NATIOANL NEWS

NTPC Ties up with Indian Oil

• NTPC and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd signed an agreement for the formation of a joint venture (JV) company for meeting the power requirements of upcoming projects of Indian Oil refineries.

• Indian Oil plans to meet the additional power requirement of its refineries using round-the-clock renewable energy to the tune of 650MW by December 2024 through this JV.

• NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC, will form the JV Company for supply of RE-RTC power to Indian Oil.

• NGEL will be an umbrella company for consolidating NTPC’s total renewable energy businesses.

NAMASTE scheme

• Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore announced that the Government has formulated a National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme for cleaning of sewers and septic tank.

• The scheme is a joint venture of Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

• It aims to achieve zero fatalities in sanitation work in India, no sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter and all Sewer and Septic tank sanitation workers have access to alternative livelihoods.

• This scheme will be rolled out from 16 August 2022 across the 500 cities in India.

'Mobile Electric Charging’ App and ‘Phy-gital’

• Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Narayan Rane launched ‘Repos Pay – a 'Mobile Electric Charging' platform and ‘Phy-gital’ - a Fintech Platform at ‘Fuelling India 2022’ event in Mumbai.

• ‘Repos Pay’ is a platform where one can order a Mobile Electric Charging Vehicle on app and charge their vehicles. Repos Pay is an innovative financial platform that offers new ways for citizens to get involved in delivering clean energy to doorsteps.
• ‘Phy-gital’ is a Fintech Platform that will bring credit to fuel consumers (Buy Now Pay Later) through Technology. The energy fintech platform will facilitate fuel on credit solution for bulk consumers.

UIDAI Launched ‘AadhaarFaceRd’

• A new smartphone app named “AadhaarFaceRd” was launched by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It contains a facial authentication function.

• Aadhaar card users are no longer required to physically attend an enrollment center to get their iris and fingerprints scanned for authentication.

• The UIDAI has begun employing facial authentication to verify an Aadhaar holder’s identity.
• Downloading the UIDAI RDApp, which can be used for different Aadhaar Authentication Apps including Jeevan Praman, PDS, Scholarship programs, COWIN, and Farmer Welfare schemes, allows residents to access the Aadhaar Face Authentication function.
• Technology for Aadhaar Face Authentication was created internally by UIDAI.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

BGB-BSF Director General Level Border Conference

• The first day of the 52nd BGB-BSF Director General level Border conference was organized in Bangladesh.

• The Indian delegationwas led by DG, BSF Pankaj Singh, who arrived in Dhaka, Bankgladesh.

• During the conference, there was discussion about joint initiatives to implement the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) as well as information exchange on various armed groups, extremist groups, and terrorist organisations.
• A variety of topics including border management, drug trafficking, smuggling of weapons and ammunition, trafficking in women and children and other development initiatives within 150 yards of the international boundary were also discussed.

BANKING

India’s First Nifty 50 ETF Fund of Fund

• Quantum Mutual Fund launches Quantum Nifty 50 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF Fund), an open-ended Fund of Fund (FoF) scheme that invests in the units of Quantum Nifty 50 ETF.

• Quantum Nifty 50 ETF FOF is India’s first-of-its-kind Nifty 50 ETF Fund of Fund.

• The new fund offer opens on 18 July 2022 and closes on 01 August 2022.
• The scheme will re-open for subscription and redemption on an ongoing basis from 10 August 2022.
• Hitendra Parekh has been the fund manager since its inception on 10 July 2008.
• Quantum Nifty 50 ETF FoF will have an expense ratio of about 15 basis points for a direct plan and about 27 basis points for a regular plan.

ADB Signs Agreement with Singapore

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote greater investment in the Asia and Pacific region.

• It also recognizes the importance of private sector finance as well as catalyzing public sector resources for sustainable and inclusive development.
• Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mr. Lawrence Wong and ADB President Mr. Masatsugu Asakawa signed the agreement on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
• Through this MOU, ADB and Singapore would cooperate to support private sector development projects that contribute to the region’s infrastructure, financial and social needs and help countries achieve their Sustainable Development Goal commitments.

SPORTS

Ben Stokes Announces Retirement from ODI Cricket

• England cricketer, veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes has revealed that he will retire from One Day International (ODI) cricket on 18 July 2022.
• He will play his last ODI for England on 19 July 2022 against South Africa.
• He was named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World in 2019 and 2020.
• Stokes, who is England’s Test Captain has scored 2919 runs in 104 ODIs and taken 74 wickets.

FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2022

• In the 15th edition of the FIH Women’s Hockey world cup, the Netherlands clinched their ninth title by defeating Argentina 3-1 in the final.

• Australia won the 3rd place by defeating Germany to claim their first World Cup Medal.

• India finished at 9th place in the match.

41st Villa De Benasque International Chess Open

• Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram has emerged winner in the 41st Villa De Benasque International Chess Open in Spain.
• He defeated Armenia’s Robert Hovhannisyan and compatriot Raunak Sadhwani on the basis of a tie-break score.
• He remained unbeaten through the 10 rounds, scoring six wins to go with four draws.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Mother Teresa Memorial Award

• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) National Goodwill Ambassador Ms Dia Mirza and Environmental Activist Mr Afroz Shah were honoured with the Mother Teresa Memorial Awards for Social Justice 2021.

• The award is given by the Governor of Maharashtra Hon. Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai.

• Both were awarded for their commendable and notable achievements in Environmental Sustainability.
• Dia Mirza was recognized for her amazing and noteworthy contributions to steering important environmental initiatives throughout India.
• Afroz Shah received recognition for his outstanding and pioneering efforts to steer one of the biggest beach clean-up projects in the world in India.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Nelson Mandela International Day

• Nelson Mandela International Day, also known as Mandela Day, is observed every year on 18 July.

• It is observed to mark the birth anniversary of the former South African president.
• This day was first celebrated on 18 July 2010, after the United Nations in November 2009 officially declared Nelson Mandela International Day.
• In 2014, the UN General Assembly introduced the Nelson Mandela Prize, an award recognizing the achievements of those who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity.

OBITUTARY

Renowned Artist Achuthan Kudallur

• Noted artist Achuthan Kudallur passed away in Chennai. He was at the age of 77.

• His journey as an artist began in Kudallur in Palakkad district in Kerala, where he was born in 1945.

• He is a recipient of several awards including the National Academy Award and Tamil Nadu Lalit Kala Akademi Award.
• A civil engineer by training, He was a self-taught abstract artist and a highly respected name in contemporary art circles of South India.
• He also joined the Madras Arts Club at the Fine Arts College.