09th July, 2024

1. Haj Committee now under Minority Affairs Ministry
2. Government has restructured reporting relationships within NSCS
3. Eleven new biosphere reserves added to World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)
4. UN warns of escalating tensions on Lebanon-Israel ‘Blue Line’ frontier
5. NABARD will launch an Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) in Kerala
6. Time to push divestment of state-owned banks, says SBI
7. Indo-Russian Rifles Delivers 35,000 AK-203 Assault Rifles to Indian Army
8. DRDO unveils indigenous light tank Zorawar
9. BSF and SBI Bank launch “Grow with the tress” Initiative in Srinagar
10. NASA to launch telescope to find inhabited planet
11. Two Gaganyaan astronauts shortlisted, one to travel to ISS on NASA mission this year
12. China has made world’s first high-temperature superconducting Tokamak device – ‘HH70’
13. Roshni Nadar gets France’s highest civilian award
14. July 7: World Kiswahili Day
15. Formula 1: Highlights of British Grand Prix
16. Athletics-Ukraine’s Mahuchikh breaks 1987 women’s high jump world record
17. Gagan Narang named India’s Chef-de-Mission, PV Sindhu to be female flag bearer
18. DMRC, RVNL sign MoU work as service provider for projects in India, abroad
19. Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and Airbus sign agreement for aerospace teaching and research
20. IEX board reappoints SN Goel as CMD, promotes Rohit Bajaj as joint MD
21. LIC MF appoints Nikhil Rungta Co-CIO equity
22. Arunachal Pradesh Governor launches a book on ‘Kargil War’
23. Titanic’ movie Producer Jon Landau Passes Away

National News

1. Haj Committee now under Minority Affairs Ministry
• What: The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA) has been designated the nodal ministry for the Haj Committee of India (HCOI).
  • This designation shifts the responsibility from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to the MOMA
• HCOI is responsible for conducting the Haj pilgrimage in India and was established under the Haj Committee Act, 2002.
• With this MOMA has released new rules, These rules may be called the Haj Committee (Amendment) Rules, 2024.
  • In that MOMA in the central government shall request Union ministries of external affairs, home affairs, finance and civil aviation to nominate one officer each.
  • The officer should not below the rank of the joint secretary to the government of India, serving in the respective ministries, as ex- officio members of the committee..”
• the HCOI ensures that Indian Muslims can undertake the Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Source: Economic Times

2. Government has restructured reporting relationships within NSCS
• What: Union Government has restructured reporting relationships within National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
• New Structure
• Expanded leadership Structure: It will now include an Additional National Security Advisor (ANSA) along with three deputy NSAs
• Advisory Role of NSA: It will be now more advisory rather than operational. NSA will now focus on working with advisory bodies like the National Security Advisory Board and the Strategic Policy Group.
• Reporting Relationships Altered: ANSA, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and other key military and civil leaders are required to report both to the NSA and their respective ministers.
• Introduction of Additional Bureaucratic Layer: NSA now acts as a gatekeeper in communications between six mid-level unit heads (three deputy NSAs and three service officers) and the NSA.

Source: Indian Express

International News

1. Eleven new biosphere reserves added to World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)
• What: The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated 11 new WBNR, recognizing their importance for conserving biodiversity and cultural heritage.
• The new designations are in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Gambia, Italy, Mongolia, Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Spain.
• The countries have been added under the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
• WNBR now totals 759 sites in 136 countries.
• Also, for the first time, two trans-boundary biosphere reserves were added.
• It includes Kempen-Broek (Belgium and Netherlands) and Julian Alps (Italy and Slovenia)

Source: UN

2. UN warns of escalating tensions on Lebanon-Israel ‘Blue Line’ frontier
• What: The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the recent increase in the intensity of exchanges of fire across the Blue Line, which separates Lebanese and Israeli armed forces.
• (About Blue line)
• Israel and Lebanon have no official border separating them, except the Blue Line.
• It was set by the United Nations in 2000. It is made of blue barrels and runs from the Mediterranean to the Golan Heights to the east.
• Its purpose was to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south of Lebanon.
• Note: Blue Line is also a learning ecosystem created by the UN System Staff College

Source: UN

• Note: Blue Line is also a learning ecosystem created by the UN System Staff College

Banking and Economy

1. NABARD will launch an Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) in Kerala
• What: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is set to launch an integrated tribal development programme in the Kulathupuzha Gram Panchayat, marking its first initiative in Kollam district in Kerala.
• Aim: This five-year project aims to transform the livelihoods of 413 tribal families residing in eight villages.
• Tell me more (Important for NABARD students)
• Duration: Five years
• Implementing agency: Thanal, an environment organisation,
• Agricultural Enhancement: The initiative focuses on promoting diverse crops such as pepper, arecanut, coconut, ginger, Thai ginger, turmeric, and plantain. It also includes initiatives in goat rearing, poultry, beekeeping, fish farming, and fodder production.
• Skill Development: Tribal families will be organized into groups to empower communities and enhance income levels through skill development and sustainable agricultural practices.
• Water Resource Development: The program includes water resource development, leadership training, awareness creation, sanitation and hygiene initiatives, marketing and branding training, and skill development workshops.
• Tribal Farmer Producer Company (FPO): An FPO will be established to further economically empower the community.

