30th July, 2024

1. IN-SPACe Authorizes Azista BST to Establish Satellite Tracking Facility in Hyderabad
2. Summary of EAM Jaishankar’s Visit to Vientiane, Laos from July 25-27, 2024
3. TIME’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2024’ Features 3 Indian Destinations
4. RBI Imposes Fines on Three Payment System Operators
5. HSBC Mutual Fund Launches Apne #SIPKoDoPromotion Campaign
6. Aditya Birla Group Unveils Rs 5000 Crore Jewellery Brand “Indriya”
7. Nicolas Maduro Secures Re-election as President of Venezuela for a 3rd Term
8. Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes Wins the Belgian Grand Prix 2024
9. World Hepatitis Day 2024 – Observed on July 28
10. World Nature Conservation Day 2024 – Celebrated on July 28
11. International Tiger Day 2024 – Marked on July 29
12. CBSE Introduces SAFAL Test Cycle 2024
13. Centre Criticizes Kerala State for Appointment of ‘External Cooperation’ Official
14. Department of Atomic Energy Launches ‘One DAE One Subscription’ Initiative
15. India to Host 2025 Men’s Asia Cup in T20 Format
16. World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024: Focus on Protecting Children from Human Trafficking
17. International Day of Friendship 2024

National News

1. CBSE Launches SAFAL Test for Core Competency Assessment
   • What
     • The CBSE has introduced the SAFAL (Structured Assessment For Analyzing Learning) test cycle to assess core concepts in students of Classes 5 and 8.
     • This test aims to reduce exam pressure by focusing on competency rather than rote learning and requires no special preparation.
   • Why
     • SAFAL is designed to align with the National Education Policy 2020’s objective of reducing exam-related stress and emphasizing core learning. It will identify learning gaps and facilitate timely remedial measures without the pressure of traditional exams.
   • Tell me more
     • Test Structure: The SAFAL test will assess science, math, and languages. For Class 5, the test will be 75 minutes long, and for Class 8, it will be 90 minutes.
     • Assessment Levels: It will evaluate students at four levels: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced, using scaled scores rather than percentages.
     • Implementation Scale: Starting with 11,000 schools and over 10 lakh students in the July-August cycle, SAFAL is expected to cover all CBSE schools by 2025.
     • No-Prep Format: The test is competency-based, requiring no extra classes or special preparation. SAFAL will not provide individual student-level reports or make scores public.

2. Launch of ‘One DAE One Subscription’ Enhances Research Access
   • What
     • The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has inaugurated the ‘One DAE One Subscription’ (ODOS) initiative at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.
     • ODOS will unify access to research papers and scientific journals across DAE’s units and subunits.
   • Why
     • The ODOS initiative aims to consolidate access to national and international research resources, facilitating digital sharing and collective evolution.
     • This move supports the broader goal of making knowledge more accessible and will eventually integrate with the national ‘One Nation One Subscription’ (ONOS) initiative.
   • Tell me more
     • ODOS Agreements:
       • Wiley India: Provides access to 1,353 journals, including archives from 1997. This increases DAE’s journal access from 166 to 1,353, covering all DAE units for 2024. It also includes rights to publish in open access journals with covered Article Processing Charges (APC).
       • Springer Nature Group: Grants access to 2,686 titles, including 553 Fully Open Access (FOA) journals, and archives from 1997 (Springer) and 2012 (Nature). The agreement includes rights to publish 281 articles in Springer Hybrid journals as open access without APC.
     • Future Integration: ODOS is a precursor to the ONOS initiative by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, aimed at making knowledge universally accessible.
       Source: ET
3. India’s EAM Jaishankar Visits Laos for Key Meetings
   • What
     • Union Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Vientiane, Laos from July 25 to 27, 2024, for a series of meetings, including the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN-India Post-Ministerial Conference.
   • Tell me more
     • 57th ASEAN-Foreign Ministers Meeting: Held on July 25, 2024, in Vientiane, Laos, with the theme “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”. Attended by ASEAN member states and partners including India, China, Japan, and Australia.
     • ASEAN-India Post-Ministerial Conference: Took place on July 26, 2024. The conference reaffirmed the commitment to the ASEAN-India CSP and discussed the implementation of the ASEAN-India Plan of Action.
     • Logo for India-Brunei Diplomatic Relations: Launched on July 26, 2024, celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei.
     • Commemorative Stamp: Released on July 27, 2024, featuring Lord Ram Lalla of Ayodhya and Lord Buddha of Luang Prabang, marking the shared cultural heritage between India and Laos.
     • Common Yoga Protocol: Launched in Lao language on July 27, 2024, by EAM Jaishankar in Vientiane.

