Daily Current Affairs and GK | 2 August 2022

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. Venkaiah Naidu presented President’s Colours to Tamil Nadu police.

• Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu presented the award to the Tamil Nadu police for commendable service and many achievements.
• Tamil Nadu has the highest number of women police stations and the second highest number of women police personnel.
• Tamil Nadu is the first state to have a women commando force. It is the only State in the country to have an exclusive Idol Wing.
• Earlier, Tamil Nadu has received the prestigious President’s Colours in 2009.
• President’s Colours:
  • The President’s Colours is the highest honour given to any Military/ State police for its exceptional service.
  • It is also known as “Rashtrapati ka Nishan”.
  • Dr Rajendra Prasad presented the first “President's Colour” to the Indian Navy on 27 May 1951.

Topic: State News/Madhya Pradesh

2. Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 6 National Highway projects worth 2300 Crore rupees in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

• The total length of these projects is 119 Kms. Shri Nitin Gadkari said that connectivity of the villages of the Indore-Harda section with Indore will be better.
• The development of the Dhar-Pithampur Industrial Corridor will provide new employment opportunities.
• Minister of State, General VK Singh said in last seven years, 4,500 km of roads have been constructed in the State at a cost of more than 26 thousand crores.
• MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan demanded 20 flyovers and Road over bridges (ROB) for the State.
• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari approved these projects under the Setu Bharatam scheme worth Rs 16,000 crore.
• During the programme, the state government and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed MoU for the construction of ropeways at 14 selected places in Madhya Pradesh.

Topic: Important Days

3. World Breastfeeding Week is observed from 1st to 7th of August every year.

• World Breastfeeding Week was first started in 1992.
• It is celebrated to promote the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and the baby.
• In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed World Breastfeeding Week as an important breastfeeding promotion strategy. 
• Breast milk contains colostrum. Colostrum protects the newborn and children from sickness. It imparts them with immunity.
• Breastfeeding helps in sensory and cognitive development of infants. It reduces breast and ovarian cancer risks in mothers.
• The theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2022 is 'Step Up for Breastfeeding: Educate and Support'.

Topic: Books and Authors

4. Sanjay Baru has authored a new book titled “The Journey of a Nation: 75 Years of Indian Economy”.

• The book is published by Rupa Publications India Pvt Ltd.
• Its full title is “The Journey of a Nation: 75 Years of Indian Economy: Re-emerge, Reinvest, Re-engage”.
• It is a part of the series that looks back at the past 75 years of independent India.
• It begins with a reference to British historian Angus Maddison and his book The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective (2001).
• Angus Maddison’s book estimated that in 1700, China and India together accounted for half of the world’s national income.
• Maddison’s book also estimated that, by 1950, China and India combined share was down to less than 10 percent.

Topic: National Appointments

5. Shri Satyendra Prakash appointed as Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

• Shri Prakash is a 1988 batch officer in the Indian Information Service.
• Prior to this, he served as the Central Bureau of Communication's Principal DG.
• He has represented the Indian government in a number of national and international organizations, including UNESCO, UNICEF, and UNDP.
• He played a key role in the creation of the Central Bureau of Communication's draught Guidelines for Content Regulation of Government Advertising, Internet and Digital Media Policy, FM Radio Policy, Digital Cinema Policy, etc.
• He was awarded the National Award for increasing electoral participation through voter awareness and education in 2021-22.
• Press Information Bureau (PIB):
  • It is a nodal agency within the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India.
  • It was formed in 1919.
  • It is headquartered in New Delhi.

Topic: Defence

6. Indian Army deployed indigenous combat vehicles to increase border surveillance.

• The indigenously built Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle-Medium (QRFV) has been successfully delivered to the Indian Army by the Aerospace and Defence Arm of the Tata Group, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
• The indigenous developed combat vehicle will improve the Indian Army's operational capability in future conflicts and war-like conditions.
• The government's efforts to boost the manufacturing of indigenous defense equipment have lowered foreign defense procurement from 46% of overall spending to 36% in the last four years (2018-19 to 2021-22).
• Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) became India's first private sector company to manufacture and supply wheeled armored combat-ready vehicles for the Indian armed services in April 2022.
• In April 2022, Former Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane inducted the first set of QRFV along with Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicle (IPMV), Ultra Long-Range Observation System developed by TASL.
• He also inducted Monocoque Hull Multi-Role Mine-Protected Armoured Vehicle developed by Bharat Forge.
• Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL):
  • It is a firm in India that specializes in aerospace, defence, military engineering and construction, and technology.
  • It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, the Tata Group's holding company.
  • It was founded in 2007.
  • It is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National Appointments

7. Dr. Sujoy Lal Thaosen assumed the additional charge of the Director General of ITBP.

• Dr. Sujoy Lal Thaosen is the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
• Dr. Thaosen is an IPS Officer of the 1988 batch, Madhya Pradesh Cadre.
• IPS Sanjay Arora, who has been appointed as the new Commissioner of the Delhi Police, handed over the charge to Dr. Thaosen.
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP):
  • It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces of India.
  • It was created on 24 October 1962 under the CRPF Act, in the wake of the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi. It guards Indo-China borders.
  • It is also deployed in various internal security duties including anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.

