NATIONAL NEWS

India’s First All Women-Run Cooperative Bank

• The first all-women-run financial institution in the cooperative sector will be organized in Rajasthan following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that has been signed with the Telangana government’s Stree Nidhi Credit Cooperative Federation.

• The new body will promote women’s empowerment by supporting their enterprises.

• It will strengthen the women’s self-help groups in the State by extending timely loan facilities for their enterprises.

• The institution will be operated entirely by women and will act as a complementary body to the formal banking system.

First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant

• On 28 July 2022, India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant handed over to Indian Navy which was built by the Cochin Shipyard.

• The Commanding Officer Designate of Vikrant, Commodore Vidyadhar Harke and the Chairman and Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard Madhu S Nair signed the documents relating to the delivery of the vessel.

• The name of India's first Aircraft Carrier was also INS Vikrant which played a vital role in the 1971 war.

• INS Vikrant plays an important role towards enhancing maritime security.

First State to Launch Semiconductor Policy

• Gujarat Government has become the first state in the country to launch semiconductor policy named ‘Gujarat Semiconductor policy for 2022-2027’.

• The policy will facilitate effective and timely execution of the eligible projects for setting up a robust semiconductor and display fabrication ecosystem.

• The policy aims to generate about two lakh jobs in the next five years.

• It also proposes to develop a ‘Semicon city’ that will be developed in the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), for a dedicated manufacturing hub of semiconductors and display fab sector.
• Eligible projects will get a 75 per cent subsidy on procurement of first 200 acres of land in the SIR, while additional land for upstream or downstream projects will get a 50 per cent subsidy on land cost.

Cabinet Approves MoU Between NIRD & PR and UoR

• The Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) and University of Reading (UoR), United Kingdom (UK).

• They have collaborated in the field of agriculture and rural development in developing countries. The MoU was signed in March 2022.

• This MoU will help NIRDPR faculty in acquiring and widening their knowledge, and develop an international professional network in agriculture, nutrition and rural development.

• NIRDPR has been involved with University of Reading in various research activities in the field of rural development like improvement of nutrition assessment by measuring energy expenditure, use of sensor-based devices in agricultural livelihoods research in low- and middle-income countries.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

MoU Signed by ANC and AAI

• An MoU was signed by Andaman Nicobar Command and Airport Authority of India in Port Blair to boost inter-island connectivity under Udaan Scheme.

• As per the MoU, naval airfields at Shibpur (in Diglipur) in North Andaman and in Campbell Bay will be utilized for civil operations.

• This would pave the way for infrastructure development and passenger terminals on these remote islands.

• This will also boost tourism growth in the islands.

BANKING

Piramal Enterprises to Start NBFC Business

• Piramal Enterprises Ltd (PEL) has received licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to launch a non-banking finance company (NBFC).
• The Reserve Bank of India under Section 45 IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 has granted Certificate of Registration to the Company to commence the business of nonbanking financial institution without accepting public deposits.
• NBFCs are entities that provide bank-like financial services but don’t hold a banking license and are unregulated.

JICA And Government of India

• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed a loan agreement with the Government of India (GoI) to provide an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of 100,000 million Japanese Yen (INR 6,000 Crore) on the ‘Project for the Construction of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR)’.
• The agreement is to develop a high-frequency mass transportation system by constructing the High-Speed Rail between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, using Japan’s Shinkansen technology (also known as the “Bullet Train”).
• It will enhance mobility in India and contribute to regional economic development.
• National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) is the Executing Agency of the Project.
• JICA has been supporting the project for the Mumbai – Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail by providing ODA loans.

HDFC Securities Partners with Equitas SFB

• HDFC Bank subsidiary and stock broking company, HDFC Securities Ltd has partnered with small finance bank Equitas to provide Demat accounts and broking and investment services to its customers.

• With this partnership, Equitas SFB will be able to offer its customers a 3-in-1 account that helps them access the services of HDFC Securities.

• HDFC Securities will oversee the entire journey for Equitas’ customers from account opening to regular share transactions
• The tie-up will provide customers of Equitas with additional investment avenues, enabling them with more choices and allocating their savings across asset classes.

SPORTS

ODI Team Ranking

• India maintained third position in the latest men’s ODI Team Rankings.

• Following India's series victory over West Indies, the team has managed to maintain a 3rd place spot in the latest men's ODI team rankings.

• New Zealand is placed at the top of the team ODI rankings with a rating of 128 while England (119) remains in second place.

• Pakistan stays in the fourth place.

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

World Airport Traffic Dataset 2021

• The annual World Airport Traffic Dataset from the Airports Council International (ACI) World released the top 20 aviation sectors’ worldwide air traffic rankings for the entire year 2021.
• It gives an overview of the demand for air travel at airports throughout the globe in three categories: passengers (domestic and international), air cargo (freight and mail) and aircraft movements (air transport movements and general aviation).
• Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi was ranked the 13th busiest airport. 3.7 crore passengers passed through IGIA in 2021.
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) was in first place with 7.6 crore passengers.

AWARDS & PRIZES

‘Dinesh Shahra Lifetime Award’

• Dinesh Shahra Foundation (DSF) has instituted a first-of-its kind 'Dinesh Shahra Lifetime Award' for Excellence in Music.

• The initiative is supported by the Indian Arts and Cultural Society.

• Dinesh Shahra Foundation (DSF) has taken a major stride in its efforts to promote soulful Indian music among the masses.

• Apart from a trophy or memento, the recognition will also include a significant cash component.
• Dinesh Shahra’s book ‘Sanatan Leela’ was also launched during the event.
• DSF is committed to promote various aspects of Indian or Sanatan culture.

SHG Linkage Award by NABARD

• Indian Bank has bagged the best performing bank award in Tamil Nadu for the FY 2021-22 under the Self-Help Group (SHG) Bank Linkage Programme category from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

• The award was presented during the 41st foundation day of NABARD.

• The award was received by Mr. S L Jain (MD & CEO) and Mr. V Chandrasekaran, general manager (Rural Banking) during NABARD’s 41st foundation day.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Nature Conservation Day

• World Nature Conservation Day is celebrated every year on 28 July.

• It is observed to raise awareness about protecting nature and conserving natural resources to save the earth from the dangers of adverse impacts of climate change.

• It acknowledges that a healthy environment is a foundation for a stable and healthy society.
• The theme for the year 2022 is ‘Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature’.
• The Earth is currently facing several challenges such as climate change, loss of habitat for wildlife, deforestation, etc.
• Saving plants and animals that are threatened with extinction is one of the primary focuses of World Nature Conservation Day.

World Hepatitis Day

• World Hepatitis Day is celebrated every year on 28 July.

• Hepatitis is essentially a disease of the liver and it has five primary types A, B, C, D or E. It causes inflammation of the liver.

• The day is observed to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, which causes inflammation of the liver that leads to severe diseases and liver cancer.
• The theme for the year 2022 is ‘Bringing hepatitis care closer to you’.
• The first World Hepatitis Day was observed in 2008.

International Tiger Day

• International Tiger Day is celebrated every year on 29 July.

• The objective of the day is to raise awareness among individuals, organisations and governments about the importance of the conservation of tigers.
• International Tiger Day was introduced in 2010 after it was discovered that 97 percent of tigers had disappeared in the past century.
• The theme for the year 2022 is ‘India launches Project Tiger to revive the tiger population’.
• Tiger Day is observed by many international organisations, including the World -Wide Fund for Nature, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Smithsonian Institution.