1. Centre dedicates 166 CNG stations across 14 states
Tags: National News
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on 15 July virtually dedicated 166 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations across 14 states of the country.
Important facts
These CNG stations have been set up by Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and nine of its group City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies.
This is an important step towards expanding the availability of eco-friendly CNG to the transport sector, households and industry in India.
These CNG stations, commissioned at a cost of Rs 400 crore, will further strengthen the gas based infrastructure and availability of clean fuel in the country.
This will stimulate the market for CNG vehicles and will have a huge impact on manufacturing, skill development and job creation.
The number of CNG stations will be increased to eight thousand in the next two years.
Presently the number of CNG stations has crossed 4500 as compared to 2014 when there were around 900 CNG stations across the country.
Ambitious target of expanding the share of Natural Gas
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious target of increasing the share of natural gas in the primary energy mix to 15% to enter a gas-based economy.
The development of the gas-based economy is expected to play an important role in achieving India's goal of net zero by 2070.
What is Hydrogen Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG)?
Combination of hydrogen with CNG gives a compound gas known as HCNG.
It is a mixture of compressed natural gas and 4-9 per cent hydrogen by energy.
It can also be used as a fuel in internal combustion engines and for home appliances.
Compared to conventional CNG, the use of H-CNG can reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by up to 70%.
It is capable of saving up to 5% in fuel.
2. Iran, Belarus to be newest SCO members
Tags: International News
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is all set to expand with Iran joining the group as its ninth member, while Belarus has applied for membership.
Important facts
The decision to include Iran was made at last year's Dushanbe summit and Belarus has applied for its membership.
This is the first expansion of the SCO after India and Pakistan joined the grouping in 2017.
The significance of this expansion is that it reflects the growing international influence of the SCO and also shows that the principles of the SCO Charter are being widely accepted.
India will host the SCO summit next year, and Varanasi has been selected as the SCO region’s first “Tourism and Cultural Capital”.
What is Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)?
It is a permanent intergovernmental international organization.
It was founded in 2001.
The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and came into force in 2003.
It is a Eurasian political, economic and military organization.
Its aim is to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
China, Russia and four Central Asian states – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan – were founding members of the SCO.
Official Languages - Russian and Chinese
Chairmanship - On the basis of rotation for a year by Member States
3. IIT Madras tops ministry of education's India Rankings 2022
Tags: National News
The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has secured the first position in the 2022 India Ranking of the best higher education institutions in the country released by the Ministry of Education.
Important facts
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and IIT, Bombay have secured the second and third positions respectively.
This ranking is prepared by the Ministry of Education by dividing the educational institutions across the country into different categories.
Under this overall university, college, engineering, management, pharmacy, law, medicine, architecture, dentistry and research category come.
Best University - Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
It is followed by JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia at the second and third positions respectively.
Best Management Institute - IIM Ahmedabad
IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta have secured the second and third positions respectively.
Best Engineering College - IIT Madras
IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay have secured the second and third positions respectively.
Best College - Miranda House, Delhi
The Hindu College of Delhi is second and the Presidency College of Chennai is at the third position.
Best Medical College - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Best Dental College - Savita Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai
Best Pharmacy Institute - Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
Best Architectural Institute - Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
Best Law Institute - National Law School of India University, Bangalore
Overall Top 5 Institutes
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
4. "Cost of Living Crisis in Developing Countries" report
Tags: International News
On July 14, 2022, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) published its "Cost of Living Crisis in Developing Countries" report.
About the report
Title - Addressing the crisis of cost of living in developing countries: Poverty and vulnerability estimates and policy responses.
Objectives of the report
It estimates the potential impacts of food and energy inflation on global poverty and vulnerability.
According to this report, the global livelihood crisis is pushing another 71 million people into extreme poverty in the world's poorest countries.
An analysis of more than 159 developing countries showed that rising prices of key commodities in 2022 are already troubling parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Balkans.
The report warns that the cost of living crisis is pushing millions of people into poverty and hunger at an alarming pace.
