Current Affairs Today 7th July 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 7th July 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. World Zoonoses Day is held every year on July 6 to raise awareness for the risk of zoonotic diseases.
  2. World Chocolate Day (also known as International Chocolate Day) is an annual observance taking place globally on 7th July.
  3. YES Bank has launched a digital solution, “Loan in Seconds” for instant disbursement of retail loans.
  4. SBM Bank India (promoted by Government of Mauritius) and Mastercard have joined hands to facilitate cross-border payments and remittances services by using ‘Mastercard Send’.
  5. India’s First No-Permission No-Takeoff (NPNT) compliant drone flight on the A200 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) has been completed successfully by Quidich Innovation Labs and Asteria Aerospace.
  6. After months of Controversy, the Assam State Government has decided for the up-gradation of the status of the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary to National Park.
  7. All households in the state of Himachal Pradesh have access to LPG Gas Connection, making Himachal Pradesh the first state in the country to achieve the goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the launch of Ujjwala Yojana for providing a cooking gas connection to every household in the the country.
  8. The Chief Minister of Karnataka B.S. Yediyurappa has launched a scheme for the weaver’s community in the state of Karnataka on 6th July 2020.
  9. Plasma Bank for the treatment of COVID-19 positive patients has been established at the oldest medical college of India- Kolkata Medical College and Hospital.
  10. Haryana Cabinet on 6th July 2020 has approved a proposal for drafting an Ordinance under which 75 percent of the jobs with a salary of less than Rs 50,000 per month will be reserved for the locals of Haryana in the state.
  11. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray has launched a portal on 6th July 2020 that will bridge the gap between the Industrial Units/Employers and the Workers (Domiciled: Skilled, Semi-Skilled and Unskilled).
  12. The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economists have revised down their estimates for the U.S. economy which is expected to contract 4.6% in 2000, worse than the earlier estimate of 4.2%.
  13. Sanskrit Vidhyalaya built in Eastern Nepal’s Province No 1’s IIam district by India was inaugurated on 6th July 2020 through video conferencing.
  14. Under the Nepal-Bharat Maitri project, on 16th June 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Nepal under which India will construct a sanitation facility at the iconic Pashupatinath Temple Complex in Nepal’s capital city Kathmandu.
  15. On 6th July 2020, from Central Israel’s Palmachim Airbase Israel has successfully launched its intelligence satellite ‘Ofek-16’ into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
  16. In accordance with the “INFORM Report 2020: Shared evidence for managing crises and disasters” released by research centre INFORM, operating under European Commission (EU), India has ranked at 31st place with an inform risk of 5.4, means risk of humanitarian crises and disasters.
  17. India’s Global Real Estate Transparency Index ranking has improved by one notch to 34 on the back of regulatory reforms, better market data and green initiatives, according to property consultant JLL.
  18. Indian Railway in collaboration with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has set up a 1.7 Megawatt solar power plant at Bina, Madhya Pradesh.
  19. Indian e-commerce payment system Paytm & QorQl Pvt. Ltd, a Healthcare startup company with majority shareholding of Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, is set to acquire Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based private sector general insurer Raheja QBE General Insurance Company Limited in a deal worth around $76 million (or Rs 570 crore).
  20. Retired 1983 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Odisha Cadre- Injeti Srinivas has been appointed as the 1st Chairman of the 1st Chairman of the International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) on 6th July 2020.
  21. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) has won the Austrian Grand Prix 2020.
  22. The 23 year-old G. Akash from Chennai, Tamil Nadu becomes the country’s 66th Grandmaster with rating of 2495.
  23. Global pharmaceutical company Mylan N.V was given approval by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for the launch of its generic version of Gilead Sciences Remdesivir drug for the treatment of COVID-19 positive patients in India. Mylan N.
  24. The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee(IIT-R) announced that the IIT-R researchers team led by Prof. Soumitra Satapathi, Laboratory of Integrated Nanophotonics and Biomaterials, have developed the disinfection box – “Unisaviour” box, which can be used to sterilise various personal belongings to minimise the COVID-19 transmission.
  25. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a mobile app, indigenously developed by state information technology department, for documents scanning.
  26. The Chairman of Maruti Suzuki, RC Bhargava has authored the book “Getting Competitive: A Practitioner’s Guide for India” from his experience as a policymaker and a leading industrialist.
  27. Oscar-winning Italian film composer, Ennio Morricone passed away.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

World Zoonoses Day observed on 6 July

  • World Zoonoses Day is held every year on July 6 to raise awareness for the risk of zoonotic diseases.
  • Zoonoses are infectious diseases (virus, bacteria and parasites) that can spread from animals to humans, and vice versa, either with direct contact with animals or indirectly, vector-borne or food-borne.
  • It was on July 6, 1885, when Louis Pasteur successfully administered the first vaccine against Rabies virus, which is a zoonotic disease.

