1. TCRM Matrix Framework unveiled by NITI Aayog to enhance technology assessment and innovation
Tags: National News
NITI Aayog released the Techno-Commercial Readiness and Market Maturity Matrix (TCRM Matrix) framework for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in India on 18 July 2023.
An Overview of the news:
- The TCRM Matrix Framework released by NITI Aayog is a pioneering assessment tool developed to revolutionize technology assessment, foster innovation and encourage entrepreneurship in India.
- This action plan paper highlights the historical evolution of the Technology Framework, including the Technology Readiness Level (TRL), Commercialization Readiness Level (CRL), and Market Readiness Level (MRL) scales.
- By building on the core principles of these frameworks, the TCRM Matrix Framework presents an integrated assessment model that provides deep insights and actionable intelligence to stakeholders at every stage of the technology development cycle.
- The Action Plan paper provides clear guidelines for integrating the TCRM Matrix framework within the wider innovation ecosystem.
- By doing so, policy makers, strategists, academics and investors can harness its full potential and drive meaningful change.
- Adoption of the TCRM Matrix framework requires a comprehensive analysis and contextualization within specific national and regional innovation scenarios.
- The launch of the Techno-Commercial Readiness and Market Maturity Matrix (TCRM Matrix) framework is a milestone for India's innovation and entrepreneurship landscape.
National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog:
- On January 1, 2015, a new institution NITI Aayog was formed in place of the Planning Commission, envisaging maximum governance, minimum government, emphasizing the spirit of 'cooperative federalism'.
Composition of NITI Aayog:
- Chairman: Prime Minister
- Vice President: Appointed by the Prime Minister
- Governing Council: Chief Ministers of all States and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories.
- Regional Council: The Prime Minister or his nominee presides over meetings of Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors to address specific regional issues.
- Ex-officio Membership: Up to four members of the Union Council of Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister.
- Ad-hoc Membership: Two ex-officio members by rotation from leading research institutions.
- Chief Executive Officer: Secretary to the Government of India who is appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed term.
- Special Invitees: Experts in various fields nominated by the Prime Minister.
2. President conferred Bhoomi Samman 2023
Tags: Awards National News
On July 18, 2023, Indian President Draupadi Murmu presented the "Bhoomi Samman" 2023 at a function organized by the Union Ministry of Rural Development at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
An Overview of the news:
- The awards were received by the State Secretaries and District Collectors along with their teams who have shown excellence in achieving completion of major components of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Program (DILRMP).
Honor to the secretaries of nine states and officers of 68 districts:
- Officers of the team of total 68 districts including nine secretaries of Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tripura and West Bengal were honored at the Bhoomi Samman-2023 function held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Most awards to Odisha and Madhya Pradesh:
- Among these, 57 officers from 19 districts of Odisha, 35 officers from 15 districts of Madhya Pradesh, who received maximum awards, were awarded Bhoomi Samman by the President.
Digital India Land Records Modernization Program (DILRMP):
- DILRMP was launched by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj in August 2008 for the digitization of land records.
Objective of DILRMP:
- Modernization of land records management,
- To reduce the scope of land/property disputes,
- Increase transparency in the land records maintenance system and
- To facilitate eventual move towards guaranteed adjudication rights for immovable properties in the country.
Main components of DILRMP:
- Change of land ownership;
- Digitization of maps and integration of curriculum and spatial data;
- Survey/Re-survey and
- Computerization of all land records including original land records.
Rural development is necessary for overall development:
- Speaking on the occasion, President Murmu said that it was necessary to accelerate rural development for the overall development of the country, as the livelihood of the majority of the rural population depended on land resources.
- Transparency will increase with the digitization of a comprehensive integrated land management system in rural areas.
Benefits to come:
- Digitization of land records and its linkage with various government departments will help in proper implementation of welfare schemes.
- Now this document will be protected from damages caused by calamities like flood and fire.
- This will reduce the time wasted by the administration and the judiciary in disputes related to the land of a large population of the country.
- Through digitization and information connectivity, the energy of people and institutions, which used to be spent in resolving disputes, will now be used for development.
Land Parcel Identification Number:
- Under the Digital India Land Information Management System, a unique Land Parcel Identification Number is being provided, which can be used like an Aadhaar card.
- This number will be helpful in making and implementing new welfare schemes along with proper use of land.
- Linking e-courts with the land records and registration data-base would have many benefits.
- Digitization of land will bring transparency in administration.
- Unethical and illegal activities related to land will be curbed.
