge the contribution of taxes under one umbrella India's most professional and old factor. finance and accounting body Tax evasion: ICAI.

• Tax evasion is the illegal ICAI is a statutory body practice of deliberately established by an Act of avoiding the payment of Parliament, viz. The CA Act, 1949 taxes to the government. for regulating the profession of • Tax evasion is considered a Chartered Accountancy in India. criminal offence, and the History: entity doing so is liable to judicial charges and • Before ICAI came into penalties. existence, the British Government in India used to maintain accounts using the Companies Act. The British Government then launched an accountancy diploma course for auditors. • The people who completed this course became eligible

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to work as auditors all • It refers to the Institute of across India. Chartered Accountants of • However, the accountancy India. profession remained • ICAI functions under the unregulated in India until administrative control of an expert committee, in the Ministry of Corporate 1948, suggested the Affairs, Government of formation of an India (GOI). autonomous body to • It was established on 1st July regulate the same. in the year 1949 under an • It was followed by the Act passed in Parliament. passing of Chartered • It is the national Accountant Act in 1949. professional accounting • The ICAI was established body of India and also the on 1 July 1949. second biggest accounting organization in the world. Significance: • It is the sole licensing and Chartered Accountants (CA) play regulatory body for the a very important role in financial audit and development of our country. accounting profession in India. Moreover, the ICAI is the most • Its recommendations are professional institute which followed by everyone – from regulates the accounting standard the National Financial in India. Reporting Authority The organization has over 2.5 (NFRA) to companies and lakh members. accounting organizations. • Its affairs are managed by a The official motto of ICAI is taken Council as per the from the Upanishad which reads, provisions of the Chartered “Ya esha supteshu jagriti”. It Accountants Act, 1949 and means 'the one who is awake in the Chartered Accountants those that sleep'. Regulations, 1988. ICAI:

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• It is headquartered in New empowered society and Delhi. knowledge economy. • The current President of • Prime Minister of India ICAI Nihar Jambusaria. Narendra Modi addressed a virtual event to mark the NFRA: completion of six years of • It refers to the National Digital Indian programme. Financial Reporting • The event also witnessed Authority. NFRA was the presence of Minister of constituted on 1 October Electronics and Information 2018 by the Government of Technology Ravi Shankar India under Sub Section (1) Prasad. of section 132 of the • The programme is being Companies Act, 2013. organized by the Ministry • The current Chairman of of Electronics and NFRA is R.Sridharan. Information Technology. • The digital India initiative was launched with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. • The programme was started on 1 July, 2015.

On the occasion, PM Modi Digital India: The government’s interacted with beneficiaries of flagship programme- Digital India various schemes of Digital India has completed six years on 1 July programme, including Diksha, 2021. eNAM, eSanjeevani solution for Highlights: telemedicine, DigiBunai and PM SVANidhi scheme via video • The vision of Digital India conference. programme is to transform India into a digitally Key points of PM's Address:

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• In his address PM Modi said o DigiBunai: DigiBunai that the data and aids the weavers to demographic dividend create digital artwork combined with India’s and translate the saree proven tech prowess design to be loaded to presents massive the looms. DigiBunai™ is opportunity for the country, a first of its kind Open and this decade will be Source software for ‘India’s techade’. Jacquard and dobby • He highlighted Various weaving. Schemes of Digital India o PM SVANidhi scheme: programme: The Ministry of Housing o Diksha: It stands for and Urban Affairs Digital Infrastructure for (MoHUA) has launched Knowledge Sharing. It Pradhan Mantri Street serves as National Digital Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Infrastructure for Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), Teachers. All teachers for providing affordable across the nation will be loans to street vendors. equipped with advanced It incentivises digital digital technology. transactions by the street o eNAM: It was launched vendors. on 14th April 2016 as a • The Digital India journey in pan-India electronic the past 6 years has trade portal linking centered on empowerment, Agricultural Produce inclusion, and digital Market Committees transformation. It has (APMCs) across the positively impacted all States. aspects of the lives of Indian o eSanjeevani: It is a citizens through Aadhaar, telemedicine service Direct Benefit Transfer, platform of the Ministry Common Services Centres, of Health & Family DigiLocker and mobile- Welfare. based UMANG services.

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• Through Aadhaar, the emphasis on citizen-centric Government has provided services. digital identity to 129 crore • Among the major focus of residents of the country e-governance was railway with 99 per cent coverage of computerization, land adult population. record computerization, • The combination of etc, which then slowly Jandhan bank Accounts, percolated to the states to mobile phones and digital include other facets of identity through Aadhaar is governance within the helping the poor in digital purview. receiving the benefits directly into their bank accounts.

• Digital solutions also played a pivotal role during

Covid-19: Contact tracing app, Aarogya Setu. NHP-Bhuvan Portal: The Secretary, Department of Space & What is Digital India? Chairman, ISRO, Dr. K. Sivan • Digital India is a Rs 1,13,000- recently launched the NHP – crore flagship programme Bhuvan portal of the National of the Government of India Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC). (GoI) with a vision to About NHP –Bhuvan Portal: transform India into a digitally empowered society • The National Hydrology and knowledge economy. Project or NHP-Bhuvan • Since the mid-1990s, the e- Portal is a repository of governance initiatives in information on the India took a broader initiatives undertaken by dimension with an NRSC under NHP (National Hydrology Project).

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• The portal also has a facility database and Hydrological to download the reports Information System (HIS), and knowledge products together with the development of being developed by NRSC. consistent and scientifically based • National Remote Sensing tools and design aids to assist in Centre (NRSC), Indian the effective water resources Space Research planning and management within Organization (ISRO), each to the implementing Hyderabad as one of the agencies based on sound Implementing Agency scientific driven framework. under the National The project comprises four broad Hydrology Project (NHP), is components: carrying out hydrological studies using satellite data • Improving In Situ and geospatial techniques. Monitoring System (IMS) • Improving Spatial About National Hydrology Information System (SIS) Project (NHP): • Promoting Water Resources NHP is being taken up from Operation and Ministry of Jal Shakti, Management Applications Government of India (GoI) with (WROMA) financial aid from World Bank. • Strengthening Water Resources Institutions and

Capacity Building (WRICB). The main objective of the project is to improve the extent and accessibility of water resources information and strengthen International institutional capacity to enable improved water resources planning and management across India.

The mission is to establish an effective and sound hydrologic

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• The first version of GCI was launched six years ago.

How does GCI measure countries’ commitment to cybersecurity on a global scale?

The development or engagement of each country is assessed along

five pillars – GCI 2020: United Nations’ specialized agency for (i) Legal measures, information and communication (ii) Technical measures, technologies — International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (iii) Organizational measures, has released the Global Cyber (iv) Capacity development, and Security Index (GCI) 2020. (v) Cooperation- About GCI: Then it is aggregated into a • The GCI is a composite composite score. index created, analyzed and published by the The countries were asked 82 International questions where 20 indicators Telecommunication Union were measured. (ITU). India's ranking: • ITU is a specialized agency of the United • According to a United Nations. Nations report released, • It measures the India has jumped 37 places commitment to to 10th position in the cybersecurity of its 194 Global Cyber Security Index member countries to raise (GCI) 2020. cybersecurity awareness. Performance of India and its • The latest report is the neighbours: fourth GCI edition by the ITU.

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• India is placed on the 10th • Among other countries, spot. Turkey (97.49) was ranked • In 2018, it was ranked on 11th, Germany (97.41) at the 47th spot. 13th, China (92.53) at 33rd • It was ranked rank 47 in and Israel (90.93) at 36th 2019. position. • In the Asia-Pacific region International India secured the 4th spot. Telecommunication Union • Neighbours China and (ITU): Pakistan were ranked at 33 and 79, respectively. • ITU was founded in 1865 and is an integral part of Global rankings: United Nations 1947. • The top rank in the GCI was • It has widest decision- achieved by the US with a making scope among score of 100. international ICT • The UK and Saudi Arabia organizations with respect finished second, tied for to issues addressed and next place with a score of types of decisions made. 99.54. • Its treaties provide an • In the Asia Pacific region, international legal South Korea and Singapore framework for cooperation are on top with a score of between states, private 98.52, which ranks fourth sector etc. globally. • Other countries at the top of the index include Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia (98.06) at fifth place, Lithuania at sixth, Japan at seventh and Canada, France and India at UNSC High-level Open Debate: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan the subsequent positions. Shringla will address the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) High-level Open Debate on Children

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and armed conflict on 28 June 2021 The project's first two 1-gigawatt through video conferencing. (GW) turbines will start operating The debate will be chaired by the after a three-day trial. President of Estonia Ms. Kersti Kaljulaid. About Baihetan Dam: UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Executive Director of ❖ Baihetan Dam was built by UNICEF Ms. Henrietta Fore will also address the High-Level Open Debate. the China Three Gorges Corporation which is the world’s biggest investor in hydro, solar and wind generation. ❖ This three Gorges Dam is located on the border between southwestern provinces of Yunnan and Baihetan Hydro Project: The Sichuan. Government of China officially ❖ It is part of a cascade of recently operationalised the two dams on the Jinsha river, units of giant Baihetan which is the upstream hydropower plant, which is the section of the Yangtze. world’s second-biggest ❖ The dam is a 289-meter-tall hydroelectric dam, to start (948 feet) double-curvature generating energy. arch dam. ❖ Total installed capacity of Highlights: the project is 16 million The Baihetan Dam is set up on kilowatts. the Jinsha River, in southwestern ❖ Hydropower station is China. equipped with 16 hydro- generating units. The giant Baihetan hydropower ❖ Each unit has a capacity of 1 plant on the upstream branch of million kilowatts. China's Yangtze River began ❖ This is the largest single- generating electricity for the first unit capacity worldwide. time. Aim:

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❖ Through the Baihetan Dam, ❖ It originates from Jari Hill the Chinese government in Tanggula Mountains in aims to curb surging fossil Tibetan Plateau and flows fuel demand by building for 6,300 km in east more hydropower capacity. direction to drain into East China Sea. Background: ❖ It is considered as sixth- ❖ The Dam has been largest river by discharge operationalised in the volume in world. backdrop of 100th ❖ The river drains one-fifth of anniversary of ruling China’s land area. Communist Party of China ❖ About Jinsha River: on 1st July 2021. ❖ It is the Chinese name for ❖ The project is part of a upper stretches of Yangtze national scheme to generate River. electricity and deliver it to ❖ River flows across Qinghai, high energy-consuming Sichuan, and Yunnan regions on the eastern provinces in western China. coast, and is also designed ❖ It passes through Tiger to strengthen control over Leaping Gorge. water flows during the ❖ It is significant in heavy summer flood season. generating hydroelectric ❖ This project symbolizes the power. Several worlds’ efficiency of Chinese largest hydroelectric power Communist Party in stations have been planning and completing constructed on Jinsha River. large-scale projects. About China: About Yangtze River: ❖ China, officially the People's ❖ Yangtze River is the longest Republic of China, is a river in Asia and third- country in East Asia. longest in world. ❖ It is governed by the ❖ It is also the longest Communist Party of China. worldwide to flow entirely ❖ It is a recognized nuclear within one country. weapons state and has the

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world's largest standing ❖ It marks day of army, the People's establishment of Inter- Liberation Army, and the Parliamentary Union (IPU), second-largest defense the global organization of budget. parliaments in 1889. ❖ The capital of China is ❖ The year 2021 is the 132nd Beijing. anniversary of IPU. ❖ The currency used here is ❖ The year 2021 marks the 4th Yuan (CNY) and Renminbi edition of the day. (RMB). Significance: ❖ The yuan is the unit of account of the country's ❖ The Day celebrates economic and financial parliaments and ways system while Renminbi is during which parliamentary the official currency of systems of government China where it acts as a improve the everyday lives medium of exchange. of individuals throughout ❖ The current President of the world. china is Xi Jinping. ❖ It is also a chance for parliaments to spot challenges and stock ways to deal with them effectively.

History:

❖ It was established by United International Day of Nations General Assembly Parliamentarism: International in 2018 by adopting n its Day of Parliamentarism is resolution A/RES/72/278. observed globally on 30 June The day seeks to unite all every year. parliamentarians of the world. Highlights: ❖ The first International Day of Parliamentarism was celebrated in 2018.

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Importance of Parliament: who sought to create the first permanent forum for ❖ Parliaments play a vital role political multilateral in National plans and negotiations. strategies. ❖ It is headquartered in ❖ It ensures greater Geneva, Switzerland. transparency and ❖ The current President of accountability at both IPU is Gabriela Cuevas national as well as global Barron. level. ❖ The current Secretary- ❖ Strong parliaments are a General is Martin cornerstone of democracy Chungong. as they represent voice of people, allocate funds to About Parliaments: implement laws and ❖ The Parliament is a national policies, pass laws and hold assembly of elected governments accountable representatives. to people. ❖ Every nation in world has About IPU: some form of representative government be it ❖ IPU is an acronym for Inter- Presidential form or Parliamentary Union. Parliamentary form. ❖ The IPU is an international ❖ A parliamentary system is organization of national of two categories: parliaments. 1. Bicameral-with two ❖ It connects national chambers of parliaments in order to parliament promote greater 2. Unicameral-with one accountability, chamber transparency and ❖ Out of 193 countries, 79 are participation at global level. bicameral and 114 are ❖ Its founders were statesmen unicameral, which makes a Frédéric Passy of France total of 272 chambers of and William Randal Cremer parliament with more than of the United Kingdom,

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46,000 members of displays statues selected by all 50 parliament. states. ❖ Althingi, the Icelandic Highlights: Parliament, founded in 930 is World’s oldest The bill was passed by a vote of parliament. 285 to 120.

Indian Parliament: Every Democrat present and 67 Republicans voted for it. ❖ India's federal legislative branch consists of the The bill heads to the Senate for President, the Rajya Sabha consideration, where it would (Council of States) as the need 10 Republican senators to upper house, and the Lok join every Democrat to pass the Sabha (House of the upper chamber. People) as the lower house. Key Points: ❖ The House of People and the Council of States ❖ The bill will remove a bust constitute India's bicameral of the former Supreme Parliament. Court chief justice who wrote the 1857 Dred Scott decision that denied enslaved people the right to be citizens. ❖ House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, said on the House floor before the vote

that it’s time to remove Bill to remove Confederate those symbols of slavery, statues from Capitol: The segregation and sedition Democratic-controlled U.S. from these halls. House of Representatives recently passed a bill to remove statues honoring those who upheld slavery or backed the Confederacy from the Capitol building, which

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Congressional Review Act allow Congress to overturn certain regulations that were in place for a short time.

Background:

❖ Under former President Donald Trump, the Office Trump-era Rules: President Joe of the Comptroller of the Biden recently signed three Currency had enabled separate bills on June 30, 2021 that payday lenders to charge dismantle part of Donald Trump interest rates in excess of era. what was allowed by the Key Details: state. ❖ Payday lenders were able to These signed bills - partner with a nationally 1. Block payday lenders chartered bank to make from avoiding caps on high-cost loans and avoid interest rates, state usury laws. 2. Restrict climate- ❖ The Trump administration warming greenhouse also loosened rules on gas emissions from oil methane emissions from & gas drilling leaks and flares in oil and 3. End rules on how gas wells. Equal Employment About EEOC: Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ❖ EEOC refers to U.S. Equal settles claims. Employment Opportunity Commission. Each of these rules reflects a ❖ EEOC is a federal agency, return to common sense and a established through Civil commitment to the common Rights Act of 1964. good. ❖ It was established to The three bills passed by House administer and enforce civil and Senate through

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rights laws against presence into the Pacific workplace discrimination. Ocean. ❖ It investigates ❖ The currency used in USA is discrimination complaints United States dollar - USD on the basis of race, color, also abbreviated US$. national origin, sex, age, ❖ The capital of US is religion, disability, gender Washington, D.C. identity, sexual orientation, ❖ The current President of US genetic information etc. is Joe Biden ❖ It also mediates and settles discrimination complaints prior to their investigation. ❖ It has been empowered to file civil discrimination suits against employers on behalf of alleged victims. It can also adjudicate claims of discrimination against Canada Day: Canada Day is the federal agencies. national day of Canada which is About USA: celebrated on 1 July every year.

❖ The United States of Highlights: America (USA), commonly • It is a federal statutory known as the United States holiday that celebrates the (U.S. or US) or America, is a anniversary of the Canadian country consisting of 50 Confederation. states, a federal district, five • Canada Day was previously major self-governing known as Dominion Day in territories, and various honour of the British possessions. Empire's Dominion of ❖ The 50 states covers a vast Canada. swath of North America, • Gradually Canada gained with Alaska in the political control and northwest and Hawaii governance over its own extending the nation’s

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affairs and gradually political control and became independent. governance over its own • Since then, Canada Day is affairs, such as national observed every year on 1 defence, foreign affairs and July to pay tribute to the more. people involved in the About Canada: independence struggle; to remember and celebrate • Canada is a country in Canada’s independence. North America. • It is the second largest History of Canada Day: country in the world in area • Although Canada was (after Russia), occupying formally established on July roughly the northern two- 1, 1867, it did not achieve fifths of the continent of total independence from North America. British authority until 1982. • Its southern and western • The British North America border with the United Act was signed on July 1, States, stretching 8,891 1867, uniting Ontario, kilometres (5,525 mi), is the Quebec, New Brunswick, world's longest bi-national and Nova Scotia into a land border. single Dominion within the • Canada's capital is Ottawa. British Empire called • The currency used here is Canada. Canadian Dollar. • The passing of this Act gave • The current Prime Minister the people of the country of Canada is Justin Trudeau. power to control the

Canadian Constitution and became a national India Polity

milestone in the way of the country’s independence. • Later, with the constitutional changes, Canada gained more

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Department of Justice under Ministry of Law & Justice. • Dedicated Commercial Courts have been set up for speedy resolution of commercial disputes and boast of dedicated infrastructure & exclusive judicial human power. • The new portal also hosts online reporting by all high courts regarding the Mediation and Enforcing Contracts Portal: The Arbitration centres annexed to the Department of Justice has recently Commercial Courts in order to launched ‘Enforcing Contracts Portal.’ monitor and promote institutional This web portal, launched on 29 June 2021 mediation and arbitration by way of seeks to be a source of comprehensive Pre-institution Mediation and information on legislative and policy Settlement (PIMS) of commercial reforms being undertaken on the cases. “Enforcing Contracts” regime for Ease of Note: PIMS has been introduced with Doing Business in India. the aim of reducing pendency of cases Key Details: and to promote mediation as a viable dispute resolution alternative in • Justice department launched this commercial cases. portal with an aim of promoting ease of doing business and • Information on commercial court improving ‘Contract Enforcement and related services can be easily Regime’ across India. accessed by portal using several • The portal will provide easy access features like- to latest information on I. Details or links of Dedicated commercial cases in Dedicated Commercial Courts in Commercial Courts of Delhi, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Bengaluru II. Instructive videos related to • It will also provide access to a e-filing repository of commercial laws. III. Advocate registration • The portal is envisioned to be a IV. Manuals on using Electronic comprehensive source of Case Management Tools information pertaining to the (ECMTs) like “JustIS app for legislative and policy reforms being judicial officers” undertaken on the Enforcing V. e-Courts services app for Contracts parameters. use by lawyers • Legislative and policy reforms VI. Repository of all related undertaken to strengthen Enforcing commercial laws for ready Contracts regime for Ease of Doing reference. Business is being monitored by