World Chocolate Day observed on 07 July

  • World Chocolate Day (also known as International Chocolate Day) is an annual observance taking place globally on 7th July.
  • The day is said to be chosen to celebrate the introduction of chocolate to Europe in 1550.
  • It is marked by eating chocolates and sharing with dear ones.

BANKING & FINANCE

YES Bank launches ‘Loan in Seconds’ for instant loan disbursement

  • YES Bank has launched a digital solution, “Loan in Seconds” for instant disbursement of retail loans.
  • The account holders identified by the bank can avail this quick loan disbursal facility without any document.
  • The solution aims to provide customers, completely paperless and hassle-free loans to help them meet their immediate financial needs.
  • Eligible customers under ‘Loan in Seconds’ will receive communication from the bank with the link to apply for the loan.
  • All the eligible customers under the solution will receive communication from the bank with the link to apply for the loan.
  • Those customers have to verify and accept the final offer.

Extra Shots:

YES Bank:

  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • MD and CEO: Prashant Kumar
  • Tagline: Experience our Expertise

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

SBM Bank India, Mastercard partners to facilitate cross border remittances using Mastercard Send

  • SBM Bank India (promoted by Government of Mauritius) and Mastercard have joined hands to facilitate cross-border payments and remittances services by using ‘Mastercard Send’.
  • Mastercard Send is a secured and innovative solution – crafted to modernize domestic and cross-border payments and remittances.
  • SBM Bank India is the first bank to receive universal banking licence from the RBI to set up and operate as a scheduled commercial bank through the wholly-owned subsidiary mode.

Extra Shots:

SBM Bank (Mauritius)

  • CEO: Parvataneni Venkateswara Rao
  • Headquarters: Port Louis, Mauritius
  • Parent organization: SBM Holdings
  • Subsidiaries: SBM Bank Kenya Limited, Rafiki Microfinance Bank Limited, Banque SBM Madagascar SA

Mastercard

  • CEO: Ajaypal Singh Banga
  • Headquarters: Purchase, Harrison, New York, United States
  • Founded: 16 December 1966, United States
  • Founders: Wells Fargo, Crocker National Bank, First Interstate Bancorp, Bank of California

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

India’s 1st NPNT compliant Drone flight successfully completed

  • India’s First No-Permission No-Takeoff (NPNT) compliant drone flight on the A200 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) has been completed successfully by Quidich Innovation Labs and Asteria Aerospace.
  • This NPNT drone flight is under the Ministry of Civil Aviation MoCA & DGCA comprehensive policy on the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), which came into effect on 1st Dec 2018.
  • Quidich, in collaboration with the Drone Federation of India (DFI), has extended its services to Police Departments across multiple states, providing drones for crowd monitoring and surveillance operations during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary to be upgraded into a National Park

  • After months of Controversy, the Assam State Government has decided for the up-gradation of the status of the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary to National Park.
  • The decision was taken on 6th July 2020 and was announced by the Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal.
  • This campaign was due to the controversial decision made by the National Board for Wild Life’s (NBWL) during its 57th meeting of the Standing Committee on 7th April 2020 by giving preliminary approval for coal mining to Coal India Limited’s subsidiary North Eastern Coalfield (NEC) inside 98.57 hectareof land Saleki Proposed Reserved Forest.
  • Saleki Proposed Reserved Forest falls within the ‘Eco-Sensitive Zone’, that is within 10 Km of radius from the Dehing Patkai Wild Life Sanctuary.
  • The Saleki Proposed Reserved Forest is at a distance of exact 9.1 Kilometers from the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.

Extra Shots:

Assam:

  • Capital: Dispur
  • Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
  • Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
  • National Park: Dibru-Saikhowa NP, Kaziranga NP, Manas NP, Nameri NP, Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Himachal Pradesh becomes First State in India to have LPG Gas Connection in Every Household

  • All households in the state of Himachal Pradesh have access to LPG Gas Connection, making Himachal Pradesh the first state in the country to achieve the goal set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the launch of Ujjwala Yojana for providing a cooking gas connection to every household in the the country.
  • This was announced on 6th July 2020 by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur.
  • Apart from the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the scheme of the Himachal Pradesh State Government ‘Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana’ has also played an important role for achieving the 100 percent household cooking gas connection in the state.

Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana

  • The Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana was launched back in May 2018 for providing LPG gas connection to households that were left out under the UjjwalaYojana of the Central Government.
  • All households in the state of Himachal Pradesh were eligible under the Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana, except for households having pensioner, or any member of the household employed with the state or central government, households with income taxpayers.
  • To date, a total of 2, 76,243 households were provided with a free LPG gas connection under the Himachal Grihini Suvidha Yojana.

Extra Shots:

Himachal Pradesh:

  • State formed on: 25 January 1971
  • Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
  • Chief Minister: Jai Ram Thakur
  • Official language: Hindi

Nekar Samman Yojane launched by Karnataka Government

  • The Chief Minister of Karnataka B.S. Yediyurappa has launched a scheme for the weaver’s community in the state of Karnataka on 6th July 2020.
  • The name of the scheme is ‘Nekar Samman Yojane’, which means Weaver Samman Yojana.
  • As per the 4th All India Handloom Census (conducted in 2019-20), there are 54,789 handloom weavers registered in the state of Karnataka.

Nekar Samman Yojane

  • For becoming a beneficiary of the scheme, silk, cotton, woolen and other handloom weavers in the state of Karnataka have to register themselves at the Seva Sindhu portal (an initiative to deliver the various schemes and services of the Karnataka State Government at the doorstep of the citizens).
  • Under the scheme, the state government is transferring Rs 2000 of financial support to all weavers in the state registered with the Seva Sindhu portal.
  • Under the first phase, the Chief Minister at the launch transferred Rs 2000 directly into the bank accounts of 19744 weavers in the state.
  • Annually, the financial assistance will be provided once to all registered weavers under the Seva Sindhu portal.
  • The scheme will cost the State Government of Karnataka an amount of Rs 10.96 crore every year.
  • The scheme is a part of the Rs 1610 crore of relief package announced by the Karnataka State Government on 6th May 2020.

Extra Shots:

Karnataka:

  • Statehood Day: 1st November 1956
  • Capital: Bengaluru
  • Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
  • Governor: Vajubhai Vala
  • National Park: Anshi NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Kudremukh NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.

First Plasma Bank for COVID-19 Patients in West Bengal

  • Plasma Bank for the treatment of COVID-19 positive patients has been established at the oldest medical college of India- Kolkata Medical College and Hospital.
  • The Plasma Bank has been set up the Immunohematogy department of the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital by the West Bengal State Health Department.
  • This was informed by the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee on 6th July 2020.
  • The Chief Minister further added that 12 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 have already donated their Plasma.
  • The Plasma Bank in Kolkata Medical College and Hospital is the first Plasma Bank in the State of West Bengal.
  • From 7th May 2020 onwards, Kolkata Medical College and Hospital is operating as a fully-fledged COVID-19 Hospital with 500 beds.

Extra Shots:

West Bengal:

  • Established on: 26 January 1950
  • Capital: Kolkata
  • Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar
  • Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee

Haryana to Reserve 75 percent Jobs with Less than Rs 50,000 Salary in the Private Sector of the State for Locals

  • Haryana Cabinet on 6th July 2020 has approved a proposal for drafting an Ordinance under which 75 percent of the jobs with a salary of less than Rs 50,000 per month will be reserved for the locals of Haryana in the state.

Highlights:

  • The objective is to address the growing rate of unemployment in the state on a priority basis.
  • In the month of June 2020, Haryana had the highest unemployment rate among all states in the country.
  • The unemployment rate in June 2020 was 33.6 percent.
  • The proposed draft Ordinance is named ‘Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Ordinance 2020’.
  • The Ordinance will be presented before the Council of Ministers in the next meeting, after approval by the Council of Ministers the Ordinance will require the assent of the Governor of the Haryana and then the President of India for implementation or coming into effect.
  • The Ordinance after coming into effect will be applicable for all privately managed Companies, Trusts, Partnership Firms, Societies, etc that are situated in the state of Haryana.
  • The Ordinance will also have an Exemption Clause for Industries and Businesses were suitable local candidates are not available.

