1. Government launches NDDB’s subsidiary for manure management
Tags: National News
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Purushottam Rupala launched NDDB MRIDA Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to take forward the manure management initiatives across the country.
Important facts
NDDB MRIDA Limited, an unlisted public limited company, was incorporated on 1 July 2022 by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) under the Companies Act, 2013.
This will open the way for additional income to dairy farmers from the sale of slurry or dung.
This will help in saving the farmers by virtue of substituting cooking fuel with biogas.
Efforts are being made for better use of bovine dung, under this effort this new company will give impetus to manure management efforts.
Promoting the use of cow dung based manure will gradually replace chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers thereby reducing India's dependence on fertilizer imports.
Manure management initiatives
Under the Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials (SMSP), the government provides 50% cost support for distribution of green manure required for one acre of area per farmer.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) is promoting cluster based organic farming with PGS (Partnership Guarantee System) certification.
The manure management initiative has the potential to generate biogas equivalent to 50 per cent of India's current LPG consumption.
Manure produces bio slurry equivalent to 44 per cent of India’s NPK requirement.
2. Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al-Sabah Becomes New Kuwait PM
Tags: Person in news International News
Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Sabah was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Kuwait on 25 July.
Important facts
He replaced Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid, who stepped down in April 2022.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed his congratulations and best wishes on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Kuwait.
In April 2022, Kuwait's government resigned just months after its formation, creating new uncertainty as it grappled with a worsening political crisis and stalled important economic and social reforms.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, former Prime Minister of Kuwait, submitted the resignation of the cabinet to the Crown Prince ahead of a no-confidence motion in parliament.
India-Kuwait Relations
India and Kuwait have traditionally enjoyed friendly relations that have stood the test of time.
India has consistently been one of Kuwait's top trading partners. Kuwait has been a reliable supplier of crude oil to India.
India is the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer.
Major items exported by India to Kuwait include food items, textiles, electrical and engineering equipment, ceramics, automobiles, chemicals, jewellery, metal products etc.
Kuwait is one of the top sources of remittances for India.
The Indian community in Kuwait has been growing at 5-6% per annum.
Indians are the largest expatriate community in Kuwait while Egypt ranks second.
3. Centre amends flag code to allow people to display tricolor 24X7
Tags: National News
With the Centre launching the "Har Ghar Tiranga" (Flag hoisting at every house in the country) campaign, it has also amended the Flag Code of India 2002 to allow the Tricolor to be hoisted both day and night by the public.
Important facts
The display, hoisting and use of the Indian National Flag is controlled by the Flag Code of India, 2002 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act, 1971.
The central government will launch the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign from August 13 to 15, 2022 under the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' program.
What is the amendment?
The Flag Code of India, 2002 has been further amended through an order dated 20 July 2022.
Clause (xi) of paragraph 2.2 of Part-II of the Flag Code of India, 2002 shall now read as follows:- (xi) “Where the flag is displayed in the open or is displayed at the residence of a member of the public, It can be hoisted day and night."
Earlier, the tricolor was allowed to be hoisted from sunrise to sunset, irrespective of the season.
Earlier the government had amended the provision for the material used for manufacturing the Indian flag by adding machine-made and polyester flags as well.
The amendment made in December 2021 states, “The national flag shall be made of cotton/polyester/wool/silk khadi bunting, whether hand-woven or machine-made.”
Earlier machine-made and polyester flags were not allowed to be used in the country.
4. WHO declares monkeypox a global emergency
Tags: International News
The World Health Organisation has declared the global monkeypox outbreak a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern' (PHEIC), one step below the 'pandemic'.
Important facts
According to WHO, PHEIC constitutes an exceptional event, which constitutes a public health risk to other countries through international spread, and which potentially requires a coordinated international response.
On January 30, 2020, WHO had categorised COVID-19 as a PHEIC, when about 7,500 cases of novel coronavirus were reported.
On 11 March that year, the WHO declared it a 'pandemic'.
At present, more than 16 thousand cases of monkeypox have been registered in 75 countries and five deaths have been confirmed.
The WHO estimates that the risk of monkeypox is moderate in the world and in all regions, but the risk is highest in Europe.
According to the WHO, 99 percent of monkeypox cases found outside Africa are related to men, in which 98 percent of the patients are men who are gay.
Criteria on the basis of which WHO declares PHEIC
It is declared in the event of certain "serious public health events" that could endanger international public health.
The responsibility of declaring an event as an emergency rests with the Director-General of the WHO and requires the convening of a committee of members.
Declaring a PHEIC may result in restrictions on travel and trade.
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.
5. Cochin Shipyard, IIM-Kozhikode Sign Agreement To Boost Start-Ups In Maritime Sector
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has signed an agreement with IIM, Kozhikode (IIM-K), business incubator of the Laboratory for Innovation Ventures and Entrepreneurship (LIVE) to support start-ups in the maritime sector.
Important facts
The idea of such a framework is to develop an ecosystem in India for start-ups in the maritime sector from a technical, regulatory, financial and marketing perspective.
IIM-K Executive Director Rajesh Upadhyay and CSL General Manager Dipu Surendran signed the agreement in the presence of IIM-K Director Debashish Chatterjee and CSL Chairman and Managing Director Madhu S Nair.
Under this initiative, start-ups can get Rs 50 lakh as initial grant, Rs 1 crore as prototype grant and equity funding for start-ups at scale up stage.
IIM-K will act as the implementation partner of the initiative and provide incubation, mentorship and training to the start-ups selected under the programme.
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode or IIMK) is an autonomous public business school located in Calicut (Kozhikode), Kerala.
It was established in 1996 by the Government of India in collaboration with the Government of Kerala State.
It was the fifth IIM to be established in India.
Director - Debashish Chatterjee
6. Wasifa Nazreen becomes first Bangladeshi to scale world’s second highest peak K2
Tags: International News
Wasfia Nazreen has become the first Bangladeshi to scale Pakistan's K2, which is the second highest mountain in the world.
Important facts
She climbed the 8611 metres or 28,251 feet high K2 mountain peak and returned to the base camp on 22 July.
A summit is technically complete when the climber returns from the summit to the base camp.
After completing this historic task, 39-year-old mountaineer Wasifa paid tribute to all known and unknown martyrs of Bangladesh from language movement to liberation struggle.
On 26 May 2012, she became the second woman from Bangladesh to scale Mount Everest.
She has previously conquered Aconcagua in South America and Kilimanjaro in Africa.
About K2 mountain
K2 or Mount Godwin Austen with an elevation of 8,611 metres is the second highest mountain in the world after Mount Everest above sea level.
It is located on the Sino-Pakistan border between Baltistan and Dafdar Township of Xinjiang, China, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan.
It is the highest point of the Karakoram mountain range and the highest point in both Pakistan and Xinjiang.
Major Mountain peaks in Indian subcontinent
Kangchenjunga
Length - 8586 metres
The third highest summit in the World
It is also known as the ‘five treasures of snow
it lies in Himalayan Mountain Range
Nanda Devi
Length - 7816 metres
Ranked the 23rd highest peak in the world
It is a part of Himalayan mountain ranges (Garhwal)
Nanda Devi National Park situated around the peak has the best high altitude flora and fauna.
Kamet Mountain
Length - 7756 metres
Location - near the Tibetan Plateau
It is located in the Garhwal region
SaltoroKangri
Length - 7742 metres
Location - near the Siachen Region
It is ranked the 31st highest independent peak in the world
It lies in Saltoro range (which is a part of Karakoram Mountain range)
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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).
10. 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.