Source: IE MEA

Banking and Economy

1. RBI Imposes Penalties on Visa, Ola, and Manappuram
   • What
     • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed fines on Visa Worldwide, Ola Financial Services, and Manappuram Finance for failing to comply with regulatory requirements.
   • Why
     • The penalties were imposed due to violations of Know Your Customer (KYC) directions and other regulatory non-compliances.
   • Tell me more
     • Visa Worldwide: Fined Rs 2.4 crore for implementing a payment authentication solution without RBI clearance. The company acknowledged the RBI order and reaffirmed its commitment to adhering to regulations in all operating countries.
     • Manappuram Finance: Penalized Rs 41.5 lakh for failing to meet KYC requirements as set by the RBI.
     • Ola Financial Services: Fined Rs 87.55 lakh in two cases for KYC non-compliance and a shortfall in its escrow account balance. The company reported the shortfall and applied for compounding, which was granted following a personal hearing
       Source: TOI
2. HSBC Launches Digital Campaign for SIP Top-Ups
   • What
     • HSBC Mutual Fund has introduced a digital campaign named Apne #SIPKoDoPromotion to raise awareness about SIP Top-ups and their benefits in long-term wealth creation.
   • Why
     • The campaign aims to educate investors on the importance of SIP Top-ups in addressing inflation, changing lifestyles, and rising expenses, and to encourage them to align their investment strategies with their financial aspirations.
   • Tell me more
     • Apne #SIPKoDoPromotion: This campaign includes three 30-second films designed to demonstrate the benefits of SIP Top-ups. The films use real-life scenarios to highlight the need for increasing SIP amounts.
     • Film Details: The first film features a couple being interviewed by a child at an orphanage about their financial promotions. The second film shows a groom’s family being questioned about their money promotion during a marriage meeting. The third film depicts a family failing to answer questions about their wealth promotion while interviewing a cook.

3. Aditya Birla Group Launches Jewellery Brand Indriya
   • What
     • The Aditya Birla Group has launched a new jewellery brand, Indriya, entering the competitive jewellery market dominated by Tanishq and Reliance Jewels.
   • Why
     • The launch of Indriya aims to tap into the growing consumer market in India, expanding the group’s consumer business footprint and targeting a significant share of the affluent young population.
   • Tell me more
     • Indriya Launch: The Aditya Birla Group unveiled Indriya on Friday, with the first four stores opening in Delhi, Jaipur, and Indore. More than 10 cities are planned for expansion within six months.
     • Investment and Market Goals: The group plans to invest around Rs 5,000 crore in the jewellery segment, aiming for a top three position in the market.
       Source: TOI

Science and Technology

1. Azista BST Aerospace Gets UHF Ground Station Approval
   • What
     • The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has authorized Azista BST Aerospace Private Limited, Hyderabad, to establish and operate a ground station in the UHF frequency bands.
   • Why
     • This authorization aims to support satellite operations and offer Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) for telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) operations and data reception, catering to both Indian and international clients.
   • Tell me more
     • Dr. P K Jain, Director- Program Management and Authorization Directorate (PMAD) at IN-SPACe, emphasized that this move provides Indian satellite operators with alternative local ground station service providers.
       Source: HBL

Awards

1. TIME’s 2024 List Features Three Indian Destinations
   • What
     • TIME has included three Indian destinations in its annual list of the World’s Greatest Places 2024: Museum of Solutions (MuSo) in Mumbai, Manam Chocolate in Hyderabad, and NAAR in Himachal Pradesh.
   • Why
     • The recognition highlights these destinations for their unique offerings and contributions to tourism and local culture.
   • Tell me more
     • Museum of Solutions (MuSo): This Mumbai-based museum covers 100,000 square feet and includes interactive exhibits, creative labs, and a 220-seat amphitheater. Founded by Tanvi Jindal Shete, it aims to inspire creativity in children.
     • Manam Chocolate: Located in Hyderabad and owned by Chaitanya Muppala, this factory specializes in traditional Indian chocolates and collaborates with local farmers to promote Indian chocolate globally.
     • NAAR: Situated in Himachal Pradesh’s Amaya boutique hotel, NAAR offers fine dining with Himalayan cuisine and is led by Prateek Sadhu, known for his restaurant Masque in Mumbai.
       Source: IE

Important Days

1. World Hepatitis Day – July 28
   • Theme: It’s time for action

     Source: WHO

2. World Nature Conservation Day – July 28
   • This year’s theme is – Advocate for international cooperation and policy reforms to enhance environmental protection.
     Source: IT
3. International Tiger Day – July 29
   • The theme of the day aiming to raise awareness about the conservation of tigers and the urgent threats they face, such as habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.
     Source: IE
4. World Day Against Trafficking in Persons – July 30
   • Theme: Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking
     Source: IOM
5. International Friendship Day – July 30
   • Theme: Embracing Diversity, Fostering Unity
     Source: BS

Sports

1. Lewis Hamilton Wins Belgian Grand Prix
   • George Russell was disqualified after initially winning the Belgian Grand Prix due to a weight infringement. Lewis Hamilton, his Mercedes teammate, has been promoted to first place.
   • Hamilton is a British race car driver.
     Source: BT
2. India to Host 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup
   • What
     • India will host the 2025 edition of the men’s Asia Cup cricket tournament in T20 format.
   • Why
     • The T20 Asia Cup is designed to serve as a preparatory event for the T20 World Cup, which will be held in India in 2026.
   • Tell me more
     • 2023 Edition: The Asia Cup was hosted in Pakistan but played in Sri Lanka due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, following a ‘Hybrid Model’.
     • 2027 Asia Cup: Scheduled to be held in Bangladesh in ODI format, in preparation for the 50-over World Cup in South Africa in the same year.
     • Tournament Structure: Both the T20 Asia Cup in 2025 and the ODI Asia Cup in 2027 will feature 13 matches each.
       Source: ET

Appointments

1. Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro wins third term as President
   • Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner in Venezuela’s presidential election.
     Source: TH

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