Topic: State News/West Bengal

8. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that seven new districts will be carved out in the state.

• This will increase total number of districts in West Bengal from 23 to 30.
• The seven new districts will be Sunderban, Ichhemati, Ranaghat, Bishnupur, Jangipur, Behrampur and one district from Basirhat region.
• Presently, Sundarban is a part of South 24 paraganas. Icchemati and Basirhat are part of North 24 parganas.
• Ranaghat comes under Nadia district. Jangipur and Behrampur are part of Murshidabad district. Bishnupur district will be formed by division of Bankura.
• West Bengal:
  • It is a state in eastern India. It is located between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.
  • It shares its boundary with three countries-Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.
  • The Chief Minister of West Bengal is Mamta Banerjee and Governor is La. Ganesan.
  • Its capital is Kolkata. It is the fourth-most populous state of India.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

9. IIT Guwahati set up centre of excellence for biomedical device and diagnostics innovation.

• This centre of excellence for biomedical device and diagnostics innovation will help in developing indigenous products.
• The centre will develop devices to full fill the needs of rural areas with a focus on healthcare delivery to the last-mile population.
• The Centre of Excellence will also work on detecting biomarkers using microfluidic and semiconductor nano-biosensors to detect various non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
• The Centre will also use frugal innovation related to biomedical devices.
• The ICMR centre of excellence will help in reducing the import of healthcare devices from other countries under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

Topic: International Appointment

10. Auguste Tano Koume has been appointed as Country Director of the World Bank for India.

• He has replaced Junaid Kamal Ahmad, who recently completed his five-year term.
• Earlier, he served as Director of the Department of Human Development and Economic Management at World Bank Group’s Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) from January 2017 to April 2019.
• He served as Practice Manager in the Macroeconomics and Fiscal Management Practice of the World Bank.
• In 2021-22 FY, India has taken a loan of $3.98 billion from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and $83 million from International Development Association (IDA).
• World Bank:
  • It is an international financial institution founded in 1944.
  • It provides loans and grants to governments of poor countries for capital projects.
  • It is headquartered in Washington DC, the United States and David Malpass is its President.

Topic: International News

11. Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is on a 4-day visit to India from August 1.

• He is accompanied by a team of high-level officials and a business delegation.
• He will meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• During his visit, both countries will review the progress made in partnership.
• India recognize the Maldives after its independence in 1965.
• India – Maldives Relations:
  • India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981.
  • India-Maldives bilateral trade crossed the $ 300 mn mark in 2021.
  • The Maldives occupies a special place in India’s Neighbourhood First Policy.
  • In February 2022, India and Maldives organized the 3^rd Defense Cooperation Dialogue to strengthen defence cooperation.

Topic: Personality in News

12. Freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya’s birth anniversary celebrated on 2 August.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the stamp at a programme in New Delhi to mark the birth anniversary of Pingali Venkayya,
• Pingali Venkayya was born on August 2, 1876, near present-day Machilipatnam town in Andhra Pradesh.
• Pingali Venkayya designed many models of the national flag. Mahatma Gandhi approved a design at a congress meeting in 1921.
• The national flag model presented to Mahatma Gandhi had two strips (green and red). On Gandhi's suggestion, a white stripe was added by Venkayya on top. It had charkha at the centre.
• Since 1921, this flag was used informally at all Congress meetings.
• Indian National Flag:
  • The National Flag of India has three horizontal strips of Saffron, white and green colour and the Ashoka Chakra is at the centre of the white strip.
  • The flag was adopted on 22 July 1947 by the Constituent Assembly.
  • The usage of the flag is governed by the Flag Code of India, 2002.

Topic: Important Days

13. World Lung Cancer Day: 1 August

• World Lung Cancer Day is observed on 1 August.
• It is observed to raise awareness about lung cancer and its early detection.
• It was first observed in 2012 by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies in association with the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and the American College of Chest Physicians.
• Out of all the cancer cases, lung cancer accounts for around 12.8%. Around 1.76 million people died due to lung cancer in 2018.
• The IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) is the largest organization to deal with lung cancer.
• Lung cancer is a preventable disease if it is detected in an early stage.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

14. India has received the highest aid for trade from developed countries in 2020.

• The Joint Aid for Trade at a Glance 2022 report has been released by the WTO and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
• In 2020, India received $2.7 billion as aid from developed countries for trade. India received $3.9 billion in 2019.
• Bangladesh is the second largest recipient of aid from developed countries, followed by Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Vietnam, and Pakistan.
• World Bank, European Union Institutions, and Asian Development Bank are the top institution donors.
• Japan, the United States, Germany, and France are among the top donor countries.
• In 2020, the total disbursement was $48.7 billion. Around $4.7 billion has been given for the Covid-19-related activities.
• Aid for trade is mainly for the least developed economies. It consists of aid for building supply-side capacity and trade-related infrastructure for international trade.