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About Enforcing Contracts: • Parliamentary Privileges are certain rights and immunities enjoyed by • The Enforcing Contracts is an members of Parliament, essential area that measures time individually and collectively, so that and cost to resolve a standardized they can “effectively discharge their commercial dispute as well as a functions”. series of good practices in the • Article 105 of the Constitution judiciary. expressly mentions two privileges, that is, freedom of speech in Parliament and right of publication of its proceedings. • Apart from the privileges as specified in the Constitution, the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Parliamentary Privileges: Congress provides for freedom from arrest leader Jairam Ramesh, who chairs the and detention of members under Parliamentary Standing Committee on civil process during the science and technology, recently moved a continuance of the meeting of the privilege motion against news channel House or of a committee thereof Times Now. and forty days before its commencement and forty days Key Highlights: after its conclusion.

• He passed the privilage motion for Breach of privilege: “falsified and mischievous” reporting of the proceedings of the When any of the above mentioned rights panel’s meeting by news channel and immunities are disregarded, the Times Now. offence is called a breach of privilege and is • Mr. Ramesh, in a letter to Rajya punishable under law of Parliament. Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Then, a notice is moved in the form of a Naidu, wrote that the agenda of the motion by any member of either House meeting was on “Vaccine against those being held guilty of breach of Development for COVID-19” and privilege. “Genetic sequencing of coronavirus and its variants”. What is the role of the speaker under • But, the channel falsely reported such circumstances? that the proceedings involved a discussion on the ‘PM CARES fund’ • The Speaker/RS chairperson is the and that this resulted in ‘high first level of scrutiny of a privilege drama’. motion. • Thus, this was patently false, and • The Speaker/Chair can decide on no such discussion or events ever the privilege motion himself or took place. herself or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament. What are Parliamentary Privileges?

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• If the Speaker/Chair gives consent • He will remain on the post until the under relevant rules, the member appointment of the new Central concerned is given an opportunity Vigilance Commissioner. to make a short statement. • The Central Vigilance Commission is headed by the CVC and can have Applicability: a maximum of two vigilance • The Constitution also extends the commissioners. parliamentary privileges to those • Currently, Mr Patel is the only VC persons who are entitled to speak in the commission. and take part in the proceedings of • The Personnel Ministry has invited a House of Parliament or any of its applications for the posts of CVC committees. and a vigilance commissioner. • These include the Attorney General About CVC: of India. • However, the parliamentary Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an privileges do not extend to the apex Indian governmental body. President who is also an integral CVC was set up by the Government in part of the Parliament. Article 361 of the Constitution provides for February, 1964 on the recommendations of privileges for the President. the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, headed by Shri K. Santhanam, to advise and guide Central Government agencies in the field of vigilance.

It has the status of an autonomous body, free of control from any executive authority, charged with monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government of India, advising various authorities in central Government organizations in planning, executing, Suresh N Patel: The incumbent Vigilance reviewing and reforming their vigilance Commissioner, Suresh N Patel has recently work. been appointed as the acting Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) of India in Consequent upon promulgation of an the Central Vigilance Commission with Ordinance by the President, the CVC has effect. been made a multi member Commission with "statutory status" with effect from Key Points: 25th August,1998.

• He has been appointed in place of Present status of the CVC: Sanjay Kothari, who completed his term on June 23, 2021. • The CVC Bill was passed by both the houses of Parliament in 2003 and the President gave its assent on

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September 11, 2003. Thus the 45-year-old Pushkar Singh Dhami has Central Vigilance Commission Act become the youngest CM of Uttharakhand. 2003 (No45 0f 2003) came into Key Points: effect from that date. • The Annual Report of the CVC not • The Legislative Party meet took only gives the details of the work place at the State Headquarters in done by it but also brings out the Dehradun to elect the new system failures which lead to Uttarkhand Chief Minister in the corruption in various presence of Union Minister Departments/Organizations, Narendra Singh Tomar and other system improvements; various BJP leaders. preventive measures and cases in • He was elected by the State which the commission's advises legislature party as its leader on 3rd were ignored etc. July 2021, following the resignation Members: of Tirath Singh Rawat. • Mr. Rawat had submitted his The Commission shall consist of: resignation to Governor Baby Rani Maurya on 2nd July 2021. • A Central Vigilance Commissioner - • He had quit citing constitutional Chairperson; reasons, of not seeing his way clear • Not more than two Vigilance to getting elected as a member of Commissioners - Members; the Assembly in Uttarakhand within the stipulated six month period. • However, he continues to be a Lok Sabha MP from the State.

About Pushkar Singh Dhami:

• Born in Pithoragarh district in 1975, Pushkar Singh Dhami is a law graduate in human resource management and industrial

relations. Pushkar Singh Dhami: Pushkar Singh • Dhami has worked in different Dhami, a two-term MLA from Khatima in positions in the RSS and its affiliate Udham Singh Nagar district, has become bodies for 33 years. the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. • He was also a member of the ABVP for 10 years, during which time he He took oath as Chief Minister of worked in the Awadh Prant region Uttarakhand in Dehradun on 4 July 2021. of Uttar Pradesh. He replaced Tirath Singh Rawat. • He had been the president of BJP’s Uttarakhand Yuva Morcha twice, from 2002 to 2008.

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• Dhami had also served as Officer appointed Indian-American career on Special Duty (OSD) to Bhagat diplomat Atul Keshap, an old India-hand at Singh Koshiyari when he was the the state department, as the country's chief minister in 2001-2002. Charge'd Affairs (CDA) in Delhi. • He also held the post of vice- Highlights: chairman (with state minister rank) of the urban monitoring committee • Mr Keshap, 50, will replace Daniel in the state. Smith, who is retiring. • About Uttarakhand: The US State Department said in a statement that Ambassador • It is a state in northern India Keshap's appointment will crossed by the Himalayas. reinforce the close US partnership • Uttarakhand became the 27th state with the Government and people of of the Republic of India On 9 India, demonstrated by our November 2000. collaboration to overcome global • It was carved from the Himalayan challenges like the COVID-19 districts of Uttar Pradesh. pandemic • Its winter Capital is Dehradun and About: summer capital is Gairsain. • The Chief Minister and the • Mr. Keshap was formerly the U.S. Governor of Uttarakhand are Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Pushkar Singh Dhami and Baby Maldives. Rani Maurya respectively. • He played a key role in developing the U.S.-Maldives defence

relationship. ] • The two countries signed on to a Persons in News framework for their security relationship last September. • He also served as Deputy APPOINTMENTS: Assistance Secretary for South Asia and was posted previously to the American Embassy in New Delhi.

Atul Keshap: The Joe Biden administration in the US has recently

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Manesh Mahatme: He is a former Amazon executive Manesh Mahatme who has been appointed as the director to lead the growth of its payments business in India by Whatsapp.

As Director, WhatsApp Payments-India, Mahatme will focus on enhancing the payments experience for users, scaling the service and work towards contributing to the messaging app’s vision of digital and financial inclusion in India.

About WhatsApp:

• WhatsApp Messenger, or simply WhatsApp, is an American freeware, cross-platform centralized messaging and voice- over-IP service owned by Facebook, The Order of Polar Star: RK Sabharwal Inc. who is the Engineers Chairman & • It allows users to send text Managing Director (CMD) of India Limited messages and voice messages, make (EIL) has been honoured with the highest voice and video calls, and share civilian award of Mongolia ‘The Order of images, documents, user locations, Polar Star by his Excellency. and other content. Highlights: • It was founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton. • Sabharwal was bestowed with the • It is headquartered in Menlo Park, honour by His Excellency, the California, United States. President of Mongolia, Ukhnaa • The WhatsApp Parent organization Khurelsukh for an outstanding is Facebook. contribution towards the • The client application was created establishment of the first-ever oil by WhatsApp Inc. of Mountain refinery in Mongolia. View, California, which was • ‘The Order of Polar Star’ was acquired by Facebook on 19 presented to him, on behalf of the February 2014. government of Mongolia, by His Excellency, the Ambassador of AWARDS: Mongolia to India, Mr. Gonching Ganbold. • He was conferred the prestigious award at a ceremony which was

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organized at the Embassy of has ensured its sustained growth Mongolia, India. and development.

