22nd July, 2023

1. India has contributed USD 1,000,000 to the United Nations as part of the initiative to promote the usage of the Hindi language at the global organisation.
2. Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar led a three-member Election Commission of India (ECI) delegation to Cartagena, Colombia to attend the 11th meeting of the Executive Board of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).
3. Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying is implementing the Credit Guarantee Scheme under Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF).
4. One District One Product (ODOP) program, an initiative under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, launched its first collaboration with the Government of Gujarat in New Delhi to promote the indigenous crafts and artisans of the State.
5. Open Network for Digital Commerce, in collaboration with NSE Academy Ltd, a subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange, has launched the ‘ONDC Academy’ to provide information to sellers and network participants about simple ways to conduct e-commerce business.
6. Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat released the Manual for Disaster Management Plan (DMP) during the two-day National Conference of Rural WASH Partners Forum at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed over 70,000 appointment letters to new recruits through video conferencing in the Rozgar Mela, which was organised at 44 locations in India.
8. The Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy, 2022 laids out conditions concerning the subsidy available on the purchase of electric vehicles in the state.
9. Surat Diamond Bourse – world’s largest office building – has been developed by the Indian architecture firm Morphogenesis.
10. Odisha Cabinet has approved provision of Rs. 5700 crores for implementation of a state sector scheme ‘Interest Subsidy-Subvention’ under which interest-free crop loans of up to Rs. 1 lakh would be made available to farmers.
11. The Rajasthan Assembly has passed the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 to provide minimum guaranteed income to all adult citizens as part of a welfare package for the state.
12. Department of Consumer Affairs has started the procurement of tomatoes under the Price Stabilisation Fund and is making it available at a highly subsidised rate to consumers.
13. Avaada Group has signed an MoU with REC under which the latter will invest ₹20,000 crore in the renewable energy solutions company over the next five years.
14. Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy have signed an MoU to revive and preserve the 2000-year-old technique of shipbuilding known as the ‘stitched shipbuilding method’.
15. The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and AOAC INTERNATIONAL (AOAC) have signed an MoU to collaborate and enhance the food safety analytical ecosystem in India.
16. India and Japan signed an MoU on semiconductor development, which will include design, manufacturing, equipment research and talent development.
17. UAE will participate with an observer status in the plenary of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), a Financial Action Task Force-Style regional body (FSRB), taking place this week in Vancouver, Canada.
18. The European Council adopted an assistance measure, worth €20 million, under the European Peace Facility to support the 31st Rapid Reaction Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
19. Saudi Aramco has completed its purchase of a 10% stake in a Chinese petrochemicals firm-Rongsheng Petrochemical, part of an expansion into the world’s top crude importer
20. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed asset management companies to launch funds under six new strategies for expanding the scope of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) thematic category.
21. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has appointed Sat Pal Bhanoo as the managing director of the company.
22. Rajay Kumar Sinha has taken charge as managing director & chief executive officer of SBI Capital Markets – a wholly owned subsidiary and investment banking arm of State Bank of India (SBI).
23. Ms. Nivruti Rai has been appointed as the Managing Director & CEO of Invest India.
24. July 20 – World Chess Day
25. Ministry of Coal was awarded for its achievements on e- procurement through GeM by Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
26. Young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won the V Geza Hetenyi Memorial Super GM chess tournament 2023 in Hungary.
27. Star India batter Virat Kohli surpassed South Africa’s Jacques Kallis to become the fifth-highest run-scorer in international cricket history.
28. Indian trio of Sameer, Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu and Mahesh Anandakumar won silver medal in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol team event at the International Shooting Sport Federation’s (ISSF) World Junior Championship in Changwon, Korea.

National News

1. India has contributed USD 1,000,000 to the United Nations as part of the initiative to promote the usage of the Hindi language at the global organisation.
   • United Nations Department of Global Communications is responsible for the language uses.
   • India had launched the Hindi@UN project, in collaboration with the UN Department of Public Information of the UN, in 2018.
   • The project aims to enhance the public outreach of the United Nations in the Hindi language, and to spread greater awareness about global issues among millions of Hindi-speaking people around the world.
   • India’s Permanent Representative to the UN – Ruchira Kamboj
     Source: ET
2. Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar led a three-member Election Commission of India (ECI) delegation to Cartagena, Colombia to attend the 11th meeting of the Executive Board of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).
   • An international conference on the theme “A global view on the challenges of regional elections 2023” is also being organised by National Civil Registry, Colombia on July 12, 2023.

3. Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying is implementing the Credit Guarantee Scheme under Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF).
   • Purpose – to strengthen credit delivery system and facilitate smooth flow of credit to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in livestock sector without hassles of collateral security
   • Corpus – For operationalizing the scheme, DAHD has established a credit guarantee fund trust of Rs 750 crore which will provide credit guarantee coverage up to 25% of the credit facilities extended to the MSMEs by the eligible lending institutions.
   • The establishment of credit guarantee fund trust was approved under the Prime Minister’s AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package of Rs 15,000 crore ‘Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund’ (AHIDF).
   • DAHD has formed a trust with NABSanrakshan Trustee Company Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of NABARD for the establishment of a credit guarantee fund trust for extending the credit guarantee to MSMEs under AHIDF scheme.
   • Entities which will be supported by the Credit Guarantee Scheme for incentivizing investments by –
   • individual entrepreneurs,
   • private companies,
   • MSMEs,
   • farmers producers’ organizations (FPOs),
   • Section 8 companies to establish the dairy processing and value addition infrastructure; meat processing and value addition infrastructure; animal feed plant; breed improvement technology and breed multiplication farm; animal waste to wealth management (agri waste management); and setting up of veterinary vaccine and drugs manufacturing facilities.
   • Launch date – March 2021
   • It is India’s first ever fund trust under credit guarantee scheme of AHIDF in the agriculture and animal husbandry sector.
   • Under AHIDF scheme, the interest subvention of 3% loan and up to 90% of the total project cost from any scheduled bank, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
     Source: ET

4. One District One Product (ODOP) program, an initiative under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, launched its first collaboration with the Government of Gujarat in New Delhi to promote the indigenous crafts and artisans of the State.
   • The ODOP Wall was also inaugurated at the Garvi Gujarat Bhawan.
   • Gujarat has a total of 33 districts.
     Source: PIB

5. Open Network for Digital Commerce, in collaboration with NSE Academy Ltd, a subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange, has launched the ‘ONDC Academy’ to provide information to sellers and network participants about simple ways to conduct e-commerce business.
   • The certification of course completion will be provided by the NSE Academy Ltd.
   • The Academy will teach the participants about the online business, e-commerce, and technical know-how about the platform.

6. Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat released the Manual for Disaster Management Plan (DMP) during the two-day National Conference of Rural WASH Partners Forum at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
   • The Manual is developed by Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
   • Purpose – to ensure safety, uninterrupted supply and minimum loss of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) assets and services involving stakeholders at national, state, district, and village level

7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed over 70,000 appointment letters to new recruits through video conferencing in the Rozgar Mela, which was organised at 44 locations in India.
   • The recently inducted recruits will work under the departments of Central Government as well as State Governments and UTs, which are supporting this initiative.
   • On October 22, 2022, PM launched the Phase 1 of the ‘Rozgar Mela’, marking the start of the campaign to provide 10 lakh government jobs.
     Source: TOI

   
   

State News

1. The Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy, 2022 laids out conditions concerning the subsidy available on the purchase of electric vehicles in the state.
   • As per the recent guideline, customers who have purchased electric vehicles in the state after October 14, 2022, will have to apply on the portal to get a subsidy from the government.
   • To get the purchase subsidy incentive, eligible applicants must apply to the web portal upevsubsidy.in.
   • Eligible applicants will include those who have purchased and registered electric vehicles in Uttar Pradesh after the date of notification of the policy.
   • According to this, a 15% subsidy will be given on the factory price of e-vehicles purchased in the state.
     Source: ET

2. Surat Diamond Bourse – world’s largest office building – has been developed by the Indian architecture firm Morphogenesis.
   • It comprises over 7.1 million square feet of floor space, which means that it has surpassed the Pentagon as the world’s largest office building.
   • Around 90% of all the planet’s diamonds are cut in Surat. On the other hand, the Belgian city of Antwerp is known as the world’s diamond trading hub.

3. Odisha Cabinet has approved provision of 5700 crores for implementation of a state sector scheme ‘Interest Subsidy-Subvention’ under which interest-free crop loans of up to Rs. 1 lakh would be made available to farmers.
   • Effective interest rate would be 2% for crop loans above Rs.1 lakh to Rs.3 lakh. These interest rates would be applicable retrospectively from April 1, 2022.
     Source: The Hindu
4. The Rajasthan Assembly has passed the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 to provide minimum guaranteed income to all adult citizens as part of a welfare package for the state.
   • Under it, some beneficiaries will receive guaranteed employment at minimum wage for at least 125 days per financial year.
   • Other beneficiaries such as senior citizens, specially-abled persons, widows and single women shall be entitled to a pension under the Bill. The pension payable shall be increased at the rate of 15% per annum from FY 2024-25.
     Source: India Today

   
   

Agriculture and Rural Development

1. Department of Consumer Affairs has started the procurement of tomatoes under the Price Stabilisation Fund and is making it available at a highly subsidised rate to consumers.