- Now getting land related information in a free and convenient way will have many other benefits.
3. Razorpay launches first international payment gateway in Malaysia
Tags: International News
Fintech firm Razorpay launched its first international Razorpay gateway in Malaysia in partnership with Curlec.
An Overview of the News
The payment gateway aims to serve over 5,000 businesses in Malaysia and achieve 10 billion RM (Malaysian Ringgit) in annual gross transaction value (GTV) by 2025.
The payment gateway provided by Curlec simplifies payment collection and automates payments for businesses of all sizes.
The move by Razorpay follows the acquisition of a majority stake in Malaysia-based startup Curlec in February 2022.
Digital business in Malaysia currently contributes 22.6% to the country's GDP.
It is projected that the contribution of digital trade to Malaysia's GDP will increase to 25.5% by 2025.
About Razorpay
Establishment - 2013
Founder - Shashank Kumar, Harshil Mathur
CEO - Harshil Mathur
Headquarters - Bangalore, India
4. China launches world's first methane-fuelled space rocket
Tags: Science and Technology International News
China's ZhuQue-2 Y-2 became the world's first methane-fuelled rocket to successfully reach orbit.
An Overview of the News
The methane-powered rocket, known as Metalox, followed the anticipated trajectory and completed its flight as planned.
Methane engines provide improved performance while significantly reducing operating costs, contributing to the advancement of reusable rocket technology.
Metalox rockets use methane as the fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer, with specific design considerations compared to conventional rockets.
Methane offers advantages as a rocket propellant, including high energy density, favourable combustion characteristics, and wide availability.
Important Point
Landspace has become the second private Chinese company to successfully launch a liquid-propellant rocket.
Beijing Tianbing Technology successfully launched the kerosene-oxygen rocket.
About China
Capital: Beijing
Official language: Mandarin
CCP General Secretary, President, CMC Chairman - Xi Jinping
Congress President - Zhao Leji
CPPCC Chairman - Wang Huning
5. Union Minister Piyush Goyal launches sale of subsidised chana dal under the brand name 'Bharat Dal'
Tags: National News
Piyush Goyal launches sale of subsidised Chana Dal under the brand name 'Bharat Dal' at affordable prices
An Overview of the News
The objective of subsidised chana dal is to make pulses available to the consumers at affordable prices.
The government's stock of gram is converted into chana dal for distribution.
Availability and Outlets:
Retail outlets of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) in Delhi-NCR selling the chana dal.
NAFED undertakes milling and packaging of the Chana Dal.
Distribution through retail outlets of NAFED, NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar, and Safal.
State governments can procure chana dal for their welfare schemes, police, jails, and consumer cooperative outlets.
Versatile Usage and Nutritional Benefits of Chana:
Chana is the most abundantly produced pulse in India, consumed in various forms.
Chana whole: Soaked and boiled for salads.
Roasted chana: Served as snacks.
Fried chana dal: Alternative to tur dal in curries and soups.
Chana besan: Major raw material for namkeens and sweets.
Nutritional benefits: Rich in fibre, iron, potassium, vitamin B, selenium, beta carotene, and choline.
Supports various health aspects: Control of anaemia, blood sugar, bone health, and mental health.
6. Israel Parliament Approves Bill Limiting Supreme Court's Power
Tags: International News
Israel's parliament approved a bill in its first reading that aims to limit the Supreme Court's oversight powers.
An Overview of the News
The bill received a majority of 64 to 56 in favor of the proposed limit, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right ruling coalition overwhelming the opposition.
The bill is part of a controversial judicial reform initiated by Netanyahu's government, raising concerns about the erosion of checks and balances within the government system.
The bill still needs two more votes to become law. With Netanyahu's ruling coalition holding a 64-seat majority in parliament, the bill is likely to pass. If this happens, there is a possibility of intensifying the protests.
The Bill aims to limit the power of the Supreme Court to invalidate decisions taken by the government, ministries and elected officials as unreasonable.
About Israel
Capital - Jerusalem
Prime Minister - Benjamin Netanyahu
Official language - Hebrew
7. UAE becomes first Arab country to get observer status on Asia-Pacific money laundering
Tags: International News
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the first Arab country to receive observer status in the Asia/Pacific Group (APG) on Money Laundering, a regional body similar to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
An Overview of the News
The UAE is participating as an observer at the plenary session of the APG, which is currently taking place in Vancouver, Canada.
