National
6th anniversary of Skill India Mission addressed by PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the nation on July 15, 2021, on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day 2021 and the 6th anniversary of the Skill India Mission.
In his address, Prime Minister highlighted “Skill development of the youth of new generation is a national need and a huge foundation for self-reliant India”.
According to PM, under Skill India Mission, 1.25 crore youth have been trained to date. Skill India Mission initiative was launched by Government to train over 40 crore Indians in different jobs related to the industry.
Under this mission, the government seeks to create an empowered workforce by 2022 with the help of several schemes and training courses.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates ‘Rudraksh’ convention center in Varanasi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the International Cooperation and Convention Centre “Rudraksha”, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
The center will become an attractive destination for conferences and pull in tourists and businesspersons to the city. The international cooperation and convention center has been named “Rudraksha” and has as many as 108 Rudraksha at the center. Its roof is shaped like a ‘Shiva Linga’.
The objective is to provide opportunities for social and cultural interactions between people at the international convention center. The convention center has been built with the assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency.
An environment-friendly building, the center is equipped with adequate security and safety systems. It features a regular entrance, a service entrance, and a separate VIP entrance, making it an ideal destination for holding all types of international events.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- UP Capital: Lucknow;
- UP Governor: Anandiben Patel;
- UP Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath.
Karnataka CM unveils bike taxi scheme for state
Karnataka Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa has unveiled the Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi scheme-2021. This will serve as a bridge between public transport and daily commuters.
The scheme aims to reduce travel time and inconvenience in reaching bus, railway and metro stations. It will allow people, partnership firms, and companies to participate.
The authority concerned will issue licenses under this scheme. Vehicles registered under this scheme will be in the transport category for which the government has given several exemptions like permits, tax, and financial benefits for electric vehicles manufacturers.
The Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi Scheme-2021 will boost self-employment, promote an eco-friendly environment, fuel conservation, strengthen public transport and encourage establishing related industries.
The distance between the origin and destination for a trip shall not be more than 10 km, and the authority concerned will decide, from time to time, the routes that shall be excluded from the operation of the bike taxis.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru;
- Karnataka Chief minister: B. S. Yediyurappa;
- Karnataka Governor: Thawarchand Gehlot.
International
UAE becomes 1st Gulf nation to open embassy in Israel
The United Arab Emirates has become the first Gulf nation to open an embassy in Israel, nearly a year after both countries signed an agreement to normalize diplomatic ties. The new mission is located in Tel Aviv Stock Exchange building.
The ceremony was attended by new Israeli President Isaac Herzog. UAE Ambassador Mohammad Mahmoud Al Khajah officially presented his credentials at the beginning of March.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- UAE Capital: Abu Dhabi;
- UAE Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham;
- UAE President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan;
- Israel Prime minister: Naftali Bennett.
China begins construction of world’s 1st commercial small modular reactor
China has officially begun the construction of the world’s first commercial modular small reactor ‘Linglong One’ at the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in the country’s Hainan Province.
The project is based on China National Nuclear Corporation’s (CNNC’s Linglong One (ACP100) technology. The multi-purpose, 125 MWe SMR is a pressurized water reactor designed for electricity generation, urban heating, urban cooling, industrial steam production, or seawater desalination.
CNNC began the development of the Linglong One in 2010, and it was the first SMR project to pass an independent safety assessment by International Atomic Energy Agency experts in 2016.
Its integrated pressurized water reactor (PWR) design was completed in 2014 and it was identified as a ‘key project’ in China’s 12th Five-Year Plan.
The design, which has 57 fuel assemblies and integral steam generators, was developed from the larger ACP1000 PWR. It incorporates passive safety features and could be installed underground.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- China Capital: Beijing;
- China Currency: Renminbi;
- China President: Xi Jinping.
Singapore unveils one of the world’s biggest floating solar panel farms
Singapore has unveiled one of the world’s largest floating solar panel farms. The project is part of efforts by the country to meet a goal of quadrupling its solar energy production by 2025 to help tackle climate change.
Located on a reservoir in western Singapore, the 60 megawatt-peak solar photovoltaic farm has been built by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries. Spanning an area equivalent to 45 football fields and producing enough electricity to power the island’s five water treatment plants.
The electricity generated from the one lakh 22 thousand solar panels on the 45-hectare site should make Singapore one of the few countries in the world to have a water treatment system fully powered by sustainable energy.
The solar farm could help to reduce carbon emissions by about 32 kilotonnes annually, comparable to taking 7,000 cars off the roads.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Singapore Currency: Singapore dollar;
- Capital of Singapore: Singapore;
- PM of Singapore: Lee Hsien Loong.
Agreements
IAHE inks pact with University of New South Wales to set up CATTS in Noida
The Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has inked an agreement with the University of New South Wales, Australia for setting up a Centre for Advanced Transportation Technology and Systems (CATTS) in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
The Agreement was signed in a virtual ceremony in the presence of Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The Agreement is for a project for capacity building, technology transfer, and creation of enabling environment for the establishment of the Centre for Advanced Transportation Technology and Systems in, IAHE.
The University of New South Wales will also deliver a course on smart transport systems and modeling. The project will help improve the road safety scenario in the country.
Business
Adani Group takes over Mumbai airport management
Adani Group led by Gautam Adani has completed the takeover of ‘Mumbai International Airport’ from the GVK group.
With this takeover, Adani group has become the top company in terms of airport infrastructure companies in India. Mumbai International Airport will be operated by Adani Airport Holdings which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises.
With the takeover, Adani group’s airports now account for a fourth of total footfalls at airports across India, and a third of total air cargo handled.
Sports
Babar Azam becomes the fastest batsman to score 14 ODI centuries
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has altered the record books with the century he scored against England during the third ODI at Edgbaston.
He became the fastest batsman to notch up 14 ODI centuries in terms of innings, surpassing the likes of Hashim Amla, Indian captain Virat Kohli, and Australian batsman David Warner.
The Pakistan captain reached his 14th ton in his 81st ODI innings. Former South Africa opening batsman Amla had previously held the record who took 84 innings to reach this feat. Warner had taken 98 innings to get his 14th ODI ton while Kohli took 103 innings.
Gokulam Kerala FC to represent India in AFC Women’s Club C’ship
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has nominated Gokulam Kerala FC to represent India in the AFC Club Championship 2020-21.
The winners of the Women League compete in the tournament but since it will not be held, the national federation nominated the champions of the fourth edition.
Gokulam Kerala FC became the first team from Kerala to win a national title when they defeated Kryphsa FC in the 2019-20 Indian Women’s League (IWL) finals in Bengaluru.
Obituary
National Award-winning actress Surekha Sikri passes away
Three-time national award-winning actress Surekha Sikri has passed away. The three-time National Award winner is best known for her performances in ‘Tamas’, ‘Mammo’, ‘Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro’, ‘Zubeidaa’, ‘Badhaai Ho’ and daily soap ‘Balika Vadhu’.
She was last seen in Netflix’s anthology ‘Ghost Stories’ (2020), in the story directed by Zoya Akhtar.
Miscellaneous
Manduadih railway station renamed to Banaras
The Manduadih railway station has been finally renamed as Banaras by the Northeastern railways (NER). The NER replaced the old signboard with the new one which read ‘Banaras’ after the Railway Board gave its nod for the new name. The newly painted signboards were put up with Banaras written in Hindi, Sanskrit, English, and Urdu.
The process to change the station’s name started in 2019 when the former railway minister and the present governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Singh, put forth the request. In the same year, the Uttar Pradesh government accepted the proposal and forwarded it to the ministry of home affairs.