NATIONAL NEWS

Nagaland Officially Declared Lumpy Skin Disease Positive State

• Nagaland has been officially declared as lumpy skin disease positive state with the disease being detected in four districts of the state.

• The announcement has been made as per the Prevention and Control of Contagious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009.

• The Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services will be responsible for implementing all necessary preventive measures in collaboration with the concerned State Department.

• The advisories and guidelines issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying will be followed to deal with the situation.

• Lumpy dermatitis is a pox viral disease affecting cattle, which causes significant morbidity.

• It is classified as a Notable Disease by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) due to its rapid spread and significant economic losses.

Amit Shah will Launch the ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’

• The union home minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will launch a unique initiative ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

• It is a pan-India initiative of the Ministry of Culture under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping.

• Shri Amit Shah will officially launch the virtual platform during a grand projection mapping show at the Qutub Minar.

• The virtual platform https://mgmd.gov.in will connect people with villages of India.

• The Ministry of Culture initiated the ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ (MGMD) project under National Mission on Cultural Mapping in coordination with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).

• The main objective of the project is to culturally map India’s 6.5 lakh villages, spanning 29 States and 7 Union Territories, on a comprehensive virtual platform.
• Through MGMD, people will get an opportunity to immerse themselves in India’s diverse and vibrant cultural heritage.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Italy Inaugurates VC Yashwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial

• Italy inaugurated the "VC Yashwant Ghadege Sundiyal Memorial" in honor of the Indian Army's significant contribution during World War II.

• The memorial, located in Monton, Perugia, Italy, commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of Naik Yashwant Ghadege, who lost his life in the Upper Tiber Valley.

• The monument's motto, "Omines sub - eodem soul," translates to "We all live under the same sun" in Hindi.

• The ceremony was attended by India's Ambassador to Italy and Indian Defense Attache, Dr. Nina Malhotra, along with numerous Italian citizens, distinguished guests, and members of the Italian Armed Forces.

• Notably, Indian soldiers were awarded six out of the twenty Victoria Crosses given in Italy for their extraordinary valour.

Prime Minister Announced India’s UPI To Be Used in France

• In a significant move, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the launch of the Unified Payments System (UPI) in France.
• To make it an iconic move, the countries have decided to start its operations from the Eiffel Tower, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site where Indian tourists will now be able to pay in rupees.
• This move will allow Indian tourists to make rupee payments using UPI while in France.
• The announcement is seen as a significant development for bilateral trade and tourism between India and France.
• With this development, France became the first European country to have UPI.
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is India’s mobile-based payment system and allows people to make round-the-clock payments through a virtual payment address created by the customer.

BANKING

Indian Banks get ₹5,729 crores from DEAF

• The Union minister of State for finance, Shri Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad announced that Indian banks have received ₹5,729 crores from the “Depositor Education and Awareness” (DEA) Fund to facilitate the refund of unclaimed deposits in the last 5-years.

• The “Depositor Education and Awareness Fund Scheme, 2014“, which was issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), outlines regulations pertaining to unclaimed deposits and details the usage of the fund, including its role in promoting depositors ‘interests and supporting specified purposes.

• Dr Karad stated that RBI has taken various steps to reduce the quantum of unclaimed deposits and return such deposits to rightful claimants.

• Banks are, inter-alia, advised to –

• Display the list of unclaimed deposits which are inactive/inoperative for 10 years or more on the bank’s websites.

• Find the whereabouts of the customers and their legal heirs to return unclaimed deposits to the rightful claimants.

PhonePe Introduces an Income Tax Payment Feature on Its App

• PhonePe, a digital payments platform, has partnered with PayMate, a leading digital business-to-business (B2B) payments and service provider, to allow users to pay their income tax on the PhonePe app called “Income Tax Payment”.
• It is to allow taxpayers to pay self-assessment and advance tax directly from the app using Unified Payments Interface (UPI) or credit card payments.
• This eliminates the need to log in to the tax portal, creating a seamless and efficient experience for taxpayers.
• Users can choose to pay their taxes using their credit card or UPI.
• With credit card payments, users also get a 45-day interest-free period and earn reward points on their tax payments, depending on their bank.
• After the completion of the payment, taxpayers will receive a Unique Transaction Reference (UTR) number as a proof of tax payment.
• The UTR will be available within a day, whereas the challan is generated within 2 working days.

