RPF Launches “Operation Number Plate” across Indian Railways

NATIONAL NEWS

Centre launches Swachh Nagar app for waste collection

• An app that will allow users to have waste — solid, wet or construction and demolition (C&D) — collected by their urban local bodies was launched by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, along with a new protocol on wastewater treatment that would become a part of cleanliness rankings of cities.

FACTS

Ministry of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs- Hardeep Singh Puri.

Naval Air Enclave & CIAL inks MoU for air operations

• Naval Air Enclave (NAE), Kochi signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) in a formal function held at CIAL. The agreement was signed by Captain Satish Kumar S, Officer-in-Charge, NAE and Shri ACK Nair, Airport Director CIAL.
• The MoU was aimed with the commencement of naval air operations from the NAE, a naval aviation facility at CIAL in Nedumbassery. The MoU sets the standard operating procedures for CIAL and the Indian Navy. It also ensures safe, secure and uninterrupted military air operations.

RPF Launches “Operation Number Plate” across Indian Railways

• Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Indian Railways launched a Special Drive with a Code Name – Operation “Number Plate” to identify and verify all vehicles parked in Railway premises, circulating area, parkings and even in the ‘No Parking’ areas for longer duration.
• The unidentified vehicles are considered as a serious threat to security and safety of passengers and other stake holders of railways. 
• It has been conducted specifically in view of forthcoming celebrations of Independence Day on 15th August 2019.

Budget scheme for liquidity support to NBFCs rolls out

• India has operationalised a partial guarantee scheme announced in the budget for non-banking and housing finance companies (NBFCs and HFCs), which will allow state-run banks (PSBs) to purchase their assets.
• It is aimed at providing liquidity support to avoid distress sale of assets in a sector facing a shortage of cash due to asset-liability mismatch.
• The stress on NBFCs and HFCs is seen as a key reason for a slowdown in the economy, as it has caused reduced credit flow to small businesses and consumers.

AWARDS

Rajasthan bags award at World Education Summit

• Rajasthan has bagged the “best innovation and initiative leadership award” for its achievements in higher education in the World Education Summit-2019 held in New Delhi.

FACTS

Chief Minister of Rajasthan-Ashok Gehlot

Governor of Rajasthan- Kalyan Singh

Capital of Rajasthan-Jaipur.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to get Vir Chakra on Independence Day

• Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Indian Air Force will be conferred Vir Chakra on Independence Day.
• Abhinandan Varthaman became the face of the military confrontation between India and Pakistan in February this year.
• The IAF foiled the Pakistani retaliation, and in the dogfight, Abhinandan Varthaman downed an F-16 fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force, showing grit, determination and bravery.

MERGER

Ola acqui-hires Pikup.ai; aims to develop deep tech solutions for mobility

• Ride hailing company Ola acqui-hired Pikup.ai, an artificial intelligence (AI) startup based out of Bangalore. Co-founded by Inder Singh and Ritwik Saikia, Pikup.ai uses autonomous technologies like AI, computer vision and sensor fusion to provides seamless AI-powered solutions for businesses.
• As part of the deal, the team at pikup.ai will join Ola.

APPOINTMENTS

PT Usha becomes Asian Athletics Association's Athletes Commission member

• Legendary Indian sprinter PT Usha has been made a member of the Athletes Commission of the Asian Athletics Association in recognition of her stellar achievements at the continental stage.

• The 55-year-old Usha, who was the leading sprinter of her time in Asia, will be one of the six members of the AAA Athletes Commission, to be headed by 1992 Olympics gold medallist hammer thrower Andrey Abduvaliyev of Uzbekistan.

Dutch Hero Wesley Sneijder Announces Retirement from Football

• The Netherlands' most-capped player Wesley Sneijder announced on Monday his retirement from football, bringing down the curtain on a trophy-laden career that spanned 17 years.

OBITUARY

Argentina World Cup winner José Luis Brown dies at 62

• Football player José Luis Brown, who scored Argentina's opening goal in their win against West Germany in the 1986 World Cup final, has died at 62.
• Brown had been battling Alzheimer's disease.

SPORTS

Women's T20 cricket included at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

• In a historic move, the International Cricket Council and Commonwealth Games Federation confirmed the inclusion of women's T20 cricket t the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
• As many as 8 international teams will compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games after a joint bid by the ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). All matches will be played at the Edgbaston cricket ground.

FACTS

ICC Chairman-Shashank Manohar

Headquarters-Dubai, UAE