Azad Pattan hydel project deal signed by Pakistan, China:

              Recently, Pakistan and China have signed an agreement for the 700 MW Azad Pattan hydel power project on the Jhelu river in Sudnoti district of Pakistan occupied Kashmir(PoK).

             The 1.5 billion USD project is under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC).

             The Azad pattan project is one of Five hydro power schemes on the Jhelum, the other four are Mahl, Kohala, Chokothi Hattian and Karot Projects.

              Azad pattan, Kohala and Karot are being developed under the CPEC framework.

              It is a run-of-the-river scheme with a 90 meter high dam, and a 3.8 sq km reservoir.

              It will be developed on the 'Build, Own, Operate Transfer(BOOT)' model. It is expected to be commissioned by 2024. The project will be transferred to the government of Pakistan after 30 years.

   China-Pakistan Economic Corridor:  

    The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) is a part of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) , intended to improve infrastructure within Pakistan for better trade with China and to further integrate the untries of the region.   OBOR has two main components. One Belt- the land-based belt, and One Road refers to the ocean going 'Maritime Silk Road' which aims to connect the East Asian economic region with the European economic circle and runs across the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa.

   India has boycotted the Belt and Road Forum organized by China. China's insistence on establishing the CPEC project through PoK is seen by India as a deliberate disregard of its territorial claims.

NABARD extends grant assistance of Rs 221.89 cr to support 298 watershed projects in Karnataka:      

                            In Karnataka, NABARD has extended grant assistance of 221.89 crores rupees to support 298 watershed projects in over three lakh hectares benefitting 66,500 families.

The state has about 75 percent of rain fed area.

The projects have resulted in improving the crop productivity, diversification, soil and water conservation and socio-economic condition of the beneficiaries.

The mitigate the COVID 19 impact on rural population, NABARD has released 2200 crore rupees in the state to the Co-operative and Regional Rural Banks under a special line of credit over and above the normal limits.

  Watershed:    An area of land that drains into a common body of water.

NABARD:  National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is an apex development Financial Institution in India. The  Bank has been entrusted with “matters concerning Policy Planning and Operations in the field of credit for Agriculture and other Economic activities in Rural areas in India”. NABARD is active in developing Financial Inclusion Policy. It Formed on July 12, 1982. It's  headquarter in Mumbai and chairman is Harshkumar Banbala.

Poba Reserve Forest in will be upgraded to Wildlife Sanctuary:     

                        Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has announced, Poba Reserve Forest in Dhemaji District would be upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary.

      Poba Reserve Forest declared in 1924 with an area of 10,522  hectares is home to a large number of flora and fauna. It is one of the richest rain forests of North East India.

About Assam: State: 26 January 1950

                        Capital: Dispur

                        Number of District: 33

                        Governor: Jagdish Mukhi

                        Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal

                        Members of the Legislative Assembly: 126

                         Lok Sabha seats: 14

                         Rajya Sabha seats: 7

         Festivals of Assam: Bihu, Me-Dum-Me-Phi,Baishagu, Ambubachi Festival, Majuli Festival, Dehing Patkai Festival etc.

Dance of Assam:  Bihu dance, Bagurumba, Sattriya, Banjar Kekan, Mishing Bihu etc.

Important National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Assam:  Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Parks,Orang National Parks, Dibru choikhwa National Park, Nameri National Park, Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary,Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary, Pobitara Wildlife Sanctuary, Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary etc.

Mandaviya asks officials to raw strategy to turn Vallarpadam terminal into transshipment hub:

        Recently, the Ministry of Shipping reviewed the development of the country's first trans-shipment hub-Kochi international Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT).

        ICTT is locally known as the Vallarpadam Terminal.

         Trans-shipment Hub is a terminal at a port which handles containers, stores them temporarily and transfers them to other ships for the onward destination.

        It basically acts as a switching point for cargo carried by deep-sea vessels operating  on transcontinental trade routes.

        It will cut India's dependence on neighboring hub ports such as colombo in Sri Lanka, Jebel Ali in Dubai and Port Klang in Malaysia to send and receive container cargo, thus saving time and cost for exporters and importers.

