1. Anurag Thakur releases three books chronicling Presidents of India
Tags: National News
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur on 24 July released three books published by the Directorate of Publications Division.
Important facts
On the occasion of the launch, the Minister presented the first copy of the books in the presence of President of India Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, President Elected Smt. Draupadi Murmu.
Some rare photographs of President Ram Nath Kovind and former Presidents of the country have been given in these books.
Kovind, who was sworn in as the 14th President of India on July 25, 2017, completes his five-year term on 24 July.
Draupadi Murmu took oath as the 15th President of the Republic on 25 July.
These three volumes have been published by the Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Name of the books
Moods, Moments and Memories - Former Presidents of India (1950-2017) A Visual History
First Citizen - Pictorial Record of President Ram Nath Kovind's Term
Interpreting Geometries - Flooring of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
2. China launches 2nd space station module
Tags: Science and Technology International News
China launched the second of three modules needed to complete its new space station on July 24 as part of the latest step in the ambitious space program.
Important facts
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the giant Long March-5B Y3 carrier rocket, Wentian, was successfully launched from the Wenchang spacecraft launch site off the coast of the southern island province of Hainan.
The new module will serve as a backup to the core module, Tianhe, and as a powerful scientific experiment platform in the space station currently being built by China.
In the coming weeks, the Wentian will be transformed by a robotic device from a forward docking port to a lateral port, where it will remain and be ready for long-term operation.
The construction of China's Tiangong space station is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
This will complete the construction of Tiangong, the space station taking shape in China's space.
With the establishment of this space station, China will be the third country in the world to have its own space station.
Tianhe module
It was launched in April 2021, and the Mengtian module is set to be launched in October this year.
About 18 meters (60 ft) long and weighing 22 tons (48,500 lb), the new module has three sleeping areas and space for scientific experiments.
It will combine with Tiangong's already dispatched modules to shape the space station.
Tiangong Space Station
This is a Chinese space station being built in low Earth orbit between 340 and 450 kilometres above the earth.
It is part of China's manned space program and is the country's first long-term space station.
3. Henley Passport Index 2022
Tags: International News
India has been ranked 87 out of the world's 199 most powerful passports in 2022 in the Henley Passport Index 2022 published by immigration consultancy Henley & Partners.
Important facts
The ranking was based on the number of destinations that passport holders can reach without prior visas.
Countries' performance in the index
Japan ranks first among 199 countries. It is followed by Singapore and South Korea.
Japan's passport allows entry to 193 countries without a prior visa. Singapore and South Korea, on the other hand, allow seamless entry into 192 countries.
in Asian countries; India, Mauritius and Tajikistan are ranked 87th with hassle-free entry to 67 countries without prior visas.
China and Bolivia are ranked 69th with their passports allowing access to 80 destinations.
Bangladesh is ranked 104th.
With access to 32 destinations, Pakistan has the fourth worst passport in the world.
Afghan passport holders have access to only 27 countries. Iraqi passport, on the other hand, provides hassle-free entry to 29 countries. These two countries have been placed at the bottom.
The top 10 countries on the list of the most powerful passports in the world include Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Spain, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria and Denmark (in order).
4. SC accepts Banthia Commission report for OBCs in Local Body Elections in Maharashtra
Tags: State News National News
On July 20, 2022, the Supreme Court of India accepted the report of the Jayant Kumar Banathia Commission on Reservation in Local Bodies.
Important facts
The court has directed the Maharashtra State Election Commission to conduct elections according to this report.
It also directed to take steps to hold the stalled elections in the state on an urgent basis and to announce the schedule of elections in the next two weeks.
The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by Rahul Wagh against reservation in 2021.
Report of 'Jayant Kumar Banthia Commission’
This report has paved the way for OBC candidates in the local bodies elections in Maharashtra.
This commission has recommended 27 more reservations in local bodies. This recommendation has been accepted by the Supreme Court. Thus, OBCs will get 27% political reservation in the local self-government elections to be held in the state.
According to this report, reservation should be provided to OBCs in proportion to their population in every local body. However, this reservation should not affect the statutory reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This is subject to the reservation limit of 50%.
