CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
- The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, adopted by the General Conference of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2015 and celebrated annually on 26 July.
- It aims to raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as “a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem” and to promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses.
International Tiger Day
- Global Tiger Day, often called International Tiger Day, is an annual celebration to raise awareness for tiger conservation, held annually on 29 July. It was created in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit.
- The aim to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and raise awareness among people on why tiger conservation must be supported.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL
Centre to convert ravines of Chambal region into arable land with World Bank help
- The Centre, in collaboration with the World Bank, has decided to convert monumental dwelling of ravines in Gwalior-Chambal belt of Madhya Pradesh into arable land.
- The decision was made through a virtual meeting with Adarsh Kumar, representative of the World Bank and Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Around 3 lakh hectares land of this region are non-cultivable, this conversion will improve and support the integrated development of the Bihad area in the region of Gwalior-Chambal.
About World Bank
- President– David Robert Malpass
- Headquarters– Washington, D.C., United States
About MoAFW
- Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Minister of Rural Development: Narendra Singh Tomar
- Constituency: Morena, Madhya Pradesh
Govt notifies changes in FDI norms on civil aviation; permits NRIs to own 100% stake of Air India
- The government has notified changes in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms on civil aviation. It will permit non-resident Indian nationals to own 100 per cent stake of Air India.
- Last month, the government for the third time extended the deadline to bid for Air India. The deadline was extended by two months till August 31st. The divestment process for the national carrier was initiated on January 27th
About Air India:
- Headquarters: Delhi, India
- Chairman & MD: Rajiv Bansal
HRD Minister launches India Report on Digital Education, 2020
- Human Resources and Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched India Report on Digital Education, 2020. The report elaborates on the innovative methods adopted by Ministry of HRD, Education Departments of States and Union Territories for ensuring accessible and inclusive education to children at home and reducing learning gaps. School Education is envisaged as a comprehensive and convergent programme committed to universalize digital education across the wide spectrum of schools from pre-nursery to higher secondary classes.
- The quality digital education has acquired a new urgency in the present context of globalization. The Ministry stated, it has initiated many projects to assist teachers, scholars and students in their pursuit of learning like DIKSHA platform, Swayam Prabha TV Channel, On Air – Shiksha Vani, e-PathShala and telecast through TV channels.
- To ensure inclusive learning in remote areas where internet connectivity and electricity is poor, States and UTs have also distributed textbooks at children’s doorsteps. Digital education initiatives are also enabling enhanced support for students preparing for competitive exams.
About Ministry of Human Resource Development:
- Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Cabinet Minister
- Constituency: Haridwar
- Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Minister of State
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL
India, Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue held in New Delhi
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the Indian delegation while the Indonesian delegation was led by their Defence Minister General Prabowo Subianto. Defence Ministers’ Dialogue between India and Indonesia was held in New Delhi.
- The dignitary is in India for strengthening the ties between the two maritime neighbours.
- During the talks, Mr Rajnath Singh reiterated the long history of mutually beneficial interactions between the two countries with a tradition of close political dialogue, economic and trade linkages as well as cultural and people to people interactions.
- Conveying satisfaction on the military to military interactions, the Minister indicated that the defence cooperation between India and Indonesia has witnessed an upswing in the recent years.
About Ministry Of Defence:
- Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence
- Constituency: Lucknow
- Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Defence
About Indonesia:
- President: Joko Widodo
- Capital: Jakarta
- Currency: Indonesian rupiah
India and EU renew Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for next 5 yrs till 2025
- India and European Union have renewed its Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for the next five years till 2025.
- This will expand the cooperation in scientific and technological research and strengthen the conduct of cooperative activities in areas of common interest and application of the results of such cooperation to their economic and social benefit.
- The Agreement was initially signed on 23rd November in 2001 and renewed two times in 2007 and 2015.
- In the last five years, the level of co-investment on India-EU Research Technology Development Projects for addressing societal challenges such as affordable health care, water, energy, food and nutrition. The cooperation has been focused on water, green transport, e-mobility, clean energy, bio-economy, health, and ICT.
About European Union:
- President of the Commission: Ursula von der Leyen
- Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE
SBI providing USD 16 million liquidity support for local businesses in Maldives
- The State Bank of India (SBI) is providing liquidity support of USD 16.20 million for local businesses and deferred loan repayment for over 200 retail accounts
- ‘India First’ policy of Maldives and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy of India has set the foundation of the growing relationship.
- Assistance of USD 400 million through an extended currency swap arrangement has been made available already to tide over liquidity shortage.
About SBI
- Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founded: 1 July 1955
About Maldives
- Capital: Male
- Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa
- President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Bharti AXA General Insurance Launches ‘Bohot Zaroori Hai’ Campaign For Farmers
- Bharti AXA General Insurance, one of the world’s largest insurance companies, has launched its crop insurance campaign – ‘Bohot Zaroori Hai’ – for farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka to encourage them about their yield protection and financial security.
- The company has secured the mandate to insure Rs 800 crore worth insurance to the farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka for a period of three years under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), which provides them protection for the losses occurring owing to uncertainty and unfavourable weather vagaries resulting in yield deprivation on the field.
- The campaign ‘Bohot Zaroori Hai’ is aimed at making the farming communities aware about the relevance and significance of crop insurance that mitigates the rural distress caused by crop failure or damage due to factors like unseasonal rains, monsoon failure, storms, floods, pests and diseases.
About Bharti AXA General Insurance
- Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director– Sanjeev Srinivasan