  Vallarpadam Terminal:   It is a part of the Cochin  port in Kochi, Kerala. It is located on Vallarpadam Island. It was built with an investment of about Rs. 3,200 crore, shared by the government and the Dubai-government-owned entity (Dubai ports World).

   It was opened in February2011 and can handle cargo up to one million TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent units) per annum.

    It is proposed to be a  leading transshipment hub of South Asia. This is because of its:  1) Proximity to International sea routes.

2) Location with respect to all Indian feeder(secondary/smaller) ports.

3) Proximity to key hinterland markets of India.

4) Large infrastructure to manage large ships and capacity to scale it up as per requirement.

About Kerala: Capital: Thiruvananthapuram

                        CM: Pinarayi Vijayan

                        Governor: Arif Mohd Khan

Alcohal based hand sanitizer to attract 18% GST:     

                    Goa Bench of GST Authority of Advance Ruling (AAR) pronounced that alcohol based sanitizers will attract 18% GST.

    The Springfields Distilleries had moved to Goa AAR over the GST rates and the classification of hand sanitizers as essential commodity. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs and recently classified hand sanitizers as essential commodity.

   Essential commodity Act was enacted in 1955 to ensure delivery of certain products and commodities. These products are those whose supply when obstructed would affect normal life of the people.

   The list of commodities under the law include fertilizers, drugs, edible oils. Petroleum and petroleum products. Under the law, the center can include new commodities as when needed. Currently there are 9 commodities included. They are.....

1) Fertilizers-Organic, Inorganic and Mixed

2) Food items (including edible oils)

3) Seeds of food crops and seeds of fruits and vegetables

4) Face Masks

5) Hand Sanitizers

6) Drugs

7) Petroleum and Petroleum products

8) Raw jute and jute textiles.

1. India's Only Golden Tiger 'KAZI 106F' in Kaziranga National Park:

               'KAZI 106F', described as the country's only Golden Tiger, has emerged as the social media sensation right after its picture tweeted by an IFS officer went viral

 KAZI 106F, the tigress, resides in world heritage Kaziranga National Park of Assam. It is also known as 'Tabby tiger' or 'Strawberry tiger'. The skin of tigers is orange-yellow with black stripes and whitish abdominal region.

 The yellowish background is controlled by a set of 'agouti genes' and their alleles and the black colour stripes are controlled by 'taddy genes' and their alleles. Suppression of any of these genes may lead to colour variation in tiger.

Kaziranga National Park:    It is located in the State of Assam and covers 42,966 ha. It is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain. It was declared as a National Park in 1974.It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.It is the home of the world's most one-horned rhinos. Much of the focus of conservation efforts in Kaziranga are focused on the 'big four' species----- Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo. The 2018 census had yielded 2,413 Rhinos and approximately 1,100 elephants. The National Highway 37 passes through the park area.The park also has more than 250 seasonal water bodies, besides the Diphlu River running through it.

2. Pema Khandu releases book “The Tangams: An Ethnolinguistic Study Of The Critically Endangered Group of Arunachal Pradesh”:

        The book titled 'The Tangams: An Ethnolinguistic Study Of The Critically Endangered Group of Arunachal Pradesh' was released by Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

The Tangams are a little-known community within the larger Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh and reside in the hamlet of Kugging in Upper Siang district's Paindem circle.

Tangams are now concentrated in only one village (Kugging), with  253 reported speakers.

As per the UNESCO World Atlas of Endangered Languages (2009), Tangam- an oral language that belongs to the Tani group, under the greater Tibeto-Burman language family- is marked 'critically endangered'.

Arunachal Pradesh:  Capital: Itanagar

Districts: 25

Governor: B. D. Mishra

Chief Minister: Pema Khandu

High Court: Guwahati High Court

3. UAE's historic 'Hope' Mars Mission:

    The United Arab Emirates(UAE) Mars Mission or 'Hope' is scheduled for launch on 16^th July,2020.

    It is one of three missions launching to Mars this month.

    The USA and China, both have surface rovers in the late stages of preparation.

    It is the first interplanetary mission for the Arab World.

    The 'Hope Orbiter' will be lifted on an H-IIA rocket from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, a machinery maker in Japan. It will be launched from Tanegashima Island in Japan.