About the award: Role of EIL in Mongolia:

• The ‘Order of Polar Star’ is the most • After the continuous efforts, desirable and prestigious state Engineers India Limited (EIL), a award bestowed by the President of public sector undertaking of the Mongolia. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural • It is highly valuable and Gas was able to secure the contract distinguished and recognizes for providing the Project individuals who have made an Management Consultancy (PMC) invaluable contribution with their services for the 1.5 MMTPA outstanding hard work, intelligence Grassroot refinery project. and sincerity to the prosperity of • EIL is providing project Mongolia and its friendship with management consultancy services other nations. for this refinery project. • This award is also given for • On completion of the project, it will outstanding contributions in the meet about three-fourth of fields of arts, culture, science and Mongolian requirement of oil. humanity. • The refinery is expected to be completed by 2022. About The establishment of an oil • Currently, the work on the oil refinery in Mongolia: refinery has been progressing well • In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra and while creating job Modi, the first Indian Prime opportunities in Mongolia, it also Minister to visit Mongolia, had provides great opportunities to the announced an extension of a line of Indian Industry to provide its goods credit worth USD 1 billion by the and services to the refinery. Indian Government to Mongolia to About Mongolia: expand its economic capacity and infrastructure, as they decided to • Mongolia is a landlocked country in upgrade their relationship from East Asia. Comprehensive to “Strategic • It is a nation bordered by China Partnership”. and Russia. • After several discussions, the • Its capital is Ulaanbaatar which Government of Mongolia decided centers around Chinggis Khaan to utilize this line of credit towards (Genghis Khan) Square, named for setting up of the first Oil Refinery the notorious founder of the 13th- of Mongolia. and 14th-century Mongol Empire. • The project has been the harbinger • The currency used here is of the economic and energy Mongolian Togrog. independence of the country and • The current President of Mongolia is Ukhnaa Khurelsukh.

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About Fukuoka Prize:

• It is an award established in 1990 by the city of Fukuoka in Japan and Fukuoka City International Foundation. • It is given to honor work of individuals or organizations in

preserving & creating Asian culture. Fukuoka Grand Prize: Noted journalist, Fukuoka prize has three following P. Sainath has been awarded the Fukuoka prize categories:- Grand Prize. 1. Grand Prize 2. Academic Prize Besides the Grand Prize, there are two 3. Arts & Culture Prize more award categories, academics and • Fukuoka has organized Asia-Pacific culture. Exposition with the concept of Fukuoka Award 2021 will be held online on interaction between Asia-Pacific September 29, 2021. regions in 1989. • This prize was inaugurated in 1990 Key Details: to carry on spirit of Expo. • Prizes are given annually to • The ‘Grand Prize’ of Fukuoka Prize distinguished people for fostering & will be given to Sainath. increasing awareness of Asian Secretariat of Fukuoka Prize cultures. Committee described P. Sainath as “very deserving recipient of Grand Recepients of the Grand Prize: Prize of Fukuoka Prize”. He will be awarded for his work of • Grand Prize has been awarded to creating a new form of knowledge Muhammad Yunus from through his writings & Bangladesh, historian Romila commentaries on rural India and Thapar and sarod maestro Amjad for promoting civil cooperation. Ali Khan. • The Academics Prize will be given • So far, eleven Indians have received to Professor Kishimoto Mio, a Fukuoka Prize. About 115 people historian from Japan who from 28 countries and areas have specialises in the socio-economic received Prize in past 30 years. history of China in the Ming-Qing About Palagummi Sainath: period. • Prize for Arts & Culture will be • He is an Indian journalist born in given Thailand-based writer and Chennai and he has been an editor filmmaker Prabda Yoon for an of The Hindu and the vice-editor of increased understanding of Japan in political magazine Blitz. Thailand and for pursuing a deeper • He is the author of book called philosophical insight into the “Everybody Loves a Good Drought”. future of humanity. It is a collection of 85 articles,

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published under a series ‘The Face committee comprising Kannada of Poor India’. poet Dr. H.S. Shivaprakash, • He has been actively campaigning Agrahara Krishnamurthy, former over famer’s issues and backed secretary of Central Sahitya Samyukta Ekta Morcha that leads Academy, and Bengali author farmers’ agitations in India. Shyamal Bhattacharya. • He founded People’s Archive of • The committee met under the Rural India (PARI) in 2014 which is chairmanship of Prof. Hampa an online platform focussing on Nagarajaiah and chose Dr. Panda social & economic inequality, for the award. poverty, rural affairs, poverty and About Dr. Rajendra Kishore Panda aftermath of globalization in India. • Awards: Dr. Panda, born in 1944, is a poet and novelist from Odisha. • Sainath was awarded the European • He has published 16 poetry Commission’s Lorenzo Natali Prize collections and a novel. for journalism in 1995 and the • He is a major Indian poet who Amnesty International Global steered the path of modern Odia Rights Journalism Prize in 2000. poetry to great heights. • He has also received the United • He was presented the Gangadhar Nations’ Food and Agriculture National Award in 2010, and the Organisation’s Boerma Prize in Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985. 2001. • He was awarded a DLitt by • He was awarded with Ramon Sambalpur University. Magsaysay Award in 2007 because he believes “journalism is for About Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar: people, not for shareholders”. • It is a national award instituted in memory of the late poet laureate Kuvempu. • The award is given annually to a writer who has contributed in any of the languages recognised by the Constitution of India. • The award carries a cash award of Rs. 5 lakh, a silver medal and a citation.

Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar: Odia poet About Kuvempu: Dr. Rajendra Kishore Panda has recently been selected for the Kuvempu Rashtriya • Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa was Puraskar (award) 2020. popularly known by his pen name Kuvempu. • The name of Dr. Panda was • He was an Indian poet, playwright, finalised by a three-member novelist and critic.

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• He is widely regarded as the Highlights: greatest Kannada poet of the 20th • century. This award is given to highly selective showcasing projects in the • He was the first Kannada writer to development of civil engineering be decorated with the Jnanpith technology across the world. Award for his version of the • Ramayana titled ‘Sri Ramayana The JSCE termed the Delhi Metro's Darshanam.’ project as 'High-Quality Infrastructure Development About Jnanpith Award: Project. • The Delhi Metro was awarded • The Jnanpith award is the highest because its projects have brought literary award in India. awareness of safety and efficiency at • This award is conferred annually construction sites in India and only to an Indian citizen. provided residents with safe, secure • English along with other languages and comfortable transportation. mentioned in Indian Constitution • The Delhi Metro's civil engineering (8th Schedule) is considered for the achievements in the past two Award. decades have received global • The prize carries a cash award of recognition and have been Rs. 11 lakhs, a citation, and a bronze appreciated by prominent replica of Vagdevi (Saraswati), the international organizations. goddess of learning. • It is sponsored by the cultural JICA and Delhi Metro: organization Bharatiya Jnanpith. • The JICA has supported Delhi Metro's all phases including the Places in news ongoing Phase -IV project by providing not only smoothest financial support but with excellent value-added activities such as knowledge assistance by introducing Japanese innovative technologies and mindset of safety and innovation, unique work culture, technical cooperation and capacity building of DMRC. • The magnanimous support from JSCE 'Outstanding Civil Engineering Japan, JICA including India Office Achievement Award: The Delhi Metro's has helped Delhi Metro in Phase I, II and III projects have been becoming a Shining Example awarded the prestigious Japan Society of globally in the field of urban mass Civil Engineers (JSCE) 'Outstanding Civil transit. Engineering Achievement Award' for the About JICA: year 2020.

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• The Japan International Days after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Cooperation Agency (JICA) is a Sinha had announced an end to the 149- governmental agency that delivers year-old practice of 'darbar move', the the bulk of Official Development Jammu and Kashmir administration Assistance (ODA) for the virtually put an end to the 149-year-old government of Japan. darbar move tradition. • It is chartered with assisting The officials are to vacate their economic and social growth in government-allotted residential developing countries, and the accommodation in the twin capital cities promotion of international within 21 days. cooperation. What ushered the end of the century- • It was founded on October 1, 2003. old move? • It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. • Under the J&K government’s able administration, government offices ------have revolutionized and completely transitioned into an e-office. • This is another feather to the prime minister’s vision of a digital India. • This will save the government Rs 200 crore per year, which will be used for the welfare of the deprived sections

History of Darbar Move:

• The genesis of the darbar move dates back to more than 400 years ago, during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. • For his love of mountains and valleys, and to evade the scorching heat of Lahore, Jahangir used to visit Kashmir, during the summer months, every year. • Thus, every year, the darbar used to temporarily move to Kashmir, virtually making it the summer

capital of the Mughal Empire. Darbar Move Tradition: The Jammu and • The practice was subsequently Kashmir administration recently cancelled followed by the British and Dogra residential accommodations of rulers. government officials as part of ending the • The practice of darbar move has age-old practice of 'darbar move'. been a part of the Jammu and Kashmir administration since 1872 Key Points:

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when it was introduced by • The current Lieutenant Governor of Maharaja Gulab Singh. J&K is Former Union minister and BJP leader Manoj Sinha What is the darbar move? ------• The darbar move is thus a practice ------in which the government shifts capital for a brief period, each in the two capitals of the State. • For the union territory of J&K, Srinagar is the summer capital and Jammu is the winter capital. • The employees from Jammu were allotted residential accommodation in Srinagar and those from Srinagar in Jammu. • The Raj Bhavan, the civil secretariat and other major offices Smart Cities Awards 2020: The Central used to be shifted to the twin cities government has recently declared the in phases, which used to cost the Smart City awards 2020. exchequer close to Rs 200 crore. Highlights: About Jammu and Kashmir: • Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Surat • Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is a (Gujarat) won the award jointly for region administered by India as a their overall development. Union Territory. • Whereas, Uttar Pradesh emerged • It was a region formerly on the top among all states, administered by India as a state followed by Madhya Pradesh and from 1954 to 2019. Tamil Nadu under the Smart City • Provisions for the formation of the award, 2020. union territory of Jammu and • The Smart City awards were given Kashmir were contained within the across the themes of Social Aspects, Jammu and Kashmir Governance, Culture, Urban Reorganization Act, 2019, which Environment, Sanitation, Economy, was passed by both houses of the Built Environment, Water, Urban Parliament of India in August 2019. Mobility. • It lies to the north of the Indian • According to the Centre, of the states of Himachal Pradesh and total, proposed projects under the Punjab and to the west of Ladakh, Smart Cities Mission, 5,924 projects which is also subject to the dispute (115% by number) worth ₹1,78,500 as a part of Kashmir, and crore have been tendered so far. administered by India as a union Whereas work orders have been territory. issued for 5,236 projects (101% by number) worth ₹1,46,125 crore.