Source: The Hindu

2. Time to push divestment of state-owned banks, says SBI
• What: The State Bank of India (SBI) has published their research report titled ‘Prelude to Union Budget 2024-25.
• Published by: Economic Research Department of SBI.
• In that it recommends that the government should proceed with the disinvestment of public sector banks (PSBs) as they are currently in good condition.
• SBI also advocates for the consolidation of existing government-owned banks.
• Additionally, the report suggests tax policy changes to boost household financial savings and emphasizes the need for improvements in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
• With regard to the privatisation of IDBI Bank, it said the government and Life Insurance Corporation of India are selling an almost 61 per cent stake in the lender.
• Presently, the government owns over 45 per cent stake in IDBI Bank, and LIC has a 49.24 per cent shareholding.

Source: Republic World

Defence News

1. Indo-Russian Rifles Delivers 35,000 AK-203 Assault Rifles to Indian Army
• What: The Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture between India and Russia, has successfully delivered 35,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles to the Indian Army.
• These rifles will replace India’s indigenously developed Indian Small Arms Systems (INSAS) rifles inducted in Indian Army more than 3 decades ago and AK-47 rifles.
• The AK-203 assault rifle is a enhanced version of the AK-200 rifle

• These rifles were produced at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, aligning with the Make in India initiative and involving technology transfer.
• This delivery represents the initial tranche of a larger Indian military requirement for 600,000 AK-203s.
• In May 2024, IRRPL has delivered 27,000 rifles with 25% localized content to the Indian Army.
• the first 70,000 rifles will be produced in India with a phased increase in the extent of localization from 5% to 70%. The remaining rifles will be produced with 100% localization.
• IRRPL aims to increase the indigenous content of these rifles to 100% by 2025.

Source: The Hindu

2. DRDO unveils indigenous light tank Zorawar
• What: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted successful initial trials of the indigenous light tank Zorawar in Hazira, Gujarat.
• It is named after the legendary General Zorawar Singh who led multiple successful victories in Tibet.

• Why: This air-transportable 25-tonne tank is designed for rapid deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
• Tell me more:
• It is developed in collaboration with Larsen and Toubro (L&T).
• The Indian Army plans to deploy over 350 light tanks, primarily in mountainous border areas.
• The IA has placed an initial order for 59 Zorawar tanks,

Source: The Hindu

3. BSF and SBI Bank launch “Grow with the tress” Initiative in Srinagar
• What: Border Security Forces (BSF), in collaboration with State Bank of India (SBI), recently conducted a “Grow with the Trees” plantation drive at the BSF Headquarters in Srinagar.
• Why: The objective was to enhance the green cover and raise awareness about the significance of tree planting.

Source: The News Mill

Science and Technology

1. NASA to launch telescope to find inhabited planet
• What: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is set to launch the ‘Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO)’ in 2040 to find proof of extraterrestrial life (aliens) and inhabited planets beyond the solar system.
• HWO is a unique telescope, dubbed “Super Hubble”, capable of detecting a range of ‘biosignatures’ emitted by living organisms and discovering inhabited planets by 2050.

Source: NASA

2. Two Gaganyaan astronauts shortlisted, one to travel to ISS on NASA mission this year
• What: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has shortlisted 2 of its four trained Gaganyaan astronauts for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
• However only one of the shortlisted astronauts will go on the mission, which is set to be launched by October 2024 at the latest.
• Axiom-4(Ax-4) is the 4th private astronaut mission of the American space infrastructure developer, Axiom Space, in collaboration with NASA.
• Mission Details:
• The Ax-4 mission, expected to dock with the ISS for 14 days, will see crew members trained by NASA, international partners, and the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) for their flight.
• Axiom Space has contracted SpaceX as a launch provider for transportation to and from the space station for this mission.

Source: Indian Express

3. China has made world’s first high-temperature superconducting Tokamak device – ‘HH70’
• What: China has achieved a significant milestone in fusion energy technology by creating the HH70, the world’s first fully high-temperature superconducting tokamak device named HH70.

• Tell me more:
• Developed by Energy Singularity and located in Shanghai.
• The device is also known as artificial sun, because it works on the principle of the nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms that occurs in the sun.
• What is a tokamak? A tokamak is a machine that controls the nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms. The reaction creates helium and releases enormous energy, with no nuclear waste, unlike nuclear fission.
• Energy Singularity plans to develop a second-generation tokamak by 2027 and a technology demonstrator by 2030.
• Previously, the EU and Japan inaugurated JT-60SA, the world’s largest and most advanced Tokamak fusion reactor in Japan and pledged support to advance fusion research for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).

