Daily Current Affairs and GK | 28 July 2022

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

1. New Zealand is the least-preferred destinations by expatriates: Expat Insider Rankings 2022.

• Mexico is on the top spot of Expat Insider Rankings for 2022; 91 percent expats are happy with their life.
• Indonesia, Taiwan, Portugal and Spain are in the top five positions. Kuwait, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Cyprus and Luxembourg are among the bottom five countries.
• The high cost of living is a common factor in the bottom countries.
• India is in the 36th position among 52 countries. India is preferred by expats due to affordability and the availability of health care.
• India is the worst in terms of air quality and second-worst in environment and travel and transit facilities.
• As per the report, Kuwait is on the 52nd position and has poor infrastructure and is not eco-friendly.
• The Expat Insider survey is conducted every year by InterNations, a community for expatriates.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

2. Om Birla and Esperanca Bias inked a pact to enhance cooperation between both countries parliaments.

• A Parliamentary Delegation of Mozambique led by Ms. Bias is on a three-day visit to India.
• It is the first time that a Parliamentary Delegation of Mozambique has visited India.
• The main aim of the MoU is to develop relations based on the principles of equality, reciprocity of benefits and mutual respect between the Parliaments of India and Mozambique.
• India and Mozambique 2nd round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was held in New Delhi on 4th July.
• Both countries exchanged their views on defence and security cooperation, trade and economic matters, consular issues, etc. during Foreign Office Consultations (FOC).
• Both sides agreed to enhance people-to-people exchanges, and cultural cooperation.
• Mozambique:
  • It is a southeastern African country.
  • It shares a border with Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini and the Indian Ocean is situated on its east.
  • Filipe Nyusi is the current President and Adriano Maleiane is the current Prime Minister.
  • Maputo is the capital and Metical is the currency of Mozambique.

Topic: Sports

3. Leicester Cricket Ground in England named after the legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar.

• Leicester Cricket Ground, owned by Bharat Sports and Cricket Club, has decided to name the ground after him to highlight his contribution to Indian cricket.
• Gavaskar, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, is regarded as one of the most accomplished batsmen of all time.
• He had once held the record for the most centuries (34) and also became the first cricketer to reach 10,000 runs.
• He was also a part of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian team.
• A ground in Kentucky, USA, is named after Sunil Gavaskar, and another is being built in Zanzibar, Tanzania, in his honor.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Sports

4. Union Cabinet agreed to sign the guarantee for hosting the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022 in India.

• The tournament will take place between 11^th and 30^th October, 2022.
• The seventh edition of the biennial youth tournament will be the first FIFA women's competition, which will be hosted by India.
• FIFA Under-17 Men's World Cup 2017 was also hosted by India.
• All India Football Federation will be provided a financial outlay of Rs 10 crore for maintenance of the playground, electricity in the stadium, branding of stadium and training venues, etc.
• FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup:
  • It is a competition for young female players under the age of 17 that is organised by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
  • Since 2008, the competition is being held in even-numbered years.
  • Uruguay was the Host country of the 2018 tournament and Spain won its first title in this championship.

Topic: State News/ Gujarat

5. PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for several projects in Gujarat.

• PM Modi has inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for numerous Sabar Dairy projects worth 1,000 crore rupees at Gadhoda Chowki in Sabarkantha, Gujarat.
• These projects will enhance the income of local farmers and milk producers.
• Mr. Modi inaugurated the Powder Plant at Sabar Dairy, which has a 120-tonne-per-day capacity and costs more than 300 crore rupees.
• PM also inaugurated the Aseptic Milk Packaging Plant at Sabar Dairy, which has a capacity of 3 lakh litres per day and a total investment of around 125 crore rupees.
• Mr. Modi laid the foundation stone of the Sabar Cheese and Whey Drying Plant Project, with an estimated outlay of around 600 crore rupees.
• This is Gujarat's third cheese plant, and it will be operational by 2024.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

6. World Hepatitis Day 2022: 28 July

• Every year on July 28, World Hepatitis Day is celebrated.
• This day is observed to raise awareness and encourage global action against hepatitis viral.
• The theme of World Hepatitis Day 2022 is “Bringing hepatitis care closer to you.”
• It was first celebrated in 2008.
• It is also celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Baruch Blumberg.
• In 1967, he discovered the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
• Around 1.34 million get affected by this disease every year. WHO aims to reduce new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65% between 2016 and 2030.
• Hepatitis:
  • It is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and noninfectious agents.
  • There are five main strains of hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D and E. The most common causes of death are Hepatitis B and C.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

7. Union Cabinet has approved the signing of MoU between NIRDPR and University of Reading (UoR), United Kingdom (UK).

• The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) and UoR, UK in March 2022.
• The MoU is for collaboration in the field of agriculture and rural development in developing countries.
• This MoU will help NIRDPR faculty in acquiring knowledge and widening its scope.
• It will also help them in developing an international professional network in the fields of agriculture, nutrition and rural development.
• National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) is an autonomous organisation under the Union Ministry of Rural Development. It is located in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

8. Union Cabinet has approved the revival package of BSNL worth ₹ 1.64 lakh crore.

• To provide 4G services, BSNL will be allotted spectrum in 900/1800 MHz band administratively at the cost of Rs 44,993 Cr through equity infusion.
• BSNL is in process of deploying Atmanirbhar 4G technology stack. To meet the projected capital expenditure for next 4 years, government will fund capex of Rs 22,471 Cr.
• Rs 13,789 Cr will be provided to BSNL as viability gap funding for commercially unviable rural wire-line operations done during 2014-15 to 2019-20.
• The authorized capital of BSNL will be increased from Rs 40,000 Cr to Rs 1,50,000 Cr.
• To improve the balance sheet, AGR dues of BSNL amounting to Rs 33,404 Cr will be settled by conversion into equity.
• BSNL will re-issue preference share of Rs 7,500 Cr to the Government.
• To facilitate wider utilization of infrastructure laid under BharatNet, Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL) will be merged with BSNL.
• The infrastructure created under BharatNet will continue to be national asset.
• It will be accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to all the Telecom Service Providers.
• Government is expecting BSNL to earn profit in FY 2026-27 with the implementation of the above revival plan.
• Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL):
  • It is a government-owned broadband infrastructure provider.
  • It was set up by the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
  • It was formed in February 2012 to lay optical fibre network across 2.5 lakh village panchayats across the country.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. Union Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched Bal Raksha mobile app.

• It has been launched to spread awareness about pediatric preventive healthcare through Ayurveda.
• The app will also collect feedback from parents on the kit's impact on their children's health and immunity.
• Sarbananda Sonowal also inaugurated Vaccination Centre for children at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA).
• All India Institute of Ayurveda:
  • It is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Ayush.
  • It aims to bring synergy between the traditional wisdom of Ayurveda and modern tools and technology.
  • It is an international centre for research in Ayurveda.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

10. Government approved a project to provide 4G mobile services in uncovered villages.

• The government will provide 4G mobile services in 7,287 uncovered villages in 44 aspirational districts across 5 states with a project cost of Rs 26,316 Cr.
• The project is an integral part of the government’s ‘antyodaya’ vision for digital inclusion and connectivity.
• The project will be executed by BSNL using Atmanirbhar Bharat’s 4G technology stack. The fund for the project will be provided through Universal Service Obligation Fund.
• The project will promote the delivery of various e-governance services, banking services, tele-medicine, tele-education etc. to rural areas.
• In addition, mobile service will be upgraded from 2G/3G to 4G in 6,279 villages.
• The project has provision to cover 20% of additional villages taking into account rehabilitation, new-settlements, withdrawal of services by existing operators etc.

Topic: Indian Polity

11. Lok Sabha passed the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

• The bill will amend the Family Courts Act, 1984 to grant statutory cover to already established family courts in Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
• Himachal Pradesh established three Family Courts at Shimla, Dharamsala and Mandi by notification in 2019 and Nagaland Government established two Family Courts at Dimapur and Kohima in 2008.
• The Bill will insert a new Section 3A to retrospectively validate all actions taken under this act by the Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland governments and the Family courts of these states.
• As of May 2022, 11.49 lakh cases were pending in 715 family courts across the country.
• The Family Courts Act, 1984 has provisions for establishing Family Courts by the State Governments in consultation with the High Courts.
• Under this act, the State Government is required to establish a Family Court in any city or town with a population greater than one million.
• Family Courts secure speedy settlement of disputes relating to marriage and family affairs.

Topic: Indian Polity

12. 19 MPs are suspended from Rajya Sabha for a week.

• This is the highest number of single batch suspensions of Members of Parliament (MPs).
• The members were disrupting the House proceedings over price rise and imposition of GST on some essential household items.
• The suspended MPs belong to the Trinamool, DMK, TRS and the Left parties.
• It is the duty of the Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairman of Rajya Sabha to maintain order in the House for smooth functioning.
• Rules for suspending an MP:
  • Speaker/ Chairman has the power to suspend a Member of Parliament.
  • Under Rule 256, the Chairman may “name a Member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the Council by persistently and wilfully obstructing” business.
  • Under Rule 255, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha can direct any member whose conduct in his opinion is not proper to suspend immediately from the House.
  • The speaker of Lok sabha can take action against MPs under Rules 374 and 374A.
  • Rule 374A allows the Speaker to automatically suspend an MP for up to five days for disrupting House business.

Topic: Sports

13. 44^th Chess Olympiad inaugurated by PM Modi in Chennai on 28 July.

• It is scheduled to be organized at Mamallapuram in Chennai from 28 July to 10 August.
• The chess Olympiad is being organized for the first time in India.
• 189 countries will participate in the tournament, the largest participation in any Chess Olympiad.
• All the matches will be played in the Classical Swiss League Format.
• A total of 30 players from India will participate in this edition of the tournament, these are divided into six teams.
• 189 countries have registered in the Open section while 162 countries in the Women's section.
• AR Rahman has released the anthem 'Vanakkam Chennai' for the 44^th International Chess Olympiad.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

14. 83^rd Raising Day of CRPF was observed on 27 July.

• The CRPF Raising day is celebrated to mark the establishment of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
• On this day, the contribution of CRPF personnel to the defence and security of the country is remembered.
• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF):
  • It is the largest Central Armed Police Force in India.
  • It was originally constituted as the Crown Representative Police in 1939 in Neemuch with a strength of 1 Battalion.
  • It became the Central Reserve Police Force on the enactment of the CRPF Act on 28th December 1949.
  • It assists the State/Union Territories police to maintain law and order and counter-insurgency operations.
  • V. G. Kanetkar was the first Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force.
  • Kuldiep Singh is the current Director General of CRPF.

(Source: News on AIR)