The Jayant Kumar Banthia Commission is a six-member commission, set up by the Maharashtra government in March 2022 to look into the matter of reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies.
It submitted its report on 7 July 2022.
5. Russia, Ukraine sign historic grain deal with Turkey
Tags: International News
For the first time since the war, Russia and Ukraine signed a historic deal with the United Nations and Turkey on July 22 to restart grain shipments, which could ease the global food crisis.
What is the deal about?
The agreement has been reached through the mediation of the United Nations and Turkey.
The aim is to reopen the Black Sea delivery routes that are important for grain exports.
The deal, agreed through UN and Turkish mediation, establishes secure corridors along which Ukrainian ships can move in and out of three designated Black Sea ports in and around Odessa.
Both sides also promised not to attack ships en route or outside.
What is the grain export deal?
The deal provides for the safe passage of ships.
Ships must undergo inspection to ensure that they are not carrying weapons.
Ukraine has said that no Russian ships will guard the ships and that there will be no Russian representatives at Ukrainian ports.
Significance of the deal
It will provide relief to developing countries on the verge of bankruptcy and the most vulnerable on the brink of famine.
The five-month Russia-Ukraine war has already displaced millions and claimed thousands of lives.
Huge quantities of wheat and other grain have been blocked by Russian warships and landmines in Ukraine's ports.
Ukraine is one of the world's biggest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but a naval blockade of Russia's ports has halted shipments.
Ukraine is expected to export 22 million tonnes of grain and other agricultural products that are stuck in Black Sea ports because of the war.
6. Law panel to examine simultaneous elections
Tags: National News
The Union Law Minister told the Lok Sabha that the Law Commission had been sent to prepare a workable road map for holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections and a roadmap in this regard could be prepared.
Important facts
A parliamentary committee had examined the issue of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in consultation with various stakeholders, including the Election Commission (EC).
The committee has made some recommendations in this regard.
The 21st Law Commission in its draft report had said that it is feasible to hold simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State Legislatures which need to be conducted.
What are simultaneous polls?
At present, elections to state assemblies and Lok Sabha are held separately.
Simultaneous Poll is about structuring elections in India in such a way that elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies can be held simultaneously.
The idea of "One Nation, One Election" envisages a system where elections to all the states and the Lok Sabha should be held simultaneously.
The matter has been referred to the Law Commission for further investigation to prepare a practical roadmap for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Need of simultaneous election
It minimizes labour, time and expenditure in the conduct of elections.
There is duplication of expenditure in preparing a separate electoral roll.
This reduces the burden on the administrative system and the security forces.
The Law Commission in its 255th report in 2015 had recommended simultaneous elections for a single electoral roll.
This ensures timely implementation of the policies of the government.
7. 68th National Film Awards : Soorarai Pottru wins Best Film award
Tags: Awards National News
Tamil movie “Soorarai Pottru” got national awards for the Best Feature Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Background Score and the Best Screenplay at the 68th National Film Awards-2020 announced on 22 July.
Important facts
The movie also won the prize of Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
The film is inspired by the real-life story of GR Gopinath, the founder of India's first low-cost airline.
The story of this film focuses on the dream of providing low cost air travel to common people.
Soorarai Pottru is produced by Suriya and Guneet Monga under their 2D Entertainment and Sikhya Entertainment banners.
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn shared the best actor title with Suriya for his performance in the period drama 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior'.
This year, the winners were selected from 305 feature films in 30 languages and 148 non-feature films in 28 languages that were received as entries.
The winners were selected by a 10-member jury headed by Hindi filmmaker Vipul Shah.
The awards were announced by jury member Dharam Gulati.
