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By admin: July 25, 2023

Shubhankar Sharma creates history with best ever performance by an Indian at 2023 Open Golf Championship

Tags: Sports News

Shubhankar Sharma achieved the best ever performance by an Indian golfer at the 2023 Open Golf Championship held at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Merseyside, England.

An Overview of the News 

• Showcasing remarkable skill and determination, Shubhankar Sharma tied for eighth place with Cameron Young of the United States.

• The hometown of Shubhankar Sharma is Jhansi, which is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

• Brian Herman of the USA has won the 2023 Open Golf Championship.

• Prior to Sharma's feat, Anirban Lahiri had the best Indian finish in a major tournament with a top-5 finish in 2015 and Jeev Milkha Singh finished T-9 at the 2008 PGA Championship.

• Previously, Jyoti Randhawa held the record for the best finish by an Indian golfer at the Open in 2004 with a tied-27th place.

• Prior to Shubhankar Sharma's achievement, the best finish by an Indian golfer in a men's major was Anirban Lahiri's tied-fifth finish at the 2015 PGA Championship in Wisconsin, US.

About The Open Championship

• It is recognized as the British Open, the oldest and most prestigious golf tournament globally and one of the four major championships on the PGA Tour.

• The tournament's history dates back to 1860, and its inaugural winner was Willie Parks Sr., who was awarded the title of "Champion Golfer of the Year".

Kerala Governor launches Malayalam translation of 'Krishna - The 7th Sense'

Tags: Books and Authors State News

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan released the Malayalam translation of the book "Krishna - The 7th Sense" written by Debasish Chatterjee, Director, IIM-Kozhikode.

An Overview of the News 

• During the event, the Hon'ble Governor also unveiled the latest edition of Chatterjee's book "Karma Sutra - Leadership and Wisdom in Uncertain Times", a flagship book in the IIMK-Penguin series for budding managers.

• Debasish Chatterjee is a globally acclaimed management guru and an accomplished educationist, with 18 books to his credit in the non-fiction category.

• "Krishna - The 7th Sense" is Professor Chatterjee's award winning debut novel.

• The event was significant as it marked the release of the Malayalam version of the novel, making it accessible to a wider audience in Kerala.

Krishna: The 7th Sense Background:

• It is an allegorical novel written by renowned author and management professor Debasish Chatterjee of global repute.

• The story revolves around a teacher named Keshav and his former students, including Neel and Kaya, who provide a deeper insight into their lives and relationships.

• The novel explores themes of love, passion, pain, acceptance, affection, trust, and satisfaction, combining both ancient and contemporary elements.

• The novel has been described as a captivating blend of "The Prophet" and "The Alchemist", promising a mesmerizing and transformative reading experience.

For the first time in India, the Rajasthan government introduced the Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Bill, 2023

Tags: Government Schemes

The Rajasthan government has introduced the Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers Bill, 2023, making it the first state in India to ensure social security assurance for gig workers.

An Overview of the News 

• As part of this initiative, Rajasthan platform based Gig Workers Welfare Board will be set up to support gig workers in the state.

• The Welfare Board will enable gig workers to register with all state aggregators, thereby ensuring better access to opportunities and benefits.

• An integrated fee deduction mechanism will be set up within aggregator apps, and non-compliance with the provisions of the Bill will attract a fine of ₹5 lakh for the first offence and ₹50 lakh for subsequent offences.

• Gig workers will be empowered with a standardized unique ID applicable across all platforms, giving them access to various social security programs and allowing them to effectively raise grievances.

• Gig workers will be represented on the board, giving them a say in decision-making processes related to their well-being.

• India's gig workforce is expected to reach 23.5 million by 2030, and recognizing their importance, the Social Security Code (2020) has a dedicated section for gig workers, ensuring they receive social security benefits.

About Rajasthan

• It is bordered by five other Indian states: Punjab to the north; Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the northeast; Madhya Pradesh in the southeast; and Gujarat in the southwest.

• Rajasthan is also home to three national tiger reserves, Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota.

• The state was formed on 30 March 1949 when Rajputana was merged with the Dominion of India.

Capital- Jaipur

District - 33 (7 Circle)

Governor - Kalraj Mishra

Chief Minister - Ashok Gehlot (INC)

Legislative Assembly - Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (200 seats)

Rajya Sabha - 10 seats

Lok Sabha - 25 seats

Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court: Augustine George Masih.

Delhi launches first 'Water ATM' to provide clean water in water-scarce areas

Tags: Government Schemes

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently inaugurated the city's first 'Water ATM', which aims to provide clean water to areas lacking piped water supply.

An Overview of the News

• The 'Water ATM' initiative aims to reduce dependence on water tankers and ensure that underprivileged sections of society have access to the same quality of reverse osmosis (RO) water as more affluent areas.

• The Delhi government, through the Delhi Jal Board, plans to tackle water scarcity by setting up 500 RO plants with integrated 'water ATM machines' in areas facing water supply issues.

• Each of the 500 RO plants will have a capacity of 30,000 litres and will be strategically located depending on the availability of tubewells. The government will provide the necessary land, and the cost of ₹10 lakh per plant will be borne by the Delhi Jal Board.

