Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 and 22 July 2024

Topic: Banking System

1. LIC joined hands with IDFC First Bank to sell online life insurance policies.

• Under the corporate agency arrangement, the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has signed an agreement with IDFC First Bank Ltd.
• It will facilitate more than 1 crore customers of IDFC First Bank to buy LIC policies online through the bank website.
• The agreement is part of efforts to increase the contribution of bancassurance and to provide life insurance coverage to all by 2047.
• The combined strength of a network of more than 3,600 branches and satellite offices of LIC and over 1,000 branches of IDFC First Bank would help in the penetration of life insurance across the country.

Topic: Sports

2. Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivetti won the Swiss Open 2024 doubles title.

• Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivetti won the Swiss Open 2024 doubles title by defeating Fabrice Martin and Ugo Humbert of France in the final by 3-6, 6-3, and 10-6.
• This is the second ATP Tour title of the year for Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivetti.
• They had won the Bavarian International doubles title by defeating the German pair Andreas Mies and Jan-Lennard Struff.
• Bhambri won his first title on the ATP Tour in 2023 alongside Lloyd Harris at the Mallorca Championships in Spain.
• The Swiss Open Tournament 2024 took place from 16 Jul 2024 to 20 Jul 2024.
• It was the 56th edition of the Swiss Open which was held at the Roy Emerson Arena in Gstaad, Switzerland.

(Source: DD News)

Topic: National News

3. $1 million will be contributed by India to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

• On July 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will contribute one million dollars to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
• It will provide support for heritage conservation, especially in countries of the global South.
• Prime Minister Modi announced this during the inauguration of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 21 July.
• This grant will be used for capacity building, technical assistance and conservation of World Heritage sites.
• A Certificate Program in World Heritage Management for Young Professionals has also been launched in India.
• The prime minister also said that the historical "Maidam" of North-East India is proposed to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• It will be the 43rd World Heritage Site in India and the first heritage site in Northeast India to receive cultural World Heritage status.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. Sri Dasarathi Krishnamacharya Award honoured to Poet Jukanti Jagannatham.

• Eminent writer and poet Jukanti Jagannatham has been nominated for the prestigious “Sri Dasarathi Krishnamacharya Award” for 2024 by the Telangana Government.
• The award, comprising ₹1 lakh in cash and a memento, will be presented to Mr. Jagannatham on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dasarathi Krishnamacharya.
• The state government issued orders to this effect on July 20 as per the recommendations of a committee constituted by the government.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoU/Agreements

5. An MoU signed between Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru to promote standardisation.

• The MoU has been signed for the establishment of the ‘BIS Standardization Chair Professor’.
• Formally launched on July 3, this initiative is an important step towards institutionalizing BIS’ collaboration with leading academic and research establishments across India.
• The BIS Standardization Chair Professor aims to foster a strong partnership between BIS and IISc to promote collaborative work on standardization and harmonization of product specifications on the principles of equality and reciprocity.
• This collaboration is a strategic step to secure active academic participation in standards building and to make teaching of Indian Standards an integral part of the academic curriculum.
• The establishment of the BIS Standardization Chair at IISc is expected to serve as a catalyst for several collaborative efforts, including:
  • Integration of Standardized Curriculum
  • Active participation in standardization activities
  • Infrastructure support for R&D
  • Co-organization of events
  • Knowledge Sharing
  • Search for Centers of Excellence
  • Laboratory Facilities

Topic: Sports

6. Leander Paes, and Vijay Amritraj inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame.

• On 21 July, Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj, legendary Indian tennis players known for their historic triumphs, have become the first Asian exponents of the sport to be inducted into the International Hall of Fame.
• Their induction marks a significant milestone in the recognition of Asian athletes in tennis history.
• The 51-year-old Paes, whose list of achievements includes men's singles bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, eight men's doubles and 10 mixed doubles Grand Slam titles besides several famous Davis Cup triumphs, was given this rare honour in the 'Player Category'.
• Paes spent 37 weeks at the No. 1 spot in the world rankings in doubles and won 54 doubles titles on the tour.
• The 70-year-old Vijay Amritraj reached the men's singles quarterfinals twice each at Wimbledon and the US Open and also led India to the Davis Cup finals twice - in 1974 and 1987.
• At his peak, he was ranked world No. 18 in singles and No. 23 in doubles.
• He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the 'Contributor Category' along with Richard Evans.
• With the induction of these three, the Hall of Fame now represents 267 veterans from 28 countries.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

7. The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) has got the best technology award.

• IISR has won the award for its pioneering work in horticultural sciences.
• Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan gave the award at the 96th Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• The technology known as ‘Process for instant soluble turmeric enriched spice flavoured milk powder’ was one of the top five technologies under ICAR’s Horticulture Sciences Division.
• The technology had been commercialised in association with Malabar Regional Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Limited.
• Two products (Golden Milk and Golden Milk Mix) had been produced and marketed.
• Indian Institute of Spices Research has its headquarters in Moozhikkal, Silver Hills, Kozhikode, Kerala. It was established in 1975. 

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy launched the National District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Portal.