All the notable awards are as follows-
Best Feature Film - 'Soorarai Pottru'
Best Actor (shared) - Suriya for 'Soorarai Pottru' Ajay Devgn for 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior'
Best Actress - Aparna Balamurali for 'Soorarai Pottru'
Best Popular Film - Providing Wholesome Entertainment 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior'
Best Director (posthumous award) - KR Sachidanandan, better known as Sachy, for 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum'
Best Supporting Actor Award - Biju Menon for 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum'
Best Supporting Actress - Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli for 'Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum' (Tamil)
Best Screenplay - Shalini Usha Nair and Sudha Kongara for 'Soorarai Pottru'
Best Music Direction (Background Score) - GV Prakash Kumar for 'Soorarai Pottru'
Best Action Direction (Stunt Choreography) - 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum'
Best Playback Female Singer - Nanchamma for 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum'
Best Playback Singer Male - Rahul Deshpande for 'Mi Vasantrao' (Marathi)
Best Editing - Sreekar Prasad for 'Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengallum'
Best Hindi Film - 'Toolsidas Junior'
Best Music Direction (Songs) - Thaman S for 'Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo' (Telugu)
Best Lyrics - Manoj Muntashir for 'Saina' (Hindi)
Best Make-up Artist - TV Rambabu for 'Natyam' (Telugu)
Best Choreography - Sandhya Raju for 'Natyam'
Indira Gandhi Award - Best Debut Film of a Director Madonne Ashwin for 'Mandela' (Tamil)
Best Dialogue Writer - Madonne Ashwin for 'Mandela'
Best Cinematography - Supratim Bhol for 'Avijatrik' (Bengali)
Most Film-Friendly State - Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh
Best Book on Cinema - Kishwar Desai for 'The Longest Kiss'
About National Film Awards
It was established in 1954.
This Awards is one of the most prestigious and much looked-forward-to events in the country.
Awards are given in three categories - Feature, Non-Features and Best Writing on Cinema.
The winners of the awards are decided by a jury consisting of eminent persons in the fields of cinema, other allied arts and humanities.
8. Indian embassy to organise second edition of North-East India Festival in Bangkok
Tags: International News National News
The second edition of the Festival of Northeast India is being organised by the Embassy of India in Bangkok Central World in association with Trend MMS of India from July 29 to July 31, 2022.
Important facts
The first edition of this festival was held in February 2019.
This has opened up business opportunities for the Indian business community of the North East.
Trade has got a boost especially in the fields of tourism, agriculture and food processing.
This year's Northeast India Festival will focus more on promoting trade, investment and tourism.
In addition, there will be more opportunities for culture, education and people-to-people exchanges.
The three-day festival will be inaugurated on July 29, 2022.
Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs will be the Chief Guest for the festival.
9. Indian embassy to organise second edition of North-East India Festival in Bangkok
Tags: International News National News
The second edition of the Festival of Northeast India is being organised by the Embassy of India in Bangkok Central World in association with Trend MMS of India from July 29 to July 31, 2022.
Important facts
The first edition of this festival was held in February 2019.
This has opened up business opportunities for the Indian business community of the North East.
Trade has got a boost especially in the fields of tourism, agriculture and food processing.
This year's Northeast India Festival will focus more on promoting trade, investment and tourism.
In addition, there will be more opportunities for culture, education and people-to-people exchanges.
The three-day festival will be inaugurated on July 29, 2022.
Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs will be the Chief Guest for the festival.
10. Jawaharlal Nehru Port becomes first full landlord port of India
Tags: National News
Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNP) has become India's first major 100% landlord port, with all the docks operating on the 'Private-Public Partnership' (PPP) model.
Landlord Model
In this model, the publicly governed port authority (owner)acts as a regulatory body and a 'landlord', while all other functions relating to port operations are performed by private companies.
In return, the 'landlord port' receives a portion of the revenue from the private entity.
Earlier, the government had proposed to set up a major port at Wadhawan (India's 13th major port) near Dahanu in Maharashtra based on the 'Landlord Model'.
About 'Jawaharlal Nehru Port'
Mumbai's 'Jawaharlal Nehru Port', is one of the leading container ports in the country and ranked 26th among the top 100 global ports - as per Lloyd's List Top 100 Ports 2021 report.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Container Terminal (JNPCT), is currently handling 9000 TEU capacity vessels and with the upgrade, it can handle 12200 TEU capacity vessels.
At present, there are 12 major ports in India – Deendayal (formerly Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), VO Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia).