• Beneficiaries of this initiative will receive RFID cards from DJB, which will give them access to a daily free water quota of 20 litres. Usage beyond this limit will attract a charge of 8 paise per litre.

• The initiative is led by Delhi's Water Minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj and aims to ensure free and safe access to clean drinking water for residents of areas facing water scarcity.

India Bans Non-basmati White Rice Exports

Tags: National News

India banned the export of non-basmati white rice to stabilise the volatility in retail prices within the country.

An Overview of the News 

• This decision was taken by the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs.

• The ban applies to all exports of "non-basmati white rice".

• India's decision is significant as it is the world's leading rice exporter.

• An exemption from the ban will be granted to countries that request the export of white rice.

• Countries seeking exceptions must meet their own food safety requirements and obtain formal approval from their respective governments.

• The primary objective of the ban is to stabilise the volatility of retail prices within India.

• Two major challenges affecting India's rice production are global food prices affected by the war in Ukraine and unpredictable weather conditions, including heavy monsoon rains in northern rice-growing states and insufficient rainfall in other regions.

Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT):

• DGFT is an important agency under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• Its headquarter is in New Delhi, India.

• DGFT plays an important role in regulating and enforcing laws related to foreign trade.

• One of its major responsibilities is to formulate and implement foreign trade policy.

• The foreign trade policy aims to promote India's export activities and create a conducive environment for international trade.

• The current Director General of DGFT is Amit Yadav.

Former Australian and New South Wales wicketkeeper Brian Taber passed away at the age of 83

Tags: Person in news

On 22nd July 2023, Former Australia and New South Wales wicketkeeper Brian Taber passed away at the age of 83.

An Overview of the News 

• He represented Australia in 16 Tests from 1966 to 1970, making his debut against South Africa in Johannesburg. During his debut match, he achieved an impressive feat of seven catches and one stumping.

• Throughout his career, Taber played against strong opponents such as England, India and the West Indies. His highest Test score was 48 against the West Indies at Sydney in 1969, where Australia won by 382 runs.

• In domestic cricket, he played over 100 games for New South Wales and was honoured with a place in the state's Hall of Fame.

• After retiring from active play, Tabor contributed to the sport in various capacities, serving as coach and selector for New South Wales and managing the Australian under-19 men's team.

• In recognition of his significant contribution to cricket, Brian Tabor has been elected to the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame in 2021.

• Known for his affable personality, he was regarded as one of the best men in Australian cricket, earning him a reputation as a "wonderful team man", as described by former Test captain Brian Booth.

• In 2014, a book detailing Tabor's life was published, highlighting his remarkable journey and achievements in the world of cricket.

Lokesh M appointed as new CEO of Noida Authority

Tags: Person in news

Lokesh M, a 2005-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the new CEO of the Noida Authority, replacing Ritu Maheshwari, who is now the Divisional Commissioner, Agra.

An Overview of the News

• Key priorities of CEO Lokesh M: Focusing on industrial development and setting up a better public hearing system.

• Scheme to address the issues of allottees, farmers and citizen grievances.

• They aim to make Noida a "City Beautiful" and improve the living conditions for the residents.

• Emphasis was laid on efficient delivery of services to the citizens.

Background of Lokesh M:

• He is originally from Karnataka.

• He completed his training in the year 2006 at Aligarh.

• From 2009 to 2016, he served as District Magistrate and Collector in various districts including Mainpuri, Kushinagar, Etah, Ghazipur, Amroha and Kaushambi.

• After his deputation to Karnataka, he served there from 2016 to 2021.

• Later he became the Divisional Commissioner of Saharanpur.

• On 31 May he was appointed Agra Commissioner.

• Prior to joining as the CEO of Noida Authority, he served as the Kanpur Commissioner.

Odisha CM approves Mission Shakti scooter scheme

Tags: Government Schemes

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved the Mission Shakti Scooter Scheme, a scheme designed to provide interest subsidy to beneficiaries on bank loans up to Rs 1,00,000 to buy scooters.

An Overview of the News 

• The initiative targets Mission Shakti federation leaders and community support staff, providing affordable access to two-wheelers. This is expected to increase their efficiency, effectiveness and reach within the community.

• The scheme aims to benefit about 75,000 community support staff members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and about 1,25,000 federation leaders associated with SHGs.

• For the next five years, the state government has allocated a budget of Rs 528.55 crore to implement the Mission Shakti scooter scheme while ensuring wider reach. The goal is to empower a large number of Community Support Staff and Executive Committee (EC) members across the state.

Mission Shakti:

• It was launched on 8 March 2001 by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. 

• It is a state sponsored program that empowers women in Odisha through Self Help Group approach.

• The program emphasises the importance of SHGs and their federations in providing social security and driving social action in various areas such as health, nutrition, sanitation and gender-related issues.

• Mission Shakti provides a platform for women to achieve economic independence and promote collective development, furthering their empowerment in the society.

About Odisha

• Formation - 1 April 1936

• Capital - Bhubaneswar

• Governor - Ganeshi Lal

• Chief Minister - Naveen Patnaik

• Rajya Sabha - 10 seats

• Lok Sabha - 21 seats