Source: Economic Times

Awards

1. Roshni Nadar gets France’s highest civilian award
• What: Roshni Nadar Malhotra, chairperson of HCL Technologies, has been awarded France’s highest civilian honor, the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur ((Knight of the Legion of Honour).
• The award recognizes her contributions to business and sustainability, highlighting the growing economic and technological cooperation between France and India.

Source: Financial Express

Important Days

1. July 7: World Kiswahili Day
• What: World Kiswahili Language Day is celebrated annually on July 7.
• Theme: “Kiswahili: Education and Culture of Peace”
• Kiswahili is one of the most widely used languages of the Africa, and the most widely spoken in sub-Saharan Africa.
• It is among the 10 most widely spoken languages in the world, with more than 230 million speakers.

Source: UNESCO

Sports

1. Formula 1: Highlights of British Grand Prix
• What: The British Grand prix was held in Silverstone circuit in Britain.
• List of winners:

Source: Outlook

2. Athletics-Ukraine’s Mahuchikh breaks 1987 women’s high jump world record
• What: Yaroslava Mahuchikh (from Ukrain) shattered the world record in the women’s high jump during the Paris Diamond League.
• She achieved an impressive height of 2.10 meters, surpassing the previous benchmark set by Bulgaria’s Stefka Kostadinova in 1987 (of 2.09 metres)

3. Gagan Narang named India’s Chef-de-Mission, PV Sindhu to be female flag bearer
• What: Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has been announced as the female flag bearer for the Paris Olympic Games 2024.
• Table tennis star Sharath Kamal will carry the flag for the men’s contingent.
• Gagan Narang, a London Olympics bronze medalist, has replaced Mary Kom as the chef-de-mission after her resignation due to personal reasons.
• A chef de mission leads the entire team, including athletes, coaches, and other behind-the-scenes team members, during international competitions.
• Essentially, they play a crucial role in coordinating and representing their country’s team during major sporting events.

Source: Firstpost

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

1. DMRC, RVNL sign MoU work as service provider for projects in India, abroad
• What: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) have signed a MOU.
• Why: To collaborate as Project Service Providers for design, construction, and consultancy projects in India and abroad.
• As Project Service Providers, the DMRC and RVNL will cover project types such as metro systems, railways, high-speed rail, highways, and railway electrification. Signatories:
• Note:
• The RVNL is a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Railways (MOR).
• DMRC is a Joint Venture (JV) company with equity participation from Government of India and Government of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi

Source: India Today

2. Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and Airbus sign agreement for aerospace teaching and research
• What: Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) in Vadodara, Gujarat has entered into a collaboration with Airbus.
• Why: To significantly strengthen the Indian aviation sector. This partnership builds upon the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in September 2023. The definitive agreement was recently signed at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi.
• Tell me more (Key highlights of the collaboration)
• Scholarship Program: GSV will offer a full scholarship program for 40 students throughout the duration of their aviation-related programs.
• Centre of Excellence: Airbus will establish a Centre of Excellence at GSV, focusing on aerospace education and research.
• Airbus Aviation Chair Professor: The collaboration includes the appointment of an Airbus Aviation Chair Professor at GSV.
• Executive Training: GSV and Airbus will also collaborate to provide executive training for professionals in the aviation industry.

Source: PIB

Appointments

1. IEX board reappoints SN Goel as CMD, promotes Rohit Bajaj as joint MD
• What: New Delhi (Delhi) based Indian Energy Exchange Ltd (IEX) board approved the proposal to reappoint Satyanarayan Goel as its Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) for three years.

Source: IEX

2. LIC MF appoints Nikhil Rungta Co-CIO equity
• What: LIC Mutual Fund appointed Nikhil Rungta as Co-Chief Investment Officer – Equity (Co-CIO) of the fund house.
• He was previously equity fund manager at SBI Pension Funds.

Source: Economic Times

Miscellaneous

1. Arunachal Pradesh Governor launches a book on ‘Kargil War’
• What: Lieutenant General Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik (Retired), launched a book titled, ‘Kargil War: The Turning Point,’.
• Authored by: Vir Chakra awardee, the late Colonel Magod Basappa Ravindranath.
• Colonel MB Ravindranath, who passed away in April 2018, was the Commanding Officer (CO) of the Rajputana Rifles 2nd Battalion (2 RAJ RIF) during Operation Vijay (Kargil War) in 1999.
• This memoir recalls the challenges faced by the 2 RAJ RIF during the Kargil War.

Source: India Today

2. Titanic’ movie Producer Jon Landau Passes Away
• What: Jon Landau, celebrated producer of ‘Titanic’ and ‘Avatar,’ movies passed away.
• Titanic’ movie received 14 Oscar nominations and won 11, including Best Picture.

Source: Hans India

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