Extra Shots:

Haryana:

  • Capital: Chandigarh
  • Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
  • Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
  • National Park: Sultanpur National Park, Kalesar National Park

Maha Jobs Portal launched by Maharashtra Chief Minister, Domicile Certificate Mandatory for Registration

  • The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray has launched a portal on 6th July 2020 that will bridge the gap between the Industrial Units/Employers and the Workers (Domiciled: Skilled, Semi-Skilled and Unskilled).
  • The name of the portal is ‘Maha Jobs’.
  • Anyone can access the portal by visiting- ‘mahajobs.maharashtra.gov.in’For registration in the Maha Jobs portal, a domicile certificate of the state of Maharashtra is compulsory for the workers.

Maha Jobs Portal

  • Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) will be the nodal agency for the successful functioning of the Maha Jobs portal.
  • The portal is a joint venture between 3 Departments of the Maharashtra State Government.
  • The departments are the Department of Labour, Department of Industries, and the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department.
  • The aim of the Maha Jobs portal is to address the rising unemployment and layoffs that the state has witnessed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Jobs from a total of 17 sectors will be available under the portal, such as the Healthcare sector, IT, Logistics, Engineering, textile, etc.

Extra Shots:

Maharashtra:

  • Capital: Mumbai
  • Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray
  • Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
  • National Parks: Chandoli National Park, Nawegaon National Park, Gugamal National Park, Pench National Park, Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park, Tadoba National Park
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amba Barwa WLS, Bor WLS, Great Indian Bustard WLS,

Lonar WLS, Melghat WLS, Gangewadi New Great Indian Bustard WLS, etc.

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

U.S. GDP Expected to Contract 4.6% in 2020: Goldman Sachs

  • The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economists have revised down their estimates for the U.S. economy which is expected to contract 4.6% in 2000, worse than the earlier estimate of 4.2%.
  • However, the growth is expected to rebound to 5.8% in 2021.

Extra Shots:

Goldman Sachs

  • CEO: David M. Solomon
  • Founded: 1869, New York, New York, United States
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
  • Founders: Marcus Goldman, Samuel Sachs

Sanskrit Vidhyalaya built by India in Nepal Inaugurated

  • Sanskrit Vidhyalaya built in Eastern Nepal’s Province No 1’s IIam district by India was inaugurated on 6th July 2020 through video conferencing.
  • The name of the Vidhyalaya is ‘Shree Saptmai Gurukul Sanskrit Vidhyalaya’.
  • The inauguration event was attended virtually by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu (on behalf of Government of India) and was attended by the Barbote Village Development Committee and the School Management Committee of the Sanksrit Vidhyalaya.

About Sanskrit Vidhyalaya

  • Shree Saptmai Gurukul Sanskrit Vidhyalaya was constructed under the Nepal-Bharat Maitri: Development Partnership (a High Impact Community Development Partnership (a High Impact Community Development Project of Indian Government in Nepal).
  • The cost of building the Sanskrit Vidhyalaya is around Rs 31.13 million (Nepali Rupees).
  • As a primary school, the Sanskrit Vidhyalaya was established back in 2009 which was later upgraded in the year 2014 to Secondary Level School.
  • For imparting Vedic and as well as Modern education in Sanksrit, the newly built infrastructure of the school will provide a much-needed boost to the learning environment for the students.

Extra Shots:

Nepal (Capital/Currency): Kathmandu/ Nepalese rupee

  • President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari
  • Prime Minister: KP Sharma Oli
  • Official Language: Nepali

MoU signed in June 2020 under Nepal-Bharat Maitri

  • Under the Nepal-Bharat Maitri project, on 16th June 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Nepal under which India will construct a sanitation facility at the iconic Pashupatinath Temple Complex in Nepal’s capital city Kathmandu.
  • The cost of this project is Rs 2.33crore.

Extra Shots:

Nepal (Capital/Currency): Kathmandu/ Nepalese rupee

  • President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari
  • Prime Minister: KP Sharma Oli
  • Official Language: Nepali

Israel successfully launched its Intelligence Satellite Ofek-16 into LEO

  • On 6th July 2020, from Central Israel’s Palmachim Airbase Israel has successfully launched its intelligence satellite ‘Ofek-16’ into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
  • This is the 12th Satellite launched by Israel under its Ofek family of satellites.
  • The Ofek-16 Satellite was launched as a payload of the rocket- Shavit 2.