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List of winning Smart Cities under the • Agra: Micro Skill Development different categories: Centre

1. Social Aspects 7. Built Environment

• Tirupati: Health Benchmark for • Indore: Chappan Dukan Municipal Schools • Surat: Canal Corridor • Bhubaneshwar: Socially Smart Bhubaneswar 8. Water • Tumakuru: Digital Library Solution • Dehradun: Smart Water Metering 2. Governance Water ATM • Varanasi: Eco-Restoration of Assi • Vadodara: GIS River • Thane: Digi Thane • Surat: Integrated and Sustainable • Bhubaneswar: ME app Water Supply System

3. Culture 9. Urban Mobility

• Indore: Conservation of Heritage • Aurangabad: Majhi Smart Buses • Chandigarh: Capitol Complex, • Surat: Dynamic Scheduling Buses Heritage Project • Ahmedabad: Man-less parking • Gwalior: Digital Museum system and automatic ticket dispensing machines AMDA Park 4. Urban Environment 10. Innovative Idea Award • Bhopal: Clean energy • Chennai: Restoration of water • Indore: Carbon Credit Financing bodies Mechanism • Tirupati: Renewable Energy • Chandigarh: For Union Territories Generation 11. Covid Innovation Award 5. Sanitation • Kalyan-Dombivali and Varanasi • Tirupati: Bioremediation & Bio- Other Awards in different categories: Mining • Indore: Municipal Waste • Surat, Indore, Ahmedabad, Pune, Management System Vijayawada, Rajkot, • Surat: Conservation through Visakhapatnam, Pimpri- Treated Wastewater Chinchwad, and Vadodara were awarded 4-star rating under 6. Economy Climate-Smart Cities Assessment • Indore: Carbon Credit Financing Framework. Mechanism • According to the ministry, • Tirupati: Boost Local Identity & Ahmedabad bagged the ‘Smart Economy through Design Studio Cities Leadership Award’, followed

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by Varanasi and Ranchi in the About Ahemadabad: second and third spots respectively. • Ahmedabad, in western India, is ------the largest city in the state of Gujarat. • The Sabarmati River runs through its center. • On the western bank is the Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati. • This city has emerged as an important economic and industrial hub in India. • It is the second-largest producer of cotton in India, due to which it was known as the 'Manchester of India' Japanese-style Zen Garden and Kaizen along with Kanpur. Academy: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated a Zen Garden About Gujarat: and Kaizen Academy at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) premises • Gujarat is a state on the western in Ahmedabad, Gujarat recently. coast of India most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Highlights: • The state is bordered by Rajasthan to the northeast, Dadra and Nagar • These two new initiatives are part Haveli and Daman and Diu to the of PM’s vision of creating a ‘Mini- south, Maharashtra to the Japan’ in Gujarat. southeast, Madhya Pradesh to the east, and the Arabian Sea and the Pakistani province of Sindh to the • The newly launched Zen Garden in west. Ahmedabad will showcase several • Its capital city is Gandhinagar. elements of Japanese art, culture, • The Governor and Chief Minister of landscape and architecture. Gujarat are Acharya Devvrat and Vijay Rupani respectively. About: ------• The Zen garden features a statue of Lord Buddha. • The garden is built in partnership with the Japan Information and Study Centre at AMA and Indo- Japan Friendship Association (IJFA), Gujarat, supported by the Hyogo International Association (HIA), Japan.

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atleast one centre is there almost in each state for implementation, monitoring and coordination of its various Schemes and activities. • Some of the bigger states like UP and Maharashtra are having more than one centre due to their geography and higher quantum of work.

National Horticulture Board (NHB): Significance for Madhya Pradesh: Union Minister for Agriculture and • Farmers Welfare, Rural Development, Madhya Pradesh, which is the Panchayati Raj and Food Processing second largest state in the Country, Industries, Narendra Singh Tomar recently is rapidly diversifying into inaugurated the National Horticulture horticulture sector for the last few Board Centre at Gwalior in the state of years. Madhya Pradesh (MP). • It is the third largest producers of vegetables in the country and 5th Highlights: largest producers in Fruits. • Gwalior Division of Madhya • The Government has created an Pradesh is geographically located in Agricultural Infrastructure Fund of Northern part of the State. Gwalior One Lakh Crore. and Chambal divisions correspond • Any farmer can apply online by to the Gird region of Madhya creating his own project to seek Pradesh. help. • With the opening of new Centre of • The government reviews every NHB at Gwalior, farmers from 21 week to provide financial assistance districts of Northern Madhya to the farmers' projects received Pradesh including Grid region of online. Gwalior and Chambal will be • The Government of India will benefited under the Schemes of spend Rs.6,550 crore through FPO National Horticulture Board. (Agricultural Production Organisation). This will About MP: revolutionize the lives of farmers." • Madhya Pradesh (MP) is the second Key Points: largest Indian state by area. • It borders the states of Uttar • NHB is mandated for integrated Pradesh to the northeast, development of hi-tech commercial Chhattisgarh to the southeast, horticulture and post-harvest Maharashtra to the south, Gujarat management/cold chain to the west, and Rajasthan to the infrastructure in the country. northwest. • It is having centers/offices at • Its capital is Bhopal. various locations of the country and

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• The current Chief Minister and • It has been generating electricity up Governor of Madhya Pradesh is to 1,000 MW. Unit two was Shivraj Singh Chouhan and synchronised with electricity grid Anandiben Patel respectively. on August 29, 2016. • Units three & four were ------inaugurated on February 17, 2016. • Now, construction of Unit five & six will start.

Tamil Nadu:

• It is located in the extreme south of the subcontinent. • It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the east and south and by the states of Kerala to the west, Karnataka (formerly Mysore) to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant northwest, and Andhra Pradesh to (KKNPP): Russia has started the the north. construction of fifth nuclear power unit at • Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu on June 29, It was formerly the Madras 2021. Presidency of British India but was renamed Madras (State) after About KKNPP: independence in 1947. Madras (State) was again renamed Tamil • This nuclear power plant is the Nadu in 1968. largest nuclear power of India. • Its Capital is Chennai. • It is located in Kudankulam town in • The Governor and Chief Minister of Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu are Banwarilal Purohit • Construction of the plant which and M. K. Stalin respectively. started on March 31, 2002 faced several delays because of opposition ------from local fishermen. • KKNPP is scheduled to have six VVER-1000 reactors. • All these reactors have been built or is being built in collaboration with Russian state company and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). Reactors have the installed capacity of 6,000 MW of electricity. • Unit one was made operation and synchronised with southern power grid in October 2013.

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• The policy would be in force till March 31, 2024.

How it will be implemented?

• Under the policy, AP government will establish incubation centers and organise hackathons & workshops for startups. • The Government will also establish an IT Emerging Technologies Research University in Visakhapatnam in order to develop State as leading contributor to national talent pool in IT & other emerging technologies.

Key provisions of new IT Policy:

Andhra launches IT policy for 2021-24: • New IT Policy links the incentive The Andhra Pradesh government recently disbursement to realization of came out with the new ‘AP Information committed direct employment Technology Policy 2021-24’ that is expected which ensures transparent & to generate more than 55,000 jobs over the effective utilization of public funds. next three years. • It offers end-to-end support for start-ups like plug & play office Key Details: space, access to investors, & • This new policy was approved by mentors, funds through venture State Cabinet chaired by Chief capitals and private equity firms. Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. State’s Revenue: • This policy is expected to generate more than 55,000 jobs in next three • Andhra Pradesh will earn revenue years. of Rs 783 crore in 10 years in the • It will also create 1.65 lakh indirect form of various taxes through this employment and ensure a holistic policy. ecosystem development. • Direct employment is also expected • For this purpose, a robust and to infuse over Rs 2,200 crore year. holistic business environment • It will thus lead to overall growth of would be created. economy through multiplier effect. • IT, Electronics and Communications Department About Andhra Pradesh (AP): would also be transformed into • Andhra Pradesh (AP) is situated in revenue centre in a bid to achieve the south-eastern part of India. self-sustenance. • It came into existence in its present form in 1956 as a result of the

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demand of the Andhras for a Objective: separate state. The ONORC scheme is aimed at enabling • Capitals are Visakhapatnam migrant workers and their family members (executive capital), Kurnool to buy subsidized ration from any fair price (judicial capital, Amaravati shop anywhere in the country under the (legislative capital). National Food Security Act,2013. • The current Governor and the Chief Minister of Andra Pradesh is • For instance, a migrant worker Biswabhusan Harichandan and Y. S. from Bihar will be able to access Jaganmohan Reddy respectively. PDS benefits in Mumbai, where he or she may have gone in search of

work. • On the other hand, members of his India Policy or her family can still go to their ration dealer back home.

How many States have implemented ONORC?