• It is a centralized platform to gather the information on the District Mineral Foundations across the country.
• The portal has been launched with an aim to facilitate the access to the DMF data and track the developments and utilizations.
• This portal provides details of 645 DMFs in the country. It also features a repository of best practices for effective implementation.
• The minister also launched Mineral Exploration Hackathon. The Hackathon is focused on Innovative Mineral Hunt Techniques.
• It aims to encourage use of emerging technologies for geophysical data, integration of multiple mineral exploration data to identify new Mineral targets.
• Union Minister also gave certificates to 08 Preferred Bidders of the 2nd and 3rd tranche of the e-auction of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks.
• District Mineral Foundation:
  • As per Section 9(B) of the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) (MMDR) Act, a District Mineral Foundation (DMF) is a non-profit body.
  • State Government prescribes the composition and functions of District Mineral Foundation.
  • DMFs work for the interest and benefit of persons, and areas affected by mining related operations in the manner as prescribed by the State Government.

Topic: International News

9. US President Joe Biden decided to drop out of the presidential race.

• President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party.
• Joe Biden has decided to drop out of the race after a debate with Donald Trump, which raised doubts about his fitness for office.
• If Biden's endorsement is accepted, Kamala Harris will be the first Indian-origin woman to contest the US presidential elections.
• After pressure from Democratic lawmakers and party officials, Biden made this decision to come out from presidential race.
• Former President Donald Trump is the nominee from the Republican Party.
• The 2024 United States presidential election will take place on November 5, 2024.
• Voters from each state and the District of Columbia will choose a slate of electors to the United States Electoral College, who will then elect a president and vice president for a term of four years.

Topic: National News

10. Department of School Education and Literacy is observing Shiksha Saptah.

• Shiksha Saptah will scheduled to be organized by the Department of School Education and Literacy from July 22–28.
• The main aim of the Shiksha Saptah is to promote collaboration and the educational reforms introduced by National Education Policy 2020 among students, educators, and stakeholders.
• Shiksha Saptah is being celebrated in government schools to mark the completion of 4 years of National Education Policy 2020.
• During the Shiksha Saptah, theme-based days will be observed, including Teaching-Learning Material Day, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Day, Sports Day and Cultural Day.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Personality in News

11. Renowned agriculturalist Padma Shri Kamla Pujari passed away in Cuttack at the age of 74.

• Kamala Pujari was born in Patraput village in Koraput district of Odisha.
• In 2019, The government had presented Kamala Pujari with the prestigious Padma Shri award for her significant contributions to the field of agriculture.
• She received worldwide appreciation for his contribution to organic farming and conservation of indigenous rice varieties.
• Apart from more than 100 varieties of paddy, she also preserved several types of turmeric and cumin.
• Kamala Pujari traveled to many villages barefoot, teaching farmers, especially women, about organic farming and the use of organic fertilizers.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Agriculture and Allied Sector

12. The 13^th edition of the India Chem with the theme "Advantage Bharat: Indian Chemicals and Petrochemicals Paving the Future" launched.

• On 20 July, it was launched by The Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and Minister of state Ms. Anupriya Patel.
• The brochure for the 13th edition of India Chem was also launched by Shri Nadda.
• Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Shri J.P. Nadda appreciated that the event has come a long way and is now set for its 13th edition to be held on October 17–19, 2024, in Mumbai.
• India is the second-largest exporter of chemical dyes, dyeing materials, and agricultural chemicals in the world, contributing about 3% to global chemical sales.
• The department's flagship event, India Chem 2024, is one of the largest comprehensive industry events in the Asia-Pacific region, comprising an international exhibition and conference.
• The aim of the India Chem exhibition is to showcase the potential of the Indian chemical industry and its segments, providing a platform for discussions, ideas, and strategic collaborations among industry representatives.
• Currently, the chemical industry in India is valued at USD 220 billion, and is expected to grow USD 300 billion by 2030 and USD 1 trillion by 2040.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Telangana

13. Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastam scheme launched by the Chief Minister of Telangana.

• A unique program to provide financial assistance launched by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to Civil Services aspirants from Telangana.
• Under this program, candidates who qualify for the Mains exams will receive ₹1 lakh for their preparation.
• The scheme called “Rajiv Gandhi Civils Abhayahastham” will be helpful for around 400 candidates from Telangana region who qualify for the main exam every year.
• As a part of its ‘Nirman’ program, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) will provide assistance.
• Eligible candidates for this scheme include people from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Class, Women and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category, but their family annual income should not exceed Rs 8 lakh.
• The government will also announce the job calendar in the upcoming state assembly budget session.
• The Chief Minister said that the government will compile the data of vacancies in every department before March every year.
• The notification will be issued by June 2 and the recruitment process will be completed by December 9.
• He said the Congress government provided 30,000 jobs within three months of coming to power.

Topic: Important Days

14. Pi Approximation Day 2024: 22 July

• Every year on July 22, Pi Approximation Day is observed around the globe.
• It is dedicated to the Mathematical Constant Pi.
• This day is celebrated on 22 July because the approximation value of pi (22/7) is equal to 22/7 date.
• Mathematician Leonhard Euler designed the symbol of Pi in 1706.
• Pi Day is also observed every year on 14 March (3.14).
• Pi:
  • This is a mathematical constant. It is represented by a Greek letter π.
  • In 1706, pi use was introduced by William Jones.
  • It is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.
  • Its value is 22/7 or 3.14. A pi is an irrational number and cannot be expressed as a ratio of whole numbers.
  • The value of pi is a never-ending and never-repeating number.