National News

Indian Army Inducts First Indigenous Chip-Based 4G Base Station

• The Indian Army has inducted the first-ever indigenous chip-based 4G mobile base station, procured from Bangalore-based firm Signaltron.
• The base station, Sahyadri LTE, uses India’s first chips for 4G and 5G networks developed by Signalchip.
• Signaltron, founded by HimamshuKhasnis in 2010, developed the entire system indigenously.
• Using indigenous chips enhances the security of the system during operation.
• Signaltron won the competitive bid on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for the supply of 4G LTE Network In a Box (NIB) solution.
• Sahyadri NIB systems, weighing just 7 kgs, provide high-quality secure wireless communication for audio, video, and data applications.
• The Sahyadri NIB operates in both standalone and cellular modes and can seamlessly interoperate with legacy analogue and IP telephony systems.

India and France Launch InFLiMeN for Liver and Metabolic Diseases

On July 5, 2024, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), launched the Indo-French Liver and Metabolic Diseases Network (InFLiMeN) at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi, Delhi.

• This initiative addresses the rising prevalence of fatty liver disease in India and aims to prevent and cure metabolic liver disorders.
• It also highlights a significant bilateral collaboration between India and France in medical research, focusing on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), which can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

About InFLiMeN:

1. Focus:

1. Understanding and managing liver diseases through a comprehensive ‘Omics Approach’ for biomarker discovery
2. Targeting Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), which can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer
3. Collaboration:

2. Significant bilateral collaboration between India and France in medical research
3. Supported by the Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR) / Centre Franco-Indien pour la Promotion de la RechercheAvancée (CEFIPRA)
4. Leadership:

3. Shiv Kumar Sarin, Director of ILBS
4. AbhayKarandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), MOST
5. Team:Involvement of 11 French and 17 Indian doctors

Importance:

• Medical Research: Strengthening research efforts in metabolic liver disorders
• International Collaboration: Enhancing India-France bilateral relations in scientific research and healthcare
• Public Health: Addressing the increasing cases of liver diseases and improving healthcare outcomes

France:

• Capital: Paris
• President: Emmanuel Macron
• Prime minister: Gabriel Attal

Economy news

NPS Growth and Private Sector Rebound Boost Indian Economy

• The National Pension System (NPS) saw a 40.1% annual growth, reaching ₹2.47-lakhcroreby June 29, driven by strong equity markets and increased private sector subscriptions.
• Overall NPS assets, including Atal Pension Yojana (APY), approached ₹12.5-lakh crore, marking a 28.64% increase, according to PFRDA data.
• In June, private sector activity rebounded to 60.9, up from May’s five-month low of 60.5, driven by accelerated manufacturing activity (58.5 from 57.5).
• New orders grew significantly, leading to the fastest employment growth in 18 years across both manufacturing and services sectors.
• Despite some easing in export orders, robust domestic demand contributed to overall sectoral growth.

Banking news

RBI Penalizes 5 Banks for Non-Compliance and Cancels One Bank’s License

• On July 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that it has penalized 5 banks, including Punjab National Bank (PNB), in the circular issued in the 1st week of July for non-compliance with various RBI directions.
• Before PNB, 4 other banks which were penalized by RBI: Gujarat RajyaKarmachari Co- operative Bank, Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Rohika Central Co-operative Bank, Madhubani (Bihar); National Co-operative Bank, Mumbai (Maharashtra); and Bank Employees’ Co- operative Bank, Kolkata (West Bengal).

RBI in exercise of powers given under the provisions of section 47 A (1) (c) read with sections 46 (4) (i) and section 51 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 1.31 crore on PNB. Thus, PNB became the 5th bank to be penalized.

The RBI imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 10,000 on YES Bank for not exchanging mutilated notes.

The RBI also announced that it has cancelled the licence of Maddur (Karnataka)-based ShimshaSahakara Bank Niyamitha due to its worsening financial position.