• Till date, 32 states and Union Territories have joined the ONORC, covering about 69 crore NFSA beneficiaries. • Four states are yet to join the scheme — Assam, Chhattisgarh, ONORC: The Supreme Court recently Delhi and West Bengal. directed all states and Union Territories Incentives for implementation of (UTs) to implement the One Nation, One ONORC to the States: Ration Card (ONORC) system by July 31st, 2021. • To promote ONORC reform in the Public Distribution System(PDS), About ONORC: the Government of India has • One Nation, One Ration Card provided incentives to states. (ONORC) is a government scheme • The Centre had even set the to make sure that no citizen sleeps implementation of ONORC as a hungry. precondition for additional • ONORC was launched in August, borrowing by states during the 2019. Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. • However, the work on the How does ONORC work? portability of ration card had begun as early as April 2018. • ONORC is based on technology • It was rolled out under the National that involves details of Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. beneficiaries’ ration card, Aadhaar

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number, and electronic Points of Development Services scheme and Sale (ePoS). the Public Distribution System. • The system identifies a beneficiary • In addition, it also recognizes through biometric authentication maternity entitlements. on ePos devices at fair price shops. • The system runs with the support of two portals. • They are Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM- PDS) and Annavitran, which host all the relevant data. • When a ration card holder goes to a fair price shop, he or she identifies himself or herself through biometric authentication on ePoS, UDISE+ for 2019-20: The Unified District which is matched real-time with Information System for Education Plus details on the Annavitaran portal. report (UDISE+) for 2019-2020 was recently • Once the ration card details are released by Union minister of education, verified, the dealer hands out the Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. beneficiary’s entitlements. • While the Annavitaran portal UDISE+ report highlighted some maintains a record of intra-state interesting facts, both positive and negative transactions - inter-district and about Indian school education system. intra-district — the IM-PDS portal Key Points of the report: records the inter-state transactions. • As per the report, Gross Enrolment About the National Food Security Act, Ratio at all levels of school 2013 (NFSA 2013): education has improved in 2019-20 • The National Food Security Act compared to 2018-19. 2013 (also 'Right to Food Act') is an • Enrolment of girls from primary to Indian Act of Parliament which higher secondary has increased aims to provide subsidized food substantially by over 14 lakh in grains to approximately two thirds 2019-20 as compared to 2018-19. of the country's 1.2 billion people. • Between 2012-13 and 2019-20, the • It was signed into law on 12 Gender Parity Index at both September 2013, retroactive to 5 Secondary and Higher Secondary July 2013. levels have improved. Enrolment of • The NFSA 2013 converts into legal Divyang students has increased by entitlements for existing food over 6.5 per cent over 2018-19. security programmes of the • The report also shows a remarkable Government of India. improvement in the number of • It includes the Midday Meal schools with functional electricity, Scheme, Integrated Child with functional computers, internet

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facility in 2019-20 over the previous year. • Pupil-Teacher Ratio too has improved at all levels of school education.

Note: Pupil-Teacher Ratio is defined as “the average number of pupils per teacher, teaching at specific level of education in a given school year. Superannuation age of LIC Chairman: The Union Government has recently • In addition, major improvement extended superannuation age of IPO- has been seen in the number of bound LIC Chairman to up to 62 years. schools with hand wash facility. In year 2019-20, more than 90 per cent Key Details: schools in India had hand wash • The superannuation age was facility as compared to around 36 extended by amending Life per cent in 2012-13. Insurance Corporation of India What is UDISE+ report? (Staff) Regulations, 1960. • The changes made in rules are to be • UDISE+, launched in 2018-2019, is called as “Life Insurance the largest Management Corporation of India (Staff) Information Systems on school Amendment Rules, 2021. education. • The retirement age for top • It covers 1.5 million schools, 8.5 executives of majority of PSUs is 60 million teachers and 250 million years except in State Bank of India children. (SBI). • It was launched for speeding up • As per notification, if Central data entry, reducing errors, Government appoints Chairman for improving data quality and easing a term of office extending beyond its verification. 60 years of age, or extends the term • It is an advanced and improved of office to a period beyond 60 version of UDISE which was years, he shall not superannuate till launched in 2012-2013 by such terms are completed or till he integrating DISE for elementary attains age of 62 years, whichever is education & SEMIS for secondary earlier. education. Background

• Central government had approved a nine-month extension to LIC Chairman M R Kumar from June 30, 2021 to March 13, 2022, recently in the backdrop of insurer’s proposed

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initial public offer towards end of create the state-owned Life fiscal year 2021-2022. Insurance Corporation of India. • In her Budget speech this year, • The nationalization of the life Finance Minister Nirmala insurance business in India was a Sitharaman had said that the Initial result of the Industrial Policy Public Offer (IPO) of LIC would be Resolution of 1956, which had floated in 2021-22 as part of the created a policy framework for ambitious Rs 1.75 lakh crore extending state control over at least disinvestment target. 17 sectors of the economy, • The government has already including life insurance. amended the Life Insurance • It is headquartered in Mumbai, Corporation Act, 1956 along with Maharashtra. the Finance Act 2021 to facilitate the public offer. • Under the amendment, government significantly increased authorised capital of LIC to Rs 25,000 crore from Rs 100 crore which will facilitate listing. • Life Insurance Corporation Act, Crop Insurance Awareness Campaign: 1956 mandates, authorized share Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, capital of LIC will be Rs 25,000 Narendra Singh Tomar, recently launched crore divided into 2,500 crore the Crop Insurance Awareness Campaign shares of Rs 10 each. for Fasal Bima Yojana. About LIC of India: Key Details: • Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of • It was launched during Crop India is an Indian government Insurance Week. owned insurance and Investment • The campaign is a part of Corporation. Government’s India@75 campaign • It is under the ownership of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, Ministry of Finance, Government of commemorating 75 years of India’s India (GoI). Independence. • The Parliament of India passed the • Speaking on the occasion, Mr Life Insurance of India Act on 19 Tomar said that the Fasal Bima June 1956 creating the Life Yojana aims to provide security Insurance Corporation of India, cover to each farmer. which started operating in • He announced that the scheme had September of that year. achieved milestone figure of 95 • LIC of India was established on 1 thousand crore of claims paid to September 1956. farmers. • Over 245 insurance companies and • The Agriculture Minister also provident societies were merged to flagged off IEC vans which will

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continue to engage the farmers on • The scheme is being administered the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima by Ministry of Agriculture and is Yojana throughout the crop implemented by empanelled insurance week. general insurance companies. • Furthermore, he also launched • The scheme is compulsory for PMBFY e-brochure, FAQ booklet loanee farmers availing Crop Loan and a guidebook to assist farmers /KCC account for notified crops and on ground coordinators to and voluntary for other others. understand the scheme, its benefits • The Scheme covers all Food & and the process of crop insurance. Oilseeds crops and Annual Commercial/Horticultural Crops Aim: for which past yield data is • This campaign aims to bring stories available and for which requisite of beneficiary farmers through number of Crop Cutting videos and photo stories on social Experiments (CCEs) are being media. conducted under General Crop • Stories of those farmers would be Estimation Survey (GCES). shared who have not only benefited from this scheme but helped entire farming community through their Science and Technology thought-leadership.

About Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):

• The PMFBY is a Crop Indurance Scheme that has successfully completes 5 Years of operations on 13th January 2021. • The PMFBY was launched in 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. • It is an insurance service scheme for farmers for their yields. • It aims to reduce the premium Dragon Man: Researchers from China burden on farmers and ensure early have recently claimed that they have found settlement of crop assurance claim a massive fossilized ancient human skull for the full insured sum. that could belong to an altogether new • It was formulated in line with One species of humans. Nation–One Scheme theme by replacing earlier two schemes The researchers have published their Modified National Agricultural findings in the journal ‘The Innovation’. Insurance Scheme (MNAIS) and One of the UK's leading experts in human National Agricultural Insurance evolution, Prof Chris Stringer from Scheme (NAIS).

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London's Natural History Museum, was As per the Smithsonian National Museum also a member of the research team. of Natural History, there are over 21 human species. These are: Key Details: i. Sahelanthropus tchadensis is The researchers note that the cranium (the believed to be the oldest member of portion that encloses the brain) could be the human family tree. According over 146,000 years old. to the Smithsonian National The skull was found in the Songhua River Museum of Natural History, this in north-east China’s Harbin city. species lived about 7-6 million years ago somewhere around The cranium has been dubbed the present day Chad in Africa. “Dragon Man” or Homo longi, a name Researchers only have cranial that has been derived from the Long Jiang material as evidence that this or Dragon River in the Heilongjiang species existed, from which they province of China where the city of Harbin have deciphered that it had both is located. ape-like and human-like features and was bipedalled, an ability that Some members of the team have suggested may have increased its chances of that it be declared a part of a new species survival. of the genus Homo because of the ii. Orrorin tugenensis lived about distinctive shape of the skull, which was 6.2-5.8 million years ago in Eastern found almost complete. Africa. As per the Smithsonian Nesher Ramla Homo: Museum, this species is the oldest early human on the family tree and Separate news came recently where the members from this species were researchers working in Israel where they approximately the size of a also identified a previously unknown type chimpanzee. of ancient human that lived alongside our iii. Ardipithecus kadabba lived 5.8- species more than 100,000 years ago. 5.2 million years ago, in Eastern Africa. They were bipedalled, and The scientists named the newly discovered are believed to have had a body size lineage the "Nesher Ramla Homo" that similar to that of modern co-existed with Homo sapiens nearly chimpanzees. 100,000 years ago when several species of iv. Ardipithecus ramidus lived about humans co-existed in Asia, Europe and 4.4 million years ago in Eastern Africa. Africa, and was first reported in These include Homo sapiens, the 1994. It is not clear if this species Neanderthals, and the Denisovans. was bipedalled. v. Australopithecus anamensis About Human Species: lived about 4.2-3.8 million years ago. A skull belonging to this Modern humans are the only human species was discovered in Ethiopia species that exist in the world today. in 2016 at a palaeontological site.