UNDP recommendation
According to the UNDP, targeted cash transfers by governments will prove to be more "equitable and cost-effective" than broad subsidies on energy and food prices.
UNDP has called for corresponding action. It has asked to provide direct cash transfer to vulnerable people. It also asked wealthy nations to further expand the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), which they set out to help poor countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
UNDP is a United Nations body, which helps countries to eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development.
It is headquartered in New York City, and has offices in 170 countries.
UNDP is the largest development aid agency of the United Nations.
5. The website of the Ministry of Home Affairs tops the service portals of the Union Ministry
Tags: National News
The website of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been ranked first under the Portal of Central Ministries in the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment.
Important facts
The Digital Police Portal of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Central Mantralaya Services Portal has been ranked second in the assessment.
This evaluation was done by evaluating service portals with the portal of their parent Ministry/Department.
The government portals that were assessed were divided into two main categories - State/Union Territory/Central Ministry Portal and State/Union Territory/Central Ministry Service Portal.
Four parameters of assessment
Accessibility
Content availability
Ease of Use and Information Security
Privacy for Central Ministry Portals
National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment
The National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment was conducted in 2021 by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in association with knowledge partners NASSCOM and KPMG.
It is a periodic assessment aimed at improving the effectiveness of the States/UTs and the Central Government in the delivery of their online services to the citizens.
6. BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting
Tags: International News
Union Labor and Employment Minister Bhupendra Yadav participated in the BRICS Labor and Employment Ministers meeting held under the Chinese presidency on 14 July.
Important facts
With regard to the priority issues discussed in the meeting, the Minister highlighted the initiatives taken by India.
The Minister informed that a Sector Council for Green Jobs in India has been set up to develop strategies and implement programs for skill development in the green sector.
The minister explained the steps taken by India to provide relief to the workers during the pandemic.
India has taken several initiatives to increase the number of days of assured employment under MGNREGA and to provide free ration.
The government has provided loans to street vendors to help them restart their business under the PM Svanidhi Yojana during the pandemic.
The meeting was attended by ministers from member countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Declaration of the meeting
The need for promoting green jobs was recognized in the Declaration of the meeting.
The Declaration recognized the need to promote green jobs for sustainable development, strengthen cooperation in skill development and protect workers' rights in new forms of employment.
Discussions on three priority issues
Promoting green jobs for sustainable development,
Developing skills for resilient recovery,
Protecting Workers Right in New Forms of Employment.
About BRICS
It is an acronym for the group of major emerging economies of the world – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
In 2001, British economist Jim O'Neill coined the term BRIC.
South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010.
7. India's first monkeypox case confirmed in Kerala
Tags: National News
A man from Kollam, Kerala, who returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been confirmed as the first case of monkeypox in India on July 14.
Important facts
The person has been isolated for treatment at the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital (MCH).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this is the first time that cases of monkeypox are being reported in five WHO regions.
What Is Monkeypox?
It is a viral zoonotic disease that is transmitted from animals to humans.
Monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus similar to smallpox.
It has been identified as a smallpox-like disease in monkeys, hence it is called monkeypox.
It was first observed in 1958, in monkeys in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and in humans in 1970.
The disease outbreak in Nigeria in 2017 was the largest ever.
The monkeypox virus mutates at a high rate but is treatable once symptoms appear.
Symptom of disease
Fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash or lesions.
Infected people develop a rash resembling smallpox.
In the early stages of the disease, monkeypox and smallpox can be differentiated because the monkeypox lymph gland enlarges.
Transmission of disease
It spreads through close face to face, skin to skin and direct contact.
The disease can be spread through contact with bodily fluids, sores on the skin or internal mucous surfaces, such as the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.
Treatment and Vaccine
There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for monkeypox infection.
The anti-smallpox vaccine has been shown to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.
A newer vaccine MVA-BN, developed for Smallpox was approved in 2019 for use in preventing Monkeypox but is not yet widely available.
8. I2U2 Summit : UAE to develop integrated food parks across India
Tags: Popular International News
The United Arab Emirates on July 14 announced an investment of USD 2 billion to develop a series of integrated food parks across India.