HDFC Mutual Fund Launched Charity Fund for Cancer Cure

• HDFC Asset Management Company (HDFC AMC), investment manager to HDFC Mutual Fund (HDFC MF), has launched the HDFC Charity Fund for Cancer Cure in partnership with the Indian Cancer Society (ICS).

• The donated amount will be used for the treatment of underprivileged cancer patients.

• It is a closed-ended income scheme and a fixed maturity plan with a tenure of 1,196 days.

• The new fund offer (NFO) will open on July 28, 2023 and close on August 8, 2023.

• This NFO marks the 4th edition of the cancer cure series that started in 2011.
• The HDFC Charity Fund for Cancer Cure provides investors with an opportunity to contribute to a noble cause while combining their investments with philanthropy.
• These donations will be eligible for deduction under Section 80G of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (under the old regime).

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Governor of the Central Bank of China

• Pan Gongsheng was appointed as the Governor of the Central Bank of China.
• Pan Gongsheng, a deputy governor of the central bank and a seasoned expert in China's government banking sector, assumed the position, succeeding Yi Gang, an American-trained economist who served in the role for five years.
• The Governor of the People's Bank of China, Pan Gongsheng, holds a preeminent position within Chinese finance circles, as the bank is under the control of the ruling Communist Party.
• Previously, in 2015, Pan was appointed as the head of China's foreign exchange regulator.
• Prior to that, he held the position of vice-chairman at Agricultural Bank of China Limited, one of the country's four major commercial lenders.

MD and CEO of Tata Steel

• Tata Steel has reappointed TV Narendran as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director for a period of five years from September 19, 2023 to September 18, 2028.
• The decision was taken on the basis of the recommendation of the 'Nomination and Remuneration Committee'.
• TV Narendran has an impressive career span of 34 years in the mining and metals industry and has held various key positions in Tata Steel.
• He has been a member of the board of Tata Steel Limited and has served as the chairman of both Tata Steel Europe and Tata Steel Long Products Limited.
• In addition to his role as CEO and MD of Tata Steel, Narendran holds important chairmanship positions in other subsidiaries and associates of Tata Steel.

DEFENCE

Massive 'Talisman Saber' Military Exercise

• The 10th edition of the multilateral military exercise, 'Talisman Sabre,' commenced at HMAS Canberra in Townsville, involving Australia, the United States, and eleven partner nations.
• 'Talisman Sabre is the largest military exercise of its kind, with over 30,000 military personnel participating.
• Notably, this year's exercise will feature practice sessions around Norfolk Island, marking the first time this location is included in the training.
• Alongside the United States and Australia, other participating countries include Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, and Tonga.
• Germany is taking part in the 'Talisman Sabre' exercise for the first time, adding to the international collaboration.
• Additionally, personnel from India, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand will participate as observers, strengthening the exercise's cooperative and learning aspects.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SpaceX Successfully Launched 22 Starlink V2 ‘Mini’ Satellites

• The Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, commonly referred to as SpaceX launched 22 Starlink V2 ‘Mini’ satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the United States of America (USA).
• The Falcon 9’s first stage came back down to Earth for a landing about 5 minutes after liftoff as planned.
• It touched down on the SpaceX drone ship Just Read the Instructions, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
• According to a SpaceX mission description, it was the sixth launch and landing for this particular booster.
• The spacecraft were deployed there on schedule, about 65 minutes after launch.
• The V2 Minis feature enhanced technologies, including more powerful phased array antennas and the use of E-band for backhaul.
• This allows each satellite to offer approximately four times more capacity than their predecessors.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Nature Conservation Day

• World Nature Conservation Day is observed globally on 28 July every year.
• The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of conserving nature and biodiversity.
• It emphasizes that a healthy environment is important for a stable and healthy society.
• World Nature Conservation Day promotes the idea that a healthy environment is the foundation of a prosperous mankind.
• The day serves as an opportunity to create positive opinions and attitudes towards climate change.
• The theme for World Nature Conservation Day 2023 is "Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet."
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was established in 1948 to address environmental concerns caused by industrialization and human activities.