    The UAE does not have its own rocket industry.

    Once launched, it is expected to arrive in orbit around Mars in February 2021( the year of 50^th anniversary of UAE's founding).

     It costs about USD 200 million and will carry three instruments: an infrared spectrometer, an ultraviolet spectrometer and a camera.

4. Low-cost Supercapacitor from  Industrial waste cotton:

        Recently, Scientists at the International Advanced Research Center for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARIC) have developed a simple, low-cost, environment-friendly, and sustainable supercapacitor device.

        ARCI is an autonomous organization of the Department of Science And Technology, Government of India.

        Supercapacitor is a next generation energy storage device. They are also known as ultracapacitors.

        It has significant advantages such as high power density, long durability, and ultrafast charging characteristics as compared to conventional capacitors and Lithium-Ion batteries(LIB).

         Main components of  supercapacitors include electrode, electrolyte, separator, and the current collector.

Supercapacitor Device:  The supercapacitor is developed from industrial waste cotton based electrode & natural seawater electrolyte.

    Industrial waste cotton converted into highly porous carbon fibers by activation process and then utilized to make high-performance supercapacitor electrodes.

    Natural seawater was explored as an environment-friendly, cost-effective and alternative aqueous electrolyte.

    This supercapacitor showed great potential for practical implementation. It exhibited maximum capacitance, good durability and high efficiency.

5. Dolphin number dips in Chambal river:    According to the latest census report prepared by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, the number of dolphins in Chambal river has been reduced by 13% in 4 years.

     There are just 68 dolphins left in the 435 kilometer long Chambal river sanctuary which passes through three states i.e. MadhyaPradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, Gangetic Dolphins are the sanctuary's main attraction.

     The decreasing trend is continuing from 2016 when there were 78 dolphins.

     The maximum carrying capacity of dolphins in Chambal is 125. The carrying capacity of an environment is the maximum population size of a biological species that can be sustained in that specific environment , given the food, habitat, water and other resources available.

Gangetic Dolphin:   Scientific Name:  Platanista gangetica

It is India's National aquatic animal and is popularly known as 'Susu'. It is found in part of the Ganges-Meghna-Brahmaputra and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

It is among the four freshwater dolphins in the world. The other three are: 1) The 'Baiji' now likely extinct from the Yangtze River in China

2) The 'Bhulan' of the Indus in Pakistan, and

3) The 'Boto' of the Amazon River in Latin America.

           Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) in

Bihar's Bhagalpur district is India's only sanctuary for dolphins.

 Congress hits out at govt. as Iran drops India from Chabahar rail Project

         On its own following alleged delays from the Indian government in funding and starting the project. Hitting out at the Narendra Modi government after a news report claimed that Iran had decided to proceed with the Chabahar port rail project by itself citing funding delays from India, the Congress on 14^th July called it a “big loss” for the country even as it questioned the diplomatic tactics of the Centre.

      The entire project would be completed by March 2022, and that Iranian Railways will proceed without India's assistance. The country would use approximately $400 million from the Iranian National Development Fund. This comes amid China finalizing a 25 years, $400 billion strategic partnership deal with Iran.

         Chabahar is the only seaport Iran has in its energy-rich Sistan-Balochistan province by the Gulf of Oman and consists of two ports with five berths each. The port is a counter to Pakistan's Gwader port which is being developed with the Chinese investment. The port, inaugurated in December 2017, has opened a new strategic route connecting Iran with India and Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan. In December 2017, India took over the operations of port and commissioned the second port this January , marking the country's maritime entry into a foreign land.

          Chabahar Port Agreement:     In May 2016, India and Iran signed a bilateral agreement in which India would refurbish one of the berths at Shahid Beheshti port, and reconstruct a 600 meter long container handling facility at the port.

Bastille Day:14 July:   

                Bastile Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the national day of France, which is celebrated on 14^th July each year.

    In 1789, on this day, a violent uprising helped usher the French Revolution.

Citizens stormed the Bastille fortress, which was used to lodge the state prisoners.

French poet and philosopher, Voltaire was imprisoned in Bastille for nearly a year after he spoke out against the ruling French regent's family.