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Two studies published in 2019 the arms could mean the longer analysed this skull and determined strides needed during bipedal that it was older than Lucy, the walking. name for another specimen xi. Paranthropus boisei lived about belonging to the species 2.3-1.2 million years ago in Eastern Australopithecus afarensis, which Africa, and were characterised by a was previously thought to be the skull that was specialized for heavy oldest ancestor of modern humans. chewing. The new research also indicated xii. Paranthropus robustus lived that the two species (Lucy and her about 1.8-1.2 million years ago in ancestors) co-existed for at least Southern Africa and were 100,000 years. characterised by their wide, deep- vi. Australopithecus afarensis dished faces. (members from Lucy’s species) xiii. Australopithecus sediba lived existed 3.85-2.95 million years ago about 1.9 million years ago in in Africa. Paleontologists have Southern Africa. Members of this discovered remains from over 300 species had facial features similar to individuals belonging to this the later specimens of Homo. species over the years. xiv. Homo habilis lived about 2.4-1.4 vii. Kenyanthropus platyops lived million years ago in Eastern and about 3.5 million years ago in Southern Africa, and is one of the Kenya. The Smithsonian Museum earliest members of the genus notes that the species inhabited Homo. Members of this species still Africa at the same time as Lucy’s retained some of the ape-like species did, which could mean that features, however. there is a closer branch to modern xv. Homo erectus lived about 1.89 humans than Lucy’s on the million-110,000 years ago, in evolutionary tree. Northern, Eastern, and Southern viii. Australopithecus africanus lived Africa and Western and East Asia. about 3.3-2.1 million years ago in ‘Turkana Boy’ is the most complete Southern Africa. This species had a fossil belonging to this species and combination of human and ape-like is dated to be around 1.6 million features. years old. ix. Paranthropus aethiopicus lived xvi. Homo floresiensis lived around about 2.7-2.3 million years ago in 100,000-50,000 years ago, in Asia. Eastern Africa and members of this One of the most recently species are defined by their strongly discovered early human species has protruding face, large teeth, and a been nicknamed the “Hobbit”. powerful jaw. Specimens have so far only been x. Australopithecus garhi lived found on an Indonesian island. about 2.5 million years ago in xvii. Homo heidelbergensis lived Eastern Africa, and is characterised about 700,000-200,000 years ago in by their long, powerful arms. The Europe, some parts of Asia and Smithsonian museum notes that Africa. As per the Smithsonian

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museum, this was the first early NASA’s Lucy, NEA Scout, and human species to live in colder DART. climes. • These are the world's first missions xviii. Neanderthals (Homo to test an asteroid deflection neanderthalensis) are believed to technique and much more. be the closest extinct human relatives and lived about 400,000- Background: 40,000 years ago in Europe and • On December 2016 the United southwestern to central Asia. Nations General Assembly adopted xix. Homo sapiens, the species to resolution A/RES/71/90 and which all existing humans belong, declared June 30 as International evolved in Africa nearly 300,000 Asteroid Day. years ago as a result of some • The day marks the anniversary of dramatic climate change events. Earth's most massive asteroid ------impact in history, the 1908 Tunguska event. • Note: On June 30th, 1908, a mysterious cosmic impact occurred in Siberia. Tunguska explosion was the most harmful recorded asteroid-related event on Earth as it damaged local plants and animals. • The decision by UNGA was made on the basis of a proposal made by the Association of Space Explorers, International Asteroid Day 2021: which was endorsed by the International Asteroid Day or Asteroid Day Committee on the Peaceful Uses of is observed on 30th June every year across Outer Space (COPUOS). the globe. • Asteroid Day was co-founded by Highlights: Stephen Hawking, filmmaker Grigorij Richters, B612 Foundation • The Day aims to raise public President, Danica Remy, Apollo 9 awareness about the asteroid astronaut Rusty Schweickart and impact hazard and to inform the Brian May, Queen guitarist and public about the crisis astrophysicist. communication actions to be taken at the global level in case of a Significance of International Asteroid credible near-Earth object threat. Day: • This year Asteroid Day celebrates • United Nations officially decided the 25th launch anniversary of this day for global awareness about NASA's NEAR-Shoemaker the opportunities and challenges spacecraft, and the 2021 launch of that asteroids present. three new asteroid missions,

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• It also tells about the devastating 2. S-type (stony) – This impact an asteroid has when it asteroid consists of silicate crashes to Earth. rocks and nickel-iron. • It also highlights the importance of 3. M-type (metallic) – Nickel- discovering the objects that pose a iron composes these threat to our planet and make asteroids. people aware of what to do if such a Impact of Asteroid collision: situation arises. • The impact of asteroid collision What are Asteroids? with Earth would be very • Asteroids are the small rocky body disastrous. that orbits around the sun • The collision would cause consisting of rock, metals, and environmental impacts, such as other elements. shock waves, heat radiation, • They are rocky, airless remnants earthquakes, and tsunamis. left over from the early formation of • The currently known asteroid count our solar system about 4.6 billion is 958,915. years ago. ------• They are sometimes called minor ------planets. • Asteroids range in size from Vesta – the largest at about 329 miles (530 kilometers) in diameter – to bodies that are less than 33 feet (10 meters) across. • The total mass of all the asteroids combined is less than that of Earth's Moon. • Some asteroids even have a

companion moon. • Most of this ancient space rubble Louisiana Delta System: NASA Scientists can be found orbiting the Sun and scientists from other universities from between Mars and Jupiter within Boston to California decided to create the main asteroid belt. computer models to protect the delta • Scientists refer to this area as the system. asteroid belt. There are three Key Points: classes of asteroids. They are as follows: ❖ NASA is using high-tech airborne 1. C-type (chondrite) – This systems comprising of boats and most common type of mud-slogging work on islands at asteroid consists of clay and the cost of $15 million. silicate rocks. ❖ They are aiming to create computer models which can be used with

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satellite data to learn which parts of ❖ It flows generally south for 2,320 their dwindling deltas can be miles to form Mississippi River shored up and which deltas are past Delta in Gulf of Mexico. hope. Mississippi’s watershed drains ❖ Scientists felt the need to create about 32 U.S. states and two computer models because in the Canadian provinces. backdrop of erosion, sinking land ❖ Main stem of the river is entirely and sea rise due to climate change within United States. have killed Louisiana woods near ❖ It is the fourteenth-largest river by the Mississippi River delta system. discharge worldwide. ❖ NASA is using high-tech airborne systems comprising of boats and ------mud-slogging work on islands at the cost of $15 million.

About Louisiana:

❖ It is a state in south-central regions of United States. ❖ It is 19th-smallest by area and 25th most populous among 50 U.S.

states. ❖ It shares its border with state of Triboelectric Nanogenerator(TENG): A Texas in west, Arkansas in north, team of Indian scientists have developed a Mississippi in east, and Gulf of transparent Triboelectric Mexico in south. Nanogenerator(TENG) device. ❖ Its eastern boundary is demarcated Highlights: by Mississippi River. ❖ It is the only state in U.S. with ❖ Dr Shankar Rao and his team from political subdivisions termed the Centre for Nano and Soft parishes. Matter Sciences, Bengaluru, an ❖ It, along with Alaska, are two U.S. autonomous institute under the states which are not subdivided department of science and into counties. technology, Government of India ❖ Baton Rouge is its capital while (GoI), have designed the TENG. New Orleans is its largest city. ❖ The results were published in the Journal of Nanoscience and About Mississippi River: Nanotechnology. ❖ It is the second-longest river in About Triboelectric North American continent after the Nanogenerator(TENG): Hudson Bay drainage system. ❖ Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota ❖ TENG was developed using is the source of river. thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) either in the form of electrospun

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nanofibers or as a flat film using the devices and other biomedical simpler doctor’s blade technique, applications. along with polyethylene Note: Optoelectronics is the field of terephthalate (PET) as tribo layers. technology concerned with electronic Note: Doctor’s blade technique is one device application to the sourcing, of the widely used techniques for detection and control of light. producing thin films on large area ❖ This technique is cost effective surfaces. compared to currently available ❖ TENG is a self-powered device that fabrication techniques being easily makes use of mechanical energy in available, and owing to the the form of vibrations present simplicity of the procedure. everywhere in different forms to ❖ The resulting device is also highly generate electricity. efficient, robust, and gives ❖ It is capable of generating reproducible output over long electricity from vibrations all hours of operation. around for use in optoelectronics, self-powered devices, and other ------biomedical applications ❖ TENG uses mechanical energy in the form of vibrations present everywhere in different forms to generate electricity. ❖ It works on the principle of creation of electrostatic charges via instantaneous physical contact of two dissimilar materials followed by generation of potential difference when a mismatch is introduced between the two contacted surfaces through a mechanical force. Icius Tukarami: A group of scientists ❖ This mechanism drives the recently discovered two new species of electrons to move back and forth jumping spiders from the Thane-Kalyan between the conducting films region. coated on the back of the tribo layers. Key Points:

Significance: • One of the newly discovered spider specie has been named Icius ❖ The device could light up 11 LEDs Tukarami after assistant sub- by gentle hand tapping and could inspector Tukaram Omble who laid be a potential candidate for use in down his life to help capture optoelectronics, self-powered

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terrorist Ajmal Kasab during the ------26/11 terror attacks. ------• The second new species of jumping

spider is Phintella cholkei in the memory of a friend Kamlesh Cholke. • The paper citing the discovery of the new species was published in

the Russian science journal Anthropoda Selecta. • It was published by researchers Dhruv A. Prajapati, John Caleb, Somnath B. Kumbhar and Rajesh

Sanap.

