Daily Current Affairs and GK | 23 July 2022

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

1. NITI Aayog launched initiatives to raise awareness on electric mobility and promote battery recycling in India.

• COP 26 President Alok Sharma and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Mr Suman Bery launched E-AMRIT (Accelerated e-Mobility Revolution for India's Transportation) mobile application.
• The e-AMRIT app will provide information like the benefits of electric vehicles, information related to developments in the Indian electric vehicle market, etc.
• The report on “Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Reuse and Recycling Market in India” has also been released that aims to promote battery recycling and promote the evolving battery technologies.
• The report highlights the role of energy storage in achieving India’s COP26 goals.
• The report provides details on the battery storage supply chain and reviews different battery storage and recycling technologies.
• NITI Aayog is collaborating with UK Government in the areas of e-vehicles, charging infrastructure and battery storage.
• India is one of the signatories of the UK's Glasgow Breakthroughs, which was launched at the COP26 climate summit.
• India is the fifth largest and fastest growing e-vehicle market in the world.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

2. NTPC Ltd signed a Statement of Intent with NITI Aayog for developing the Net Zero GHG emissions roadmap.

• The main aim of the agreement is to formalize a framework of cooperation between both parties and to help India in achieving the net zero GHG emissions goal.
• After signing the Statement of Intent, NTPC will get the expertise of NITI Aayog’s energy team for emissions and energy (portfolio mix) modeling including the development of scenarios for 2030, 2037, 2047 and 2070.
• NTPC will get assistance in establishing the Carbon Management Unit (CMU) and integrating all GHG reduction initiatives under one platform.
• NITI Aayog is working on the development of different scenarios/ pathways for achieving Net Zero GHG emissions by 2070.
• 'Net zero emissions' means establishing an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and greenhouse gas emissions removed from the atmosphere.
• At the 26^th Conference of Parties (COP26), Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2070.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Personality in news

3. Anant Yashwant Khare passed away at the age of 76.

• Renowned Marathi writer Anant Yashwant Khare, often known as Nanda Khare, passed away.
• Mr Khare wrote 19 books on various subjects such as science, sociology, and geography, of which some of his most famous works are 'Antajichi Bakhar', 'Bakhar Antkalachi' and 'Udya'.
• He was honored with many awards by Granthali, Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh, Lokmangal, and Shabd: The Book Gallery.
• For his novel "Kahani Manav Pranyachi," he was given the Bhai Madhavrao Bagal Award in 2010.
• He was offered the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2020 for his novel 'Udya', but he politely declined as he had decided not to accept any award till then.
• Mr. Khare was a member of the Marathi Science Council and had worked nearly eleven years on the editorial board of the newspaper "Aajcha Sudharak."

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. Madhya Pradesh won the Most Film Friendly State award at 68th National Film Awards.

• The winners of the 68th National Film Awards for 2020 were announced by the jury.
• Madhya Pradesh won the Most Film-Friendly State award, while Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh received Special Mention.
• The Odia book "Kali Paine Kalira Cinema" and the Malayalam book "MT Anunahvangalude Pusthakam" both receive special mentions and Kishwar Desai's "The Longest Kiss" won Best Book on Cinema for the Year.
• Here is the list of the rest 68th National Film Awards winners:

Topic: Important Days

5. National Broadcasting Day 2022: 23 July

• Every year on July 23, India celebrates National Broadcasting Day.
• On this day in 1927, the Indian Broadcasting Company (a private company) started the country's first-ever radio broadcast from the Bombay Station.
• Under British rule, radio broadcasting in India began in 1922, and the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) was granted permission to run two radio stations in 1927.
• The IBC dissolved its operations on 1 March 1930 and the government started the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) on 1 April 1930.
• Eventually, IBC was renamed as All India Radio on June 8, 1936.
• All India Radio (AIR):
  • Currently, All India Radio (AIR) is the largest radio network in the world, boasting 479 stations all over India.
  • The Motto of All India Radio is 'Bahujan Hitay: Bahujan Sukhay' and its objective is to educate, inform and entertain the public.
  • It broadcasts programs in 23 languages and 179 dialects.
  • The largest public broadcasting organisation in India, Prasar Bharati, has owned AIR since 1956 and AIR is officially called “Akashvani.”

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Books and Authors

6. Book titled "The Resilient Entrepreneur" has been launched.

• The book is authored by Dhruti Shah.
• Ocean Reeve Publishing has published the book.
• The book is all about the tools and mindset to tackle any challenge in order to be successful.

Topic: Space and IT

7. ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre has launched ‘Space on Wheels’ in Tripura.