 Bastille had become the symbol of the harsh rule and tyranny of the French monarchy, especially King Louis XVI and his queen, Marie Antoinette.

French Revolution:  The French Revolution was a revolution in France from 1789 to 1799. The result of the French Revolution was the end of the monarchy. King Louis XVI was executed in 1793. The revolution ended when Napoleon Bonapart took power in November 1799. In 1804, he became Emperor. Before 1789, France was ruled by the nobles and the Catholic Church. The ideas of the Enlightenment were beginning to make the ordinary people want more power.

Retail inflation growth at 6.09% in June:    

                   India's retail inflation, which is measured by the Consumer Price Index(CPI) grew 6.09 percent in the month of June, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Statistics & Progamme Implementation (MoSPI). The government had not released the headline retail inflation data in April and May. However, in April, it had revised the CPI data for the month of March to 5.84 percent from 5.91 percent. The retail inflation growth was mainly due to a rise in pulses and products prices that saw a 16.68% on year rise in June. The retail inflation has grown beyond the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) upper margin of 6%.

Inflation:   Inflation refers to the rise in the prices of most goods and services of daily or common use, such as food, clothing, housing, recreation, transport, consumer staples etc.

Inflation measures the average price change in a basket of commodities and services over time.

Inflation is indicative of the decrease in the purchasing power of a unit of a country's currency. This could ultimately lead to a deceleration in economic growth. However, a moderate level of Inflation is required in the economy to ensure that production is promoted.

In India, the NSO under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation measures inflation. In India ,Inflation is primarily measured by two main indices-Wholesale price Index(WPI) and Consumer Price Index(CPI).

Consumer Price Index:    It measures price changes from the perspective of a retail buyer. The CPI calculates the difference in the price of commodities and services such as food, medical care, education, electronics etc. Which Indian consumers buy for use.

The CPI has several sub-groups including food and beverages, fuel and light, Housing and clothing, bedding and footwear.

Four  types of CPI are as follows:

1. CPI for Industrial Workers (IW)

2. CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL)

3. CPI for Rural Labourer (RL)

4. CPI( Rural/Urban/Combined)

Of these, the first three are compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of  Labour and Employment. Fourth is complied by the National Statistical Organization (NSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Base year for CPI is 2012.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) uses CPI data to control inflation.

 Atma Nirbhar Bharat's first boost to be Made in India; 5 new urea plants to make India self-reliant:   

                            As prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to push for Atma Nirbhar Bharat, the country's first boost towards self-reliance may be achieved in urea.

India has commissioned four new plants before 2021 as it look to reduce its dependence on imports from China.

In Fact, One more urea plant, which will take the total tally to five, is expected in 2023.

In 2019-20, India's total urea imports from China stood at over 2.9 million tonnes (MT), worth $854.56 million.

This was out of a total 11 million tonnes of urea imported by the country in the same period. The five new units are of 1.27 MT per annum production capacity each.

Once they, and three others currently shut or in the process of getting gas, are functional, we will become Atma Nirbhar in urea by 2023-24.

Of the five plants which are slated by 2023, the first is expected to be ready by October at Ramagundam in Telengana, Just before the next rabi crop season.

The Telangana plant is a revival project of a state-owned unit which was closed, similar to the others at Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Sindri (Jharkhand), Barauni(Bihar) and Talcher (Odisha).

Indian Railways to transform itself as 'Net Zero' Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030:

      Indian Railways is taking decisive steps to transform itself as a 'Net Zero' Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030.

       It is endeavoring to be self reliant for its energy needs by utilizing its vacant land for renewable energy projects.

       Railways is committed to utilize solar energy for meeting its traction power requirements and become a complete Green mode of transformation.

        The Railways Ministry has decided to install solar power plants on its vacant unused lands on mega scale.

    Ministry of Railway: Formed – March 1905

     Headquarters – Rail Bhavan , New Delhi

     Minister of Railways – Piyush Goyal

 5 MoUs signed between India and Afghanistan for Developing Educational Infrastructure:

       In Aghanistan's Capital City Kabul 5 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed under the High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) program. The 5 MoUs consisted of Tripartite Agreements that were signed between the Government of India, Afghanistan's Ministry of Economy and Afghanistan's Ministry of Education.