Obtaining observer status reflects the UAE's commitment to international cooperation in combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Observer status is awarded to countries that actively and cooperatively combat financial crime, and the UAE has demonstrated this through its participation in organizations such as MENAFATF and other multilateral fora.
The UAE delegation attending the APG plenary session is led by Hamid Al Zaabi, Director-General of the Executive Office for Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (EO AML/CTF).
The delegation includes representatives from the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and other government officials.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Location: It is located in Western Asia.
Geographical Boundaries: It shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Maritime Borders: It also has maritime borders with Qatar and Iran in the Persian Gulf.
Religion: Islam is the dominant religion in the UAE, with the majority of the population being Sunni Muslim.
Capital - Abu Dhabi
Official language - Arabic
Government - Federal Islamic parliamentary elective semi-constitutional monarchy
President/Crown Prince - Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Vice President - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
8. World's largest International Temple Convention and Expo organized in Varanasi
Tags: National News
The world's largest International Temple Convention and Expo (ITCX) will be organized from 22 to 24 July 2023 at the Rudraksh Convention Center in Varanasi.
An Overview of the news:
- Conceived by Temple Connect (India), it is the world's first event solely dedicated to the management of temples.
- The conference will focus on nurturing and empowering the governance, management and operations of the world and temple ecosystem.
Conference Participation:
- More than 450 temple functionaries from 25 countries are expected to participate in the conference.
- Along with Hindus, office bearers of Math-Temples and Gurudwaras belonging to Sikh, Buddhist and Jainism have also been invited.
Launch of the conference:
- The conference will be inaugurated by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on July 22.
- The event will be held at Rudraksh Convention Centre.
- For the first time, the International Temples Convention & Expo is being organized by Temple Connect.
Conference organized under Incredible India:
- The three-day event is being organized as part of the Incredible India campaign in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Tourism.
- In this, development, empowerment of temple management, operation and administration will be discussed.
- According to the founder of Temple Connect, best practices will be created for the teams of the leading places of worship in the world.
Theme of the conference:
- During this conference, the experience of pilgrims visiting temples, monasteries and gurudwaras will be asked, topics like crowd management, solid waste management and what should be improved in basic facilities will also be discussed.
- The conference will serve as a platform to introduce the world to India's rich heritage of places of worship, while learning about the diverse cultures, traditions, arts and crafts of places of worship around the world.
9. Operation Broader Sword: Indo-US joint initiative to stop illegal shipments
Tags: International News
In June 2023, India and the United States jointly launched 'Operation Broader Sword' with the goal of stopping the illegal transportation of pharmaceuticals, equipment and precursor chemicals through the International Mail System (IMS).
An Overview of the News
The operation was aimed at disrupting the flow of illegal substances entering the United States from India.
The operation primarily focused on packages entering the United States from India through the two major International Mail Facilities (IMF) located at New York (JFK International Airport) and Chicago (ORD International Airport).
During the operation, investigators thoroughly examined more than 1,500 shipments originating from India, and took conclusive action on nearly 500 products. These operations primarily targeted illegal drugs intended to treat serious illnesses.
Many of the shipments were found to contain opioids and other controlled substances, highlighting the importance of the operation in combating illegal drug trafficking.
Collaborative Effort:
Operation Broader Sword involved collaboration of multiple agencies from both countries. These include India's Department of Revenue Retail Investigation (DRI) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
10. Edgars Rinkevic becomes the first openly gay head of state of the European Union
Tags: International News
Latvia's former foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics achieved a historic feat as the first openly gay head of state in the European Union.
An Overview of the News
Following his role as Foreign Minister, Rinkevic was officially sworn in as President of Latvia.
Rinkewicz pledged to prioritise the fight for inclusion and equality during his presidency.
Rinkevics aims to use his limited powers to influence legislation and shape public opinion, with the goal of making Latvia a more inclusive and egalitarian country.
Rinkevics served as the Foreign Minister of Latvia from 2011 until his recent resignation.
In November 2014, Rinkewicz publicly came out as gay and became a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
Status of LGBTQ+ rights in Latvia
Latvia currently bans same-sex marriage, making it illegal within the country.
Latvia's constitutional court recognized same-sex unions last year, indicating progress toward legal recognition.
Latvia:
It is a country on the Baltic Sea, situated between Lithuania and Estonia.
The capital of Latvia is Riga, known for its remarkable woodwork and Art Nouveau architecture.
St. Peter's Church is a popular tourist destination in Riga's mediaeval Old Town.
Capital - Riga
Prime Minister - Krisjanis Karins
Official language - Latvian