About Tukaram Omble:

• Tukaram Omble was a Mumbai police officer and army soldier, who served as assistant sub-inspector

(ASI) of the Mumbai Police. Sports • He was martyred in action while fighting terrorists during the 2008 Mumbai attacks at Girgaum SPORTS: Chowpatty Mumbai. • He played an instrumental role in apprehending Ajmal Kasab alive, the lone surviving terrorist who was later convicted and hanged. • The martyred police officer was posthumously honoured by the Indian government with the Ashoka Chakra on January 26, 2009. Archery World Cup: Olympic-bound Note:The Ashoka Chakra is the nation's archer Deepika Kumari helped India claim highest peace-time gallantry award for three recurve gold medals in the Archery extraordinary bravery and valour in the World Cup Stage-3 here on 27 June 2021. line of duty. Highlights: • Former Mumbai police • Deepika blanked Russia's Elena commissioner Rakesh Maria wrote Osipova 6-0 in the final of the in his memoir that Omble's actions women's individual recurve event that led to Kasab's capture were key to complete a hat-trick of gold to foiling Lashkar-e-Taiba's plans. medals in one day.

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• The Indian women's recurve team of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and Komalika Bari notched up the gold medal with a comfortable win over Mexico. • This was their second successive gold medal in the World Cup this year, and sixth overall (Shanghai- 2011, Medellin-2013, Wroclaw-2013, Wroclaw-2014, Guatemala City- 2o21). • Deepika then combined with her Abhishek Verma: Star Indian archer husband Atanu Das to bag the Abhishek Verma created history by mixed team crown. becoming the first man to win two World • The Indian couple fought back to Cup gold medals in individual compound beat the Dutch duo of Gabriela archery. Schloesser and Sjef van der Berg, the winner of the previous World • He won his first individual World Cup in Laussane, 5-3 in the summit Cup gold at the Archery World Cup clash. Stage three in Paris on June 26, 2021. Additional Info: • He beat USA’s Kris Schaff in a shoot-off to win the gold medal. After securing a hat-trick of gold medals at the Archery World Cup stage 3 in Paris, • He had previously won gold at the Deepika Kumari has become the top- individual event in Wroclaw in 2015 ranked archer among women when the and also a silver in 2018. new rankings are announced. • He also has won two medals at World Cup Finals, a silver in 2015 About Deepika Kumari: and bronze in 2018.

Deepika Kumari Mahato is an Indian athlete who competes in the event of archery and is currently ranked World No. 1.

She won a gold medal in the 2010 Commonwealth games in the women's individual recurve event and also a gold medal in the women's team recurve event.

She also won a record 3 gold medals at the Styrian Grand Prix: Red Bull's Max 2021 Paris World Cup. Verstappen won the Styrian Grand Prix by She was conferred the Arjuna Award in a massive margin on Sunday (Jun 27) to 2012 and Padma Shri in 2016. take an ominous 18 point lead over Lewis

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Hamilton in the Formula One final bend and into the home stretch to championship battle after eight races. power home.

Highlights: She beat Rio Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad's previous mark of 52.16. • Verstappen led from start to finish at Austria's Red Bull Ring, with seven-times world champion Hamilton second for Mercedes. • The Briton was 35.743 seconds behind at the chequered flag after a late stop for fresh tyres to bag a bonus point for fastest lap. • It was the first time since 2013 that mighty Mercedes, champions for the past seven years, had gone four Abhimanyu Mishra: Indian-American races in a row without a win and prodigy Abhimanyu Mishra has recently the first time since then that Red become the youngest-ever chess Bull had celebrated four successive Grandmaster after scoring his third GM victories. norm in Budapest, Hungary. • Valtteri Bottas was third for Highlights: Mercedes, just holding off • The 12-year-old hails from New Verstappen's Mexican team mate Jersey, USA became a GM from Sergio Perez who had fresher tyres International Master, by crossing after making a second stop in a bid the required 2500 Elo rating barrier, as per chess.com. for fastest lap. • At 12 years, four months and 25 days, He broke GM Sergey Karjakin’s record which was there for 19 years. • On August 12, 2002, Karjakin, • became Grandmaster at 12 years and seven months. • Born on February 5, 2009, in New Jersey, Mishra was taught the moves of chess when he was still a toddler. • By the time he was 10 years and Sydney McLaughlin: Sydney McLaughlin nine months, he was the youngest broke the women's 400 metres hurdles International Master (IM) in chess world record with a time of 51.90 seconds history. in the final of the U.S. Olympic athletics • Until then Indian GM R. Praggnanandhaa held the trials recently. distinction of being the youngest IM ever at 10 years and 10 The 21-year-old booked her spot at the months. Tokyo Games, seized the lead around the • Praggnanandhaa had also

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narrowly missed becoming the recognized member of Olympic youngest GM in history, when he family of sport. won his third norm in June 2018, at the age of 12 years 10 months. • The full recognition of WAKO • The following year another Indian will be finally decided by the GM, Gukesh D. missed becoming IOC Session in Tokyo in July the youngest ever GM by 17 days. 2021.

Importance of this recognition:

• To be fully included and accepted in the Olympic movement is important for the recognition and development of WAKO India Kickboxing the sport of kickboxing. Federation: The Ministry of Youth • With government recognition of affairs & Sports has decided to grant WAKO India Kickboxing recognition to WAKO India Kickboxing Federation as NSF, the sport of Federation as National Sports kickboxing will develop at a Federation (NSF) to promote and faster pace in India. develop sport in India. About Kickboxing: Key Details: • Kickboxing is a group of stand- • WAKO India Kickboxing up combat sports based on Federation is affiliated to World kicking and punching. Association of Kickboxing • It was historically developed Organizations (WAKO) which is from karate mixed with boxing. a world body for kickboxing. • Kickboxing is practiced for self- • Since November 30, 2020, defence, general fitness, or as a WAKO has been a provisionally contact sport. recognized member of • Japanese kickboxing originated International Olympic in the late 1950s, with Committee (IOC). competitions held since then. • Recommendation to approve • American kickboxing originated WAKO as fully recognised in the 1970s and was brought to member of Olympic family was prominence in September 1974, taken by IOC in June 2020. when the Professional Karate • International Olympic Association (PKA) held the first Committee (IOC) Executive World Championships. Board has approved • Historically, kickboxing can be recommendation for WAKO on considered a hybrid martial art June 10, 2021 to become a fully formed from the combination

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of elements of various About IAKO: traditional styles. o Indian Association of Kickboxing Governing Bodies: Kickboxing Organizations (IAKO) is the national There is no single international federation of kickboxing in governing body. India. International governing bodies include o It was established in 1993 to the following: control and promote kickboxing activities in India. o World Association of Kickboxing o It promotes amateur kickboxing Organizations (also known as and professional kickboxing WAKO), across the states, union o World Kickboxing Association, territories and special armed o International Sport Karate force. Association, o IAKO is the first martial arts o International Kickboxing federation which has been Federation, and recognized by School Games o World Kickboxing Network, Federation of India. among others. ------About WAKO: ------o World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) is an international organization of kickboxing. o It certifies the governing body of amateur kickboxing to develop support & govern amateur level and hold world championship events. o It sanctions the champions of kickboxing. Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal striker o WAKO is the only organization Cristiano Ronaldo has become the across the world which is joint-top scoring men’s international recognized by GAISF (Global player of all time. Association of Sports Highlights: Federations) and IOC (International Olympic He achieved the feat in Portugal's Euro Committee). 2020 game against France on Wednesday

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(local time) here at the Puskas Arena in • She scored 591 out of a Budapest. maximum of 600 in the qualifying stage. He is currently tied with Iran legend Ali Daei, who scored 109 times in 149 • France’s Mathilde Lamolle won a matches between 1993 and 2006. silver medal in the final. • Russian Vitalina Batsarashkina Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties won the bronze medal. Indian to tie the overall men’s scoring record shooter Manu Bhaker finished at with 109 goals in 176 matches and 7 positions. Portugal advanced to the round of 16 at • This is the last competition the European Championship after a 2-2 before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. draw with France. ------

ISSF World Cup Shooting: Asian Shafali Verma: Opener Shafali Verma Games champion and Tokyo Olympics- has become the youngest Indian bound Rahi Sarnobat recently won cricketer to make a debut in all Gold at ISSF World Cup shooting. formats, when India took on England in The ISSF World Cup 2021 is being held the first ODI in Bristol. in Osijek, Croatia. Highlights:

Highlights: • She took 17 years and 150 days to • India’s Rahi Sarnobat clinched make her debut in all formats. the gold medal in the women’s • She has become the fifth- 25m pistol event at the ISSF youngest cricketer overall in the shooting World Cup. list of all format debuts. • She is the first Indian to win one • The list topped by Afghanistan’s silver and two bronze medals in Mujeeb Ur Rahman at 17 years the ongoing tournament. and 78 days is the youngest player to play all formats.

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• He is followed by former England wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor. • Australia’s Elysse Perry is third on the list, followed by Mohammad Amir.

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