Daily Current Affairs and GK | 13 July 2021

Topic: State News/ Assam

1. Assam to create a new department for indigenous faith and culture.

• The Assam government will create a new department for indigenous faith and culture.
• It will help in the protection and preservation of the faith, culture, and traditions of tribes and indigenous communities.
• The new department will be created to fulfill the government’s vision of protecting the state’s demography and indigenous cultures.
• The government has launched various schemes for the Bodos, Morans, Rabhas and Mishings tribes.
• The Assam government has announced many financial reforms. The head of the department for indigenous faith and culture can approve the projects and schemes worth Rs 2 crore and below.
• A standing finance committee headed by the chief secretary will approve projects worth Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore.
• In 2016, Arunachal Pradesh had formed the Department of Indigenous Affairs for protecting the faith of tribes.
• Assam:
  • It is the largest northeastern state in terms of population.
  • Its capital is Dispur. Its largest city is Guwahati. It has 34 districts.
  • Governor of Assam is Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister is Himanta Biswa Sarma.
  • Kaziranga National Park located in Assam is known for One-horned rhinos.

Topic: Sports

2. Argentina wins Copa America 2021 Final by defeating Brazil.

• Argentina won Copa America 2021 Final by defeating Brazil by 1-0. Argentina wins the Copa America title for the first time after 28 years.
• Argentina defeated Brazil at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
• This is Lionel Messi's first major trophy with the Argentina senior team.
• Lionel Messi and Neymar were the top goal scorer with four goals. This victory was Argentina's 15^th Copa America triumph.
• Copa América is the men's football tournament contested among national teams from South America. It is the oldest football tournament competition. It is the third most-watched tournament in the world.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Appointments

3. Vinay Prakash appointed by Twitter as Resident Grievance Officer in India.

• Vinay Prakash has been appointed by Twitter as Resident Grievance Officer in India.
• On 08 July, Twitter had told Delhi High Court that it will need eight weeks to appoint a chief compliance officer.
• The company has hired a resident of India as its interim compliance officer, with effect from 06 July.
• Earlier, central government had told Delhi High Court that Twitter has failed to comply with IT Rules 2021 despite three months granted to all Significant Social Media Intermediaries.
• The deadline for complying with the new rules was May 26, 2021.
• India enforced Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Ethics Code) Rules 2021 to regulate the functioning of online media portals and publishers, social media companies and over-the-top (OTT platforms).
• Twitter is an American microblogging and social networking service.

Topic: Space and IT

4. A rare superluminous supernova spotted by Indian researchers.

• A rare superluminous supernova illuminating with energy has been spotted by Indian researchers.
• As per the Union ministry of science and technology, a deep study of such ancient spatial objects can help probe the mysteries of the early Universe.
• Superluminous supernova are generally rare. They generally originate from very massive stars.
• Superluminous supernova spotted by researchers is extremely bright, hydrogen deficient, fast-evolving supernova shining with the energy borrowed from an exotic type of neutron star with an ultra-powerful magnetic field.
• Researchers observed superluminous supernova using special arrangements at India’s recently commissioned Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT-3.6m) along with Sampurnanand Telescope-1.04m and Himalayan Chandra Telescope-2.0m.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

5. APEDA signed MoU with NAFED for boosting export potential of Agriculture and Food Products.

• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed MoU with NAFED for promoting export of Agriculture and Food Products.
• The MoU will strengthen the export linkage of farmer cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organisation (FPOs).
• APEDA will help in exports by the Cooperatives, FPOs, partners and associates promoted by NAFED.
• APEDA and NAFED will also facilitate the participation of Farmers’ Cooperatives in global trade.
• The MoU will help in resolving key issues such as technology, skill, quality products, and market access to ensure export of Agriculture and Food Products.