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):

• Governor- Shaktikanta Das (25th Governor of RBI)
• Headquarter- Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Established- 1 April, 1935

Appointment news

MasoudPezeshkian Elected New President of Iran

• Moderate and reformist leader MasoudPezeshkian was elected as Iran’s new president, defeating rival Saeed Jalili in the run-off election on July 6, 2024.
• The election was necessitated following the death of President EbrahimRaisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2024.
• According to the Iranian constitution, the president is elected by universal adult suffrage, and the winning candidate must secure more than 50% of the valid votes cast.
• Saeed Jalili conceded defeat and congratulated MasoudPezeshkian on his victory.

About the Islamic Republic of Iran 

• The modern country of Iran was earlier known as Persia. 
• It is an ancient civilisation situated in southwestern Asia. Politically, it is included in West Asia or the Middle East.
• Iran was ruled by the Pahlavi dynasty, which was overthrown in an Islamic revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979.
• The revolution established the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Iran is an Islamic country, but the majority of its population are Shia muslims.
• Iran considers itself the leader of the muslims in the world, especially the Shia sect.
• Supreme Leader: Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei
• President: MasoudPezeshkian 
• Capital: Tehran
• Currency: Iranian Rial.

Justice SheelNagu Appointed Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court

Justice SheelNagu Appointed Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court The President of India DroupadiMurmu, in exercise of the powers conferred by the clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, appointed Justice SheelNagu as the 66th Chief Justice (CJ) of the High Court (HC) of Punjab and Haryana with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.

• He was currently serving as the Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) of the Madhya Pradesh (MP) HC after CJ Ravi Malimath demitted the office on May 24, 2024.
• His appointment was recommended by the Supreme Court (SC) Collegium comprising CJ of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna and BR Gavai on December 28, 2023 after the retirement of CJ Ravi Shankar Jha on October 13, 2023.

Note: Justice SanjeevSachdeva has been appointed as the ACJ of the MP High Court succeeding Justice SheelNagu.

Agreement news

WEP and TransUnion CIBIL Launch SEHER Program for Women Entrepreneurs

On July 5, 2024, the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and TransUnion CIBIL Limited (Formerly:Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited), have partnered tolaunch SEHER,a credit education program aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in India with financial literacy, credit education, and business skills to enhance their access to financial tools and drive economic growth.

• This program will support India’s USD 5 trillion economy goal by empowering women to start and grow profitable businesses.
• The program was launched by Anna Roy, Mission Director of WEP and Principal Economic Adviser, NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India).
• The program is part of WEP’s Financing Women Collaborative (FWC), a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at accelerating access to finance for women entrepreneurs.

MoRD and CESL Launch STREE Program for Rural Women Entrepreneurs

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), to facilitate the “Sustainable Transport for Rural Entrepreneurs through Electric Bicycles” (STREE) forSelf Help Group (SHG) Women under the DeendayalAntyodayaYojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

STREE aims to empower the rural economy, especially rural women, by providing access to green mobility through Electric Bicycles.

Note:

• The CESL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), itself a Joint Venture (JV) of public sector companies under the Ministry of Power (MOP).
• DAY- NRLM promotes SHG women–led enterprises with diversified opportunities in the manufacturing and service sectors covering the farm and non-farm domains.

About the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD):

Union Minister-Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Constituency: Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh) Minister of State (MOS)-KamleshPaswan (Bansgaon, Uttar Pradesh), Dr. Chandra SekharPemmasani (Constituency: Guntur, Andhra Pradesh)

Award news

SopnaKallingal Wins Spice Award for Sustainable Agriculture      

                                                                                  

• SopnaKallingal of Kallingal Plantation, Thrissur, received the Spice Award 2024 from ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research.
• She was recognized for her enterprise diversification and integrated crop management strategies, promoting a sustainable spice-based cropping system.
• The Spice Awards is an annual event rewarding Asian and Indian cuisine across Scotland.
• The 6th Annual SPICE Awards for 2024 featured an independent voting campaign encouraging communities to vote for their favorite local and national businesses.

 

 

Maharashtra bags the Best Agriculture State Award for 2024

The 15th Agriculture Leadership Awards Committee has announced that Maharastra has won the Best Agriculture State Award for 2024. The announcement was made by the 15th Agriculture Leadership Awards Committee, headed by Justice P Sathasivam, former Chief Justice of India and Governor of Kerala.