• ‘Space on Wheels’ is a mobile exhibition carrying the models of launch vehicles, satellites, etc,
• ‘Space on Wheels’ includes models of the first two launch pads, Chandrayaan-1 Mission, Indian Mars orbiter mission – Mangalyaan.
• It also includes models of technological applications like Indian remote sensing applications, and the Indian regional navigation satellite.
• ‘Human Spaceflight Expo’ is being organized at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium from 22 July.
• Satish Dhawan Space Centre is a rocket launch centre operated by ISRO. It is located in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Topic: State News/Madhya Pradesh

8. Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh has become India’s first certified Har Ghar Jal district.

• In the Burhanpur district, safe drinking water is available to all people in 254 villages through taps.
• At the time of the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission on 15^th August 2019, only 36.54% of over one lakh households in Burhanpur had potable drinking water via tap connections.
• All its 1 lakh 1 thousand 905 rural households now have functional tap water connections now.
• In addition to the households, all 640 schools now also have tap connections. 547 Anganwadi centres and 440 other public institutions now also have tap connections.
• Other public institutions include Gram Panchayats, healthcare centers, community centers, ashramshalas, community toilets and government offices.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International Appointment

9. Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah appointed as the new Prime Minister of Kuwait.

• His appointment came three months after the resignation of Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Hamad Al-Sabah.
• He is the fourth son of Sheikh Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah, who ruled Kuwait from 1965 until 1977.
• Earlier, he served as Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait.
• Since 1985, 11 Kuwaiti governments have resigned and 16 ministers were relieved from their duties.
• Kuwait:
  • It is located in Western Asia and the capital is Kuwait City.
  • It is a semi-constitutional emirate and the Emir appoints the Prime Minister.
  • Prime Minister selects the cabinet of ministers of the government.
  • It is a petroleum-based economy and is one of the richest countries in the world.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

10. Ukraine and Russia inked an UN-backed deal to allow export of grains from the black sea.

• Russia and Ukraine have decided to resume exports of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.
• This deal will allow the export of 22 million tons of grain and other agricultural products from three Ukrainian ports.
• The agreement has been signed at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul in the presence of UN Secretary General António Guterres.
• The deal will help in stabilizing food prices in developing countries.
• The Russian and Ukrainian sides have agreed to withhold attacks on any of the commercial vessels or ports engaged in the initiative.
• As per the deal, Ships entering Ukraine will be inspected by a joint coordination centre.
• Ukrainian, UN and Turkish staff will monitor the loading of grain onto vessels in Ukrainian ports.
• Ukraine is the fifth largest exporter of wheat but exports have stalled after the war.

Topic: International Appointmentss

11. Senior politician Dinesh Gunawardena took an oath as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

• Dinesh Gunawardena has earlier served as foreign minister and education minister. He was Home Minister in the Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government.
• The Prime Minister's post was vacant after the resignation of Wickremesinghe.
• He is leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) party and a supporter of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
• Ranil Wickremesinghe declared a state of emergency as Sri Lanka’s economic crisis further deepened. He also demanded a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund.
• Prime Minister of Sri Lanka:
  • He is the head of the government of Sri Lanka.
  • The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
  • The Prime Minister’s post is the second in the order of precedence after the president.

Topic: National Appointments

12. Rajarshi Gupta became new Managing Director of ONGC Videsh.

• Rajarshi Gupta’s appointment has come into effect on 19 July.
• He has taken place of Alok Gupta, who superannuated as ONGC Videsh's MD in June 2022.
• Rajarshi Gupta has vast experience in supervisory, managerial, and strategic planning.
• Earlier, he served as executive director - chief of corporate strategy and planning in ONGC.
• ONGC Videsh Limited:
  • It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ONGC.
  • It is a Miniratna Schedule “A” Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).
  • It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

13. India spends lowest on research and development in the world: NITI Aayog.

• India’s Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) is 0.7% of its GDP, the lowest in the world.
• According to a study by NITI Aayog and the Institute for Competitiveness, India’s spending on R&D has declined from 0.8% of the GDP in 2008–09 to 0.7% in 2017-18.
• Brazil, Russia, and China spend 1.2%, 1.1%, and around 2% of their GDP respectively on research development.
• The world’s average spend on research development is 1.8%. Israel spends 4.5% of its GDP on research development, the highest in the world.
• United States, Sweden, and Switzerland spend about 2.9%, 3.2% and 3.4%, respectively.
• India’s GERD at $43 per capita is the lowest in the world. Low spending on research development can lead to the migration of people.
• For achieving the goal of a $5 trillion economy, India’s spending on research development should be increased to at least 2% of the GDP.

Topic: Miscellaneous

14. Godrej Consumer Products roped Shah Rukh Khan as its brand ambassador for Godrej Magic body wash.

• Godrej Consumer Products Limited is an Indian consumer goods company.
• Exxaro named Ajay Devgn as its brand ambassador.
• Under Armour brand, Underdog Athletics has roped Neeraj Chopra as its brand ambassador.
• Sleepyhead has announced actor Ranveer Singh as their first brand ambassador.