Outcome of the Summit
The decision was announced after the first virtual summit of I2U2 group leaders - Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Summit was focussed on the food security crisis and clean energy.
Private sectors from the US and Israel will be invited to lend their expertise and provide innovative solutions that contribute to the overall sustainability of the project.
The Summit discussed innovative ways to ensure sustainable, more diverse food production and food delivery systems that can better manage the global food crisis.
The I2U2 group will take forward a 300 MW hybrid renewable energy project in Gujarat with wind and solar capacity.
This was the first summit of this group.
Significance
Integrated food parks will incorporate cutting-edge climate-smart technologies to conserve waste, fresh water and employ renewable energy sources in food.
India will provide suitable land for the project and facilitate integration of farmers into food parks.
These investments will help in maximizing crop yields and combating food insecurity in South Asia and the Middle East.
What is the 'I2U2' group?
The I2U2 is a group comprising India, Israel, the U.S., and the UAE, has been called the ‘West Asian Quad’.
The group is known as 'I2U2' with "I" standing for India and Israel and "U" for the US and the UAE.
This view was expressed by U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan with U.S. President Joe Biden.
The I2U2 grouping was conceptualized during the meeting of foreign ministers of four countries held on 18 October 2021.
Aims of I2U2 Group
I2U2 aims to harness the vibrancy and entrepreneurial spirit of society to address some of the biggest challenges facing the world.
It aims to encourage joint investment in six mutually recognized sectors such as water, energy, transport, space, health and food security.
Appropriate use of private sector capital and expertise to help drive infrastructure modernization, low-carbon development pathways for industries, improve public health, and the development of critical emerging and green technologies.
9. Govt to launch nationwide campaign 'Har Ghar Tiranga'
Tags: National News
On the occasion of 75th Independence Day, the Central Government will launch a national campaign of 'Har Ghar Tricolour' across the country.
This campaign will be launched by the Ministry of Culture under the Amrit Mahotsav of Azadi.
Important facts
Home Minister Amit Shah has approved this campaign in honour of the national flag tricolour.
The objective of the campaign is to inculcate the spirit of patriotism among the people and bring awareness to the tricolour.
This campaign will run continuously from 11 to 17 August.
Flag Code of Conduct, 2002
The rules for the use, display and hoisting of the National Flag are laid down in the Flag Code of Conduct, 2002.
This code of conduct was implemented on 26 January 2002.
The Flag Code of Conduct, 2002, allows unrestricted display of the tricolour while maintaining the honour and dignity of the flag.
The Flag Code of India, 2002 is divided into three parts-
The first part contains a general description of the national flag.
The second part deals with the display of the national flag by members of the public, private organisations, educational institutions, etc.
The third part gives information about the hoisting of the national flag by the central and state governments and their organisations and agencies. It mentions that the tricolour cannot be used for commercial purposes.
Apart from this, the flag should not be used as a festival or for the purposes of any kind of decoration.
For official display only flags conforming to the specifications prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards and bearing its mark may be used.
10. France Bastille Day 2022
Tags: Important Days International News
France celebrates 14 July every year as National Day, also known as Bastille Day.
Important facts
French National Day is formally called La Fete Nationale in France.
It is celebrated on July 14, 1789, the anniversary of the invasion of Bastille, known as a military fort and prison, during the French Revolution.
Along with France, it is also celebrated by other countries and especially by French speaking people and communities.
Many public events are organised on this occasion but the most famous event is the Bastille Day Military Parade.
This parade takes place in Paris on the morning of July 14. The first parade was held in the year 1880.
The famous cycling race Tour de France also takes place during Bastille Day.
The Bastille was a mediaeval armoury, fort and prison in Paris.
For many common people it represented an unfair monarchy and the monarchy was a symbol of abuse of power.
On July 14, 1789, soldiers stormed and captured Bastille.
This signalled the beginning of the French Revolution, and three years later in 1792 the French Republic was formed.
About France
France is a country located in Western Europe
It is the largest country in the continent of Europe in terms of area.
Capital- Paris
President- Emmanuel Macron
currency - euro