Source: PIB and Statesman

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Avaada Group has signed an MoU with REC under which the latter will invest ₹20,000 crore in the renewable energy solutions company over the next five years.
   • The partnership was announced on the sidelines of the 4th meeting of the G20 Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) in Goa.

2. Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy have signed an MoU to revive and preserve the 2000-year-old technique of shipbuilding known as the ‘stitched shipbuilding method’.
   Source: PIB
3. The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and AOAC INTERNATIONAL (AOAC) have signed an MoU to collaborate and enhance the food safety analytical ecosystem in India.
   • By leveraging AOAC’s globally recognized expertise and standards, FSSAI aims to enhance its analytical capabilities and align with international best practices, ultimately strengthening the food safety ecosystem in the country.
     Source: HT

4. India and Japan signed an MoU on semiconductor development, which will include design, manufacturing, equipment research and talent development.
   • The MoU is on five fronts, viz. semiconductor design, manufacturing, equipment research, talent development, and bringing resilience to the semiconductor supply chain.
   • The semiconductor industry is witnessing rapid growth, surpassing $650 million and expected to reach $1 billion within the next five to six years
     Source: LiveMint
   
   

International News

1. UAE will participate with an observer status in the plenary of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), a Financial Action Task Force-Style regional body (FSRB), taking place this week in Vancouver, Canada.
   • The UAE is the first Arab country to be granted observer status at the APG.
   • Other participants – IMF, World Bank, OECD, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the UN’s Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate, the Asian Development Bank, Commonwealth Secretariat, INTERPOL and the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units
   • Founded in 1997 and part of the global network of similar Financial Action Task Force-Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs), the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering is the largest in terms of membership numbers and geographical size.
     Source: ANI

2. The European Council adopted an assistance measure, worth €20 million, under the European Peace Facility to support the 31st Rapid Reaction Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
   • The support will be implemented by the Belgian Ministry of Defence.
   • Through this assistance measure, the EU will provide basic, non-lethal individual equipment, such as commando kits, first aid kits and clothing, and collective equipment, such as counter-IED kits, vehicles and radios, for the 31st Rapid Reaction Brigade of the FARDC.

   
   

Source: EU

Banking and Economy

1. Saudi Aramco has completed its purchase of a 10% stake in a Chinese petrochemicals firm-Rongsheng Petrochemical, part of an expansion into the world’s top crude importer
   • China is Saudi Arabia’s top oil customer.

2. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed asset management companies to launch funds under six new strategies for expanding the scope of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) thematic category.
   • Currently, regulatory requirements permit mutual funds to launch only one scheme with ESG investing under the thematic category for equity schemes.
   • The schemes can be launched under the ESG category in one of the following strategies – Exclusion, Integration, Best-in-class & Positive Screening, Impact investing, Sustainable objectives, and Transition or transition-related investments.

Source: MoneyControl

Appointments

1. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has appointed Sat Pal Bhanoo as the managing director of the company.
   • The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), the organization responsible for choosing directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions, had recommended the name of Sat Pal Bhanoo for the post of managing director of LIC.

2. Rajay Kumar Sinha has taken charge as managing director & chief executive officer of SBI Capital Markets – a wholly owned subsidiary and investment banking arm of State Bank of India (SBI).
   Source: TOI
3. Nivruti Rai has been appointed as the Managing Director & CEO of Invest India.

Source: PIB

Important Days

1. July 20 – World Chess Day
   Source: The Quint

Awards

1. Ministry of Coal was awarded for its achievements on e- procurement through GeM by Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
   • The Ministry of Coal has been awarded in the “Best Engagement” category, Coal India Limited (CIL) has been awarded the “Rising Star” and NLC India Limited has been awarded in the “TimelyPayments” category.
     Source: PIB

Sports

1. Young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won the V Geza Hetenyi Memorial Super GM chess tournament 2023 in Hungary.
   • He played final round against Polish GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek, and he secured a draw in the match.
   • In the points tally, he ended up a point ahead of M Amin Tabatabaei (Iran) and Russia’s Sanan Sjugirov.
     Source: IE

2. Star India batter Virat Kohli surpassed South Africa’s Jacques Kallis to become the fifth-highest run-scorer in international cricket history.
   • Kohli achieved this feat in the batting charts during India’s second Test against West Indies at Port of Spain.
   • It is Kohli’s 500th international game.
     Source: ANI
   
   
   
   
3. Indian trio of Sameer, Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu and Mahesh Anandakumar won silver medal in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol team event at the International Shooting Sport Federation’s (ISSF) World Junior Championship in Changwon, Korea.
   • China won gold in the individual event as well.
     Source: ET
   
   
   
   

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