Ofek-16 Satellite

  • Ofek-16 is an optoelectronic reconnaissance (intelligence) satellite.
  • The satellite is designed and built by the state-owned company of the Israel Government- Israel Aerospace Industries.
  • The camera and payload technology for the Ofek-16 satellite is developed by Israeli company Elbit Systems. The rocket Shavit 2 is also manufactured by the Israel Aerospace Industries.
  • The satellite will further improve the surveillance capabilities of Israel as the first images from it are expected in a week.
  • The main function of the new intelligence satellite Ofek-16 will be used for monitoring the developments by Iran’s Armed Forces and its nuclear program.
  • Further Ofek-16 will also be used for closely monitoring the developments along its Lebanon and Syria borders.
  • The previous Ofek Satellite, Ofek-11 was launched on 13th September 2016.

Extra Shots:

Israel (Capital/Currency): Jerusalem/ Israeli Shekel

  • President: Reuven Rivlin
  • Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Official Language: Hebrew

RANKS AND INDICES

India Ranked 31st in INFORM Risk Index 2020 for Humanitarian crises & Disasters; Somalia Tops

  • In accordance with the “INFORM Report 2020: Shared evidence for managing crises and disasters” released by research centre INFORM, operating under European Commission (EU), India has ranked at 31st place with an inform risk of 5.4, means risk of humanitarian crises and disasters.
  • The report ranked the countries based on “INFORM Risk Index” which has been topped by Somalia with an inform risk of 8.9.
  • The report has analyzed 191 countries.
  • This report is produced by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA)
  • North Korea was rated as the 39th most dangerous place.

Top 3 Countries:

  1. Somalia
  2. Central African Republic
  3. South Sudan & Yemen

NOTE: India ranked 31st.

Extra Shots:

UN-OCHA

  • Head: Mark Lowcock
  • Founder: United Nations General Assembly
  • Founded: 19 December 1991
  • Formation: 19 December 1991
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Parent organization: United Nations

India ranks 34th in JLL’s Global Real Estate Transparency Index

  • India’s Global Real Estate Transparency Index ranking has improved by one notch to 34 on the back of regulatory reforms, better market data and green initiatives, according to property consultant JLL.
  • India was ranked 35th in the index during 2018 bi-annual survey, while the country was at 36th position in 2016 and 39th in 2014.
  • The country’s real estate market is currently placed in the ‘semi-transparent’ zone.
  • The United Kingdom (UK) ranks first in the list of 99 countries, followed by the United States, Australia, France, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden and Germany.
  • Top 10 countries are categorised as highly transparent, while those in the 11th position to 33rd are termed as transparent.
  • This is the 11th edition of the Global Real Estate Transparency Index.
  • It covers 99 countries and territories and 163 city regions.

Extra Shots:

JLL:

  • Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
  • CEO: Christian Ulbrich
  • Founder: Richard Winstanley
  • Founded: 1783, London, United Kingdom

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

Railways, BHEL tie up for solar power generation

  • Indian Railway in collaboration with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has set up a 1.7 Megawatt solar power plant at Bina, Madhya Pradesh.
  • The project involves the adoption of innovative technology for converting Direct Current to single-phase Alternating Current for feeding directly to Railway’s overhead traction system.
  • The solar power plant has been established near the Bina Traction Sub Station (TSS).
  • It can produce approximately 25 lakh units of energy annually and will save around Rs1.37 crore for Railways every year.
  • The project was undertaken by BHEL under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) scheme.

Extra Shots:

BHEL:

  • CEO: Nalin Singhal
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Founder: Government of India
  • Founded: 1964

ACQUISITION & MERGER

Payments Platform Paytm to Acquire Raheja QBE General Insurance For $76 million

  • Indian e-commerce payment system Paytm & QorQl Pvt. Ltd, a Healthcare startup company with majority shareholding of Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, is set to acquire Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based private sector general insurer Raheja QBE General Insurance Company Limited in a deal worth around $76 million (or Rs 570 crore).
  • Raheja QBE is a joint venture of India’s Prism Johnson (51%) and QBE Australia (49%).
  • Following the acquisition, Sharma, who owns 51% stake in QorQI, will hold the same stake in Raheja QBE, with the remaining 49% owned by Paytm.
  • The acquisition will require further approvals other than the approval of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

Extra Shots:

Raheja QBE General Insurance:

  • Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • CEO: Pankaj Arora

Paytm:

  • Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh
  • President: Amit Nayyar

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Injeti Srinivas appointed as the 1st Chairman of IFSCA

  • Retired 1983 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Odisha Cadre- Injeti Srinivas has been appointed as the 1st Chairman of the 1st Chairman of the International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) on 6th July 2020.
  • Injeti Srinivas has retired as the Secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on 31st May 2020.
  • He has been appointed for a period of three years as the Chairman of International Financial Services Centre Authority.