The Maharashtra chief minister, EknathShinde, will receive the award on 10 July 2024 at a function in New Delhi. 

Innovative Agricultural Practices of Maharashtra 

• Maharashtra has been chosen for this award for its innovative agricultural and rural initiatives. 
• The award recognises the Maharashtra government’s innovative policies and high-impact developmental initiatives, which have led to the advancement of agricultural and rural prosperity in the state.
• The award acknowledged Maharashtra’s sustainable development policies focusing on environmental protection and food security.
• The Maharashtra government has launched the country’s largest bamboo mission covering 21 lakh hectares.
• In the recent budget, the Maharashtra government announced plans to establish a green belt spanning 1.20 lakh acres in the Nandurbar district in collaboration with the Central and state governments. 
• The Maharashtra government has also set a target to enhance irrigation capabilities across approximately 17 lakh hectares through the execution of 123 projects.

Agriculture Leadership Award 

• The annual Agricultural Leadership Award was instituted by Agricultural Today magazine in 2008. The award honours the contributions of various stakeholders—government, individuals, and organisations—who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in agriculture.
• In the past, current Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, etc, have won the award.

Maharashtra 

• Amongst the states in India, Maharashtra is the largest economy. The contribution of the Maharatsra to the country’s Gross Domestic Product is 12.92%. The state has a per capita income higher than the national average.
• Agriculture and allied activities account for around 12.1 per cent of the state’s gross state value added. 
• Governor of Maharashtra – Ramesh Bais
• Chief Minister of Maharstara – EknathShinde

President DroupadiMurmu Confers 36 Peacetime Gallantry Awards

• On July, 2024, President of India, DroupadiMurmu conferred 36 Peacetime Gallantry Awards including, 10 Kirti Chakras, of which 7 were given posthumously and 26 Shaurya Chakras, of which 7 were given posthumously to the personnel of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces and State or Union Territory (UT) Police.
• These awards were given during Defence Investiture Ceremony (Phase-1) held at RashtrapatiBhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.
• These awards were given to the personnel for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and extreme devotion to duty.

Key Points:

• Among the recipients of Kirti Chakra given posthumously, 4 were from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): Inspector Dilip Kumar Das, Head Constable BabluRabha and Constable Sambhu Roy and Raj Kumar Yadava of 210 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) Battalion.
• Apart from 6 other personnel from the India Army, Constable SafiullahQadri of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Police was also bestowed a Shaurya Chakra posthumously.
• This year a group of personnel from the Indian Army, the India Air Force

(IAF), Indian Navy and also personnel from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have also been conferred the Shaurya Chakra.

About Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA):

• Union Minister-_Amit Shah (LokSabha Constituency- Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
• Minister of State (MOS)-NityanandRai (Constituency- Ujiarpur, Bihar); Bandi Sanjay Kumar (Constituency- Karimnagar, Telangana)

Sports News

India Wins Two Titles at the Asian Squash Doubles Championship 2024

• Indian squash players won the men’s doubles and mixed doubles titles at the Asian Squash Doubles Championship 2024, held at the Arena Emas in Johor, Malaysia.
• Mixed Doubles Title: The Indian pair of Abhay Singh and JoshnaChinappa defeated Hong Kong China’s Tong Tsz Wing and Ming Hong Tang 2-1 (11-8, 10-11, 11-5) in the final on July 7, 2024.
  • Abhay Singh had previously won a bronze medal in mixed doubles at the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games 2022.
• Men’s Doubles Title: Abhay Singh, partnered with VelavanSenthilkumar, won the men’s doubles title by defeating Malaysia’s Ong Sai Hung and Syafiq Kamal in straight sets.
  • Abhay Singh also won the Goodfellow Classic and Willingdon Masters squash titles.
  • VelavanSenthilkumar is the national men’s squash champion and winner of the Batch Open Challenger Squash 2024.
• Asian Team Squash Championship:
  • The event was held in Johor, Malaysia, from July 4 to 7, 2024, with 33 teams from 7 countries participating.
  • The Asian Team Squash Championship is a biennial event, first held in 1981 in Karachi, Pakistan.
  • Pakistan is the most successful team in the men’s section with 15 titles, while Malaysia has won the women’s section 10 times.
  • India’s men’s team won the Asian Team Champion title in 2022 in Cheongju, South Korea. The Indian women’s team won the title once, in 2012.

Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) 

• The game of squash was introduced to India by the British.
• The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) was established to govern and promote squash in India.
• The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) is recognised by the government and is a member of the World Squash Federation and the Asian Squash Federation.
• Headquarters: Chennai 
• President: DebendranathSarangi

DhruvSitwala Wins Third Asian Billiards Title in Riyadh

• DhruvSitwala defeated PankajAdvani to win the 2024 Asian Billiards Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• The Asian Championship was organized by the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS) from June 27 to July 5, 2024, and included the Men’s Snooker Team Championship, Men’s Billiards Championship, and Women’s Asian Snooker Championship events.
• This victory marks DhruvSitwala’s third Asian billiards title, having previously won in 2015 and 2016.
• PankajAdvani, who won the 2022 and 2023 titles, missed out on his third consecutive win.
• DhvajHaria, another Indian cueist, won the bronze medal after losing to Sitwala in the semi-finals.
• Anupama Ramachandran won her first international title by defeating PanchayaChannoi of Thailand 3-1 in the Women’s Asian Snooker category.
• Thailand’s men’s snooker team, consisting of DechawatPoomjaeng, KritsanutLertsattayathorn, and YuttapopPakpoj, won the Asian Team Snooker Championship by defeating Pakistan 3-0 in the final.
• PankajAdvani was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the World Billiards Museum in Shangrao City, China, recognizing his global achievements in billiards and snooker.
• Advani has won 27 world titles and 10 Asian titles (7 in billiards and 3 in snooker) and holds gold medals from the 2006 Doha and 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.

Awards for Advani include the Rajiv Gandhi KhelRatna (2006), Arjuna Award (2005), Padma Bhushan (2018), and Padma Shri (2009).

Cue Sports: Played with a cue stick to hit balls on a cloth-covered table with pockets, including billiards, snooker, and pool, with varying ball characteristics based on the specific game.

Science and tech news

ISRO Launches ‘BharatiyaAntarikshHackathon’ as Part of National Space Day Celebrations

• On 4th July 2024, Dr. SreedharaPanickerSomanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched ‘BharatiyaAntarikshHackathon’ – (Indian Space Hackathon) as part of the first National Space Day (NSPD 2024) celebrations.
• The first National Space Day will be celebrated on 23rd August 2024.
• ISRO organises the hackathon to create application-driven ecosystems and bring in innovation in space-based applications benefiting both society and the nation.

Background:

• On 23rd August 2023, ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander was successfully landed on the lunar south polar region.
• To commemorate the feat, the Government of India declared that the 23rd August of every as National Space Day.

About ‘BharatiyaAntarikshHackathon’ :

• The hackathon will feature 12 problem statements in the areas of geospatial domain, space science, image processing from centres of Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Space Applications Centre (SAC), among others.
• It has also identified areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML) and declared open for undergraduate/ post graduate/ PhD students across the country. iii.Eligibility: A team of 3 to 4 students can participate in the hackathon and address the challenges with innovative solutions but it involves 2-level screening process.

About Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO):

• Chairman-SreedharaPanickerSomanath
• Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Established 1969

Important days

International Day of Cooperatives 2024: “Cooperatives Building a Better Future for All”

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay) is annually observed across the globe on the 1st Saturday of July to increase awareness ofcooperatives and promote ideas of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace, contributing to the development of the society.

• International Day of Cooperatives 2024 falls on 6 July 2024. The theme of International Day of Cooperatives 2024 is “Cooperatives Building a Better Future for All.”
• 6 July 2024 marks the 102nd International Cooperative Day and the 30th UN International Day of Cooperatives.
• The Day also commemorates the establishment of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), one of the oldest Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), and one of the largest organizations by the number of people represented.

Background:

• The International Cooperative Day has been celebrated on the first Saturday of July since 1923.
• The 1st ever Cooperators Day was observed on 7 July 1923.