Topic: International News

6. Sher Bahadur Deuba to be appointed as new Prime Minister of Nepal.

• Nepal's Supreme Court has ordered to reinstate the Parliament and to appoint Sher Bahadur Deuba as the Prime Minister.
• Caretaker Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli had dissolved the Parliament in May. Nepal is facing a constitutional crisis after Oli lost a confidence vote in Parliament.
• K.P. Sharma Oli has dissolved the parliament before opposition leader Mr. Deuba could stake their claim.
• Sher Bahadur Deuba will take oath as the next Prime Minister of Nepal on July 13. He has formed a coalition government led by Nepali Congress (NC).
• The five-member Constitutional Bench stated that according to article 75 Oli’s claim to the post of Prime Minister was unconstitutional.
• Nepal's Prime Minister holds the position of the Head of the executive. He is appointed by the President of Nepal. Prime Minister has a tenure of 5years.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. Nirmala Sitharaman attended 3^rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting.

• Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the 3^rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting.
• It was hosted under the presidency of Italy from 9^th to 10^th July.
• Participants discussed many issues including the global economic risks and health challenges, policies for recovery from the CoVID-19 pandemic, international taxation, sustainable finance, and financial sector issues.
• The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors reaffirmed their commitment to use available policy tools against the consequences of COVID-19.
• The world will now focus on Digitalization, Climate Action, and Sustainable Infrastructure for economic recovery.
• A report of the G20 High-Level Independent Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic has been also released during the meeting.
• Italy will host the G20 summit in 2021 and India will host the G20 summit in 2023.

Topic: Space and IT

8. ISRO planning to launch GISAT-1 Geo-Imaging Satellite in August 2021.

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch geo imaging satellite GISAT-1 from the GSLV-F10 rocket on August 12.
• GISAT-1 was scheduled to be launch on March 28, 2021, but due to a minor issue, its launch was postponed.
• GISAT-1 will be placed in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit by GSLV-F10. It will facilitate the real- time observation of the Indian sub-continent region under cloud-free conditions.
• It will also help in monitoring natural disasters and keep an eye on Indian borders and Oceans.
• Earlier, ISRO had launched the PSLV-C51 mission with Brazil's earth observation satellite Amazonia-1.
• Geosynchronous satellite is placed in the geosynchronous orbit with an orbital period matching the Earth's rotation period. These satellites take 24 hours to complete one rotation around the earth.

Topic: National News

9. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar begins his two-day visit to Tajikistan.

• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to Tajikistan.
• He will take part in the Foreign Ministers meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council.
• The SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting will discuss the achievements of the organization in the last 20 years. 
• He will also take part in the ‘SCO Contact Group meeting on Afghanistan’ on July 14.
• The Republic of Tajikistan has assumed chairmanship of SCO for 2021-22. SCO Council of Heads of States will meet in Dushanbe on 16-17 September.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization:
  • It was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001.
  • Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, India, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
  • It has emerged as one of the important international organizations.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

10. Amit Shah inaugurates research-based center of excellence at National Forensic Science University.

• Union Home Minister has inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Research and Analysis of Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances at National Forensic Science University at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
• It will help in the collection of evidence and confession of the accused with the help of scientific technology.
• It will help youths to become free from the addiction of drugs and narcotics and will perform research and analysis of drugs and narcotics seized in the country.
• Home Minister Amit Shah also inaugurated the virtual training model on Investigation of Crime against women for Indian Police.
• Recently, Government has granted the status of National University to the Forensic Science University at Gandhinagar.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Personality in News

11. Eminent Ayurveda physician Dr. P K Warrier passed away.

• Renowned Ayurveda physician Dr. P K Warrier died at the age of 100.  In his lifetime, he treated thousands of patients from across the globe.
• He was honoured with the Padma Shree in 1999 and Padma Bhushan in 2010.
• He had taken part in the freedom struggle during the Quit India movement.
• He was the chief Physician and Managing trustee of Arya Vaidya Sala. He was the founder of Arya Vaidya Sala.
• He will be remembered for his contribution to the modernization of Ayurveda.

Topic: Personality in News

12. UK billionaire Richard Branson flies to space.

• British businessman Sir Richard Branson flew into space aboard the Unity 22 with Sirisha Bandala and other members.
• He became the first person to travel in his own spaceship leaving behind Jeff Bezos who also planned to do the same.
• He also became only the second septuagenarian to depart for space after John Glenn.
• Sirisha Bandla has become the third Indian-origin woman after Kalpana Chawal and Sunita Williams to travel into space.
• Richard Branson is the founder of Virgin Group.