Extra Shots:

IFSCA

The International Financial Services Centre is an area of central Dublin and part of the CBD established in the 1980s as an urban regeneration area and Special Economic Zone on the derelict state owned former port authority lands of the reclaimed North Wall and George’s Dock areas of the Dublin Docklands. Wikipedia

  • Province: Leinster

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Valtteri Bottas wins Austrian Grand Prix 2020

  • Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) has won the Austrian Grand Prix 2020.
  • This was the first race of 2020 Formula One season and was held on 5th July 2020.
  • Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari while McLaren’s Lando Norris came third.

Akash Become India’s 66th Grandmaster

  • The 23 year-old G. Akash from Chennai, Tamil Nadu becomes the country’s 66th Grandmaster with rating of 2495.
  • The title was confirmed at the recent meeting of International Chess Federation (FIDE) Council
  • M Pranesh, from Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Ameya Audi, from Goa earned International Master Titles.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS

Mylan gets DCGI Approval to launch its Generic Version of Remdesivir ‘DESREM’ at Rs 4800

  • Global pharmaceutical company Mylan N.V was given approval by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for the launch of its generic version of Gilead Sciences Remdesivir drug for the treatment of COVID-19 positive patients in India. Mylan N.
  • He is currently the second-largest company in the world for the manufacturing of generic and specialty pharmaceuticals.
  • Mylan N.V’s DESREM is the third generic version of Remdesivir to get DCGI approval for sale in India.
  • In the month of June 2020, generic versions of Indian pharmaceutical companies – Cipla’s CIPREMI and Hetero’s COVIFOR’ has got DCGI approval.
  • Under the brand name ‘DESREM’, Mylan N.V’s generic version of Remdesivir will be marketed in India.

Extra Shots:

Mylan N.V

  • Headquarters: Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, United States
  • CEO: Heather Bresch
  • Parent organization: Mylan N.V.

IIT Roorkee Develops “Unisaviour” – Disinfection Box to Sterilise Personal Belongings

  • The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee(IIT-R) announced that the IIT-R researchers team led by Prof. Soumitra Satapathi, Laboratory of Integrated Nanophotonics and Biomaterials, have developed the disinfection box – “Unisaviour” box, which can be used to sterilise various personal belongings to minimise the COVID-19 transmission.

Highlights:

  • The device consists of a specially designed highly reflective geometry, which allows the UVC light to pass through the calibrated passage and disinfect the items.
  • In addition to the UVC lights, the inside of the device has a coating of developed metal oxide along with herbal antibacterial and antiviral layers to prevent the growth of microorganisms when the UVC light is not in use.
  • The device is equipped with an Arduino programmed system which regulates the time, intensity and amount of UVC exposure required for the sterilization process.
  • Enable the disinfection of items in the public places like, malls, theaters, etc.
  • The device is user friendly and has an additional safety switch for the UVC light.

WEBPORTALS & APP IN NEWS

Mamata Banerjee launches West Bengal’s ‘Self Scan’ app

  • West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a mobile app, indigenously developed by state information technology department, for documents scanning.
  • The app is named – ‘Self Scan’.
  • Self Scan is a completely safe and a protected app.
  • No data is saved on the server. Documents can be edited too on the application besides the scanning feature.
  • The application was developed by the state’s Information Technology Department amidst a call to boycott all Chinese goods in India.
  • It comes in the wake of Centre’s ban on 59 Chinese mobile applications, including TikTok.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

“Getting Competitive: A Practitioner’s Guide for India” authored by R C Bhargava

  • The Chairman of Maruti Suzuki, RC Bhargava has authored the book “Getting Competitive: A Practitioner’s Guide for India” from his experience as a policymaker and a leading industrialist.
  • The book published by HarperCollins India.
  • The book provides practical suggestions to make India a competitive industrialised country.
  • The book speaks about the necessities of building trust with the political system, governments, judiciary and industrial leaders.
  • The book focuses on bringing out the national acceptance that manufacturing competitiveness as the first priority.

OBITUARY

Oscar-winning Italian film composer Ennio Morricone passes away

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