      The MoUs are as per the commitments of the Government of India in taking forward the bilateral relationship with Afghanistan. In the last 2 decades, development projects wroth USD 3 billion has been undertaken by India at Afghanistan.

   HIDP Program- This program was signed in the year 2005 under which the Government of India has committed to providing financial support to more than 550 HICDP across Afghanistan. The financial support extended under HICDP was of USD 200 million.

    To date, under the support of the program, 587 HICDP have been completed across various provinces of Afghanistan.

     The 5 MoUs signed is worth USD 2.6 million. These funds will be used towards the development of educational infrastructure in 5 provinces of Afghanistan. The provinces are Kapisa, Farah, Nuristan, Parwan and Badakhsha.

IIT Kanpur Develops Virtual Classroom Aid “Mobile Masterjee”:

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          The IIT Kanpur has develop a virtual classrom aid , 'Mobile Masterjee' . It is a classroom to home teaching setup, which enables students to record teachers lectures/ instructions while using smartphones. It is developed by the imagineering Lab of IIT Kanpur

    Purpose of the setup:  To help rural schools overcome the teaching and learning challenges caused by the pandemic.

    It can capture the videos in horizontal (table) and vertical (backboard) and can also hold, focus and position the whole recording setup.

    The product was engineered by a team comprising by a team comprising Prof. J Ramkumar, Dr Amandeep Singh, Anil Jha, Virendra Singh and Jitendra Sharma.

About ‘Mobile Masterjee':

• The setup can capture the videos of the classroom lecture in many positions.
• The product is lightweight and has adjustments to fit sheets and book on it for delivering instructions to the kids.
• A set graduated scale aligns the sheet at the desired angle, followed by the rotational quick adjustment of the mobile holder.
• The “Mobile Masterjee” can hold, position, and focus the whole recording setup while making the online class a comfortable home environment.

Lt Col Bharat Pannu- First Indian to Secures Podium Position In   International Ultracycling Race: Finished 3^rd in 1^st Edition VRAAM 2020

      Lt Col Bharat Pannu, Indian Army Officer, secured the 3^rd position on the leaderboard at the first edition of the virtual Race Across America (VRAAM) 2020 and became the first ever Indian to secure a podium position in the International ultra-cycling race.

     Lt Col Pannu finished with a total distance of 4086 km in 12 days and a total elevation gain of 71000 meters in a stationary bicycle in Pimple Nilakh, Pune.

       VRAAM 2020: Due to the current global pandemic , the organizers of the Race Across (RAAM) (a 5000 km transcontinental race from the west coast to east coast of the United States of America) cancelled the events of 2020 and adopted the virtual format Virtual Race Across America (VRAAM) 2020.

      The cyclist will use the FulGaz, an indoor trainer application.Around 22 cyclists participated in the VRAAM 2020.

World's Largest COVID-19 Treatment Facility inaugurated in New Delhi:

     10000 bed Sarder Patel COVID Care Center and Hospital (SPCCCH) was inaugurated in New Delhi. SPCCCH  is the World's largest COVID-19  treatment and care facility.

     The infrastructure for the 10000 bed facility was created in a record time of 10 days. With support from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the infrastructure was created by the South Delhi District Administration.

     SPCCCH is built on the campus of spiritual organization 'Radha Sami Satsang Beas'.

Sanskrit Vidhyalaya built by India in Nepal was inaugurated:

          Sanskrit Vidhyalaya buit in llam district by India was inaugurated through video conferencing. The name of the Vidhyalaya is 'Shree Saptmal Gurukul Sanskrit Vidhyalaya'.

         The inauguration event was attended virtually by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu (on behalf of Government of India)

          Shree Saptmai Gurukul Sanskrit Vidhyalaya was constructed under the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Development Partnership. The cost of building the sanskrit Vidhyalaya is around Rs. 31.13 million(Nepali Rupees).

       As a primary school, the Sanskrit Vidhyalaya was established back in 2009 which was later upgraded in the year 2014 to Secondary Level School.

     About Nepal: Capital: Kathmandu

     President: Bidya Devi Bhandari

     Prime minister: Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli