July 2021 TNPSC Monthly Current Affairs Online Test in English

Explanation

• The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has launched a customized crash course programme for COVID–19 frontline workers, which would make available trained health workers across the country to assist the battle against COVID.
• The course has been launched with a financial outlay of Rs.276 crore under the Central Component of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 3.0.

Explanation

• The Union Ministry of Commerce has stated that India has exported a total of 1.91 lakh tonne worth Rs 619 crore, during the financial year 2020–21. In the previous FY 2019–20, the banana exports stood at a higher quantum of 1.95 lakh metric tonne banana valued at Rs 660 crore. India is the largest producer of Banana, with a share of 25% of world output.

Explanation

• B.1.617.2.1, is a new Coronavirus variant and is denoted as AY.1 for simplicity. This variant is found to be rapidly spreading in several countries including India. This corona virus variant has immune escape properties, thereby making it partially or fully resistant to the body’s immune response, vaccines and antibody therapies.

Explanation

• Paraceratherium is an extinct genus of hornless rhinoceros. It is one of the largest terrestrial mammals.
• The exact size of Paraceratherium is unknown because of the incompleteness of the fossils. It lived in habitats ranging from arid deserts with a few scattered trees to subtropical forests.

Explanation

he Minority Affairs Ministry is set to launch an awareness campaign ‘Jaan Hai to Jahaan Hai’ in rural and remote areas to curb rumours against the COVID vaccination drive in the country. The campaign is to be launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs along with various Socio–Educational Organisations, NGOs and Women Self Help Groups (SHGs).

Explanation

• The World Sustainable Gastronomy Day is observed every year on 18th of June to focus the world’s attention on the role that sustainable gastronomy can play. It also reaffirms that all cultures and civilizations are contributors of sustainable development.

Explanation

• The International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict is observed every year on June 19 to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict related sexual violence, to honor the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.

Explanation

• The Indian Navy, for the first time is participating in a joint exercise with the European Union Naval Force, which is set to take place in the Gulf of Aden, also known as the Gulf of Barbera. This exercise would involve some of the most advanced air defence, anti–submarine exercises, cross deck helicopter operations, tactical manoeuvres etc.

Explanation

• The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has released the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction–Special Report on Drought 2021. As per the assessment, Drought has directly affected 1.5 billion people so far this century, more than any other disaster. This increased number is due to climate change, environmental degradation and demographic shifts.

Explanation

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has proposed to set up an International Carbon price floor to help limit global warming. It aims to achieve the transition toward low carbon growth over this decade. As per the IMF chief, limiting global warming to 1.5 to 2 degrees will require emissions to be cut by a quarter to a half by 2030.

Explanation

• ICAR–Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) has found cassava (tapioca) as a promising raw material for bioethanol production. As a biofuel crop, cassava has several advantages compared to sugarcane. Cassava has high starch content and ability to grow under low management conditions. This will help meet India’s Ethanol Blending Petrol (EBP) programme target of 2025.

Explanation

• The union minister for Road Transport and Highways announced that the Ministry will make the Flex–fuel engines, mandatory for the automobile industry. In a flex fuel engine, there will be choice for the people to use 100 percent crude oil or 100 percent ethanol. India has earlier preponed the cut–off date for mixing 20 per cent ethanol in petrol from 2030 to 2025.

Explanation

• India has launched the world’s first exclusive green rating system for High–Speed Rail. CII–Indian Green Building Council has launched the IGBC Green High–Speed Rail Rating System. IGBC has collaborated with the National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL).
• This rating system will enable new High–Speed Rail (HSR) stations to apply energy efficient concepts during operations.

Explanation

• As per a recent study published by the Natural History Museum, Colombia is home to the world’s largest variety of butterflies. The South American country has approximately 20% of all known species.

Explanation 

• Ingenuity, the NASA’s small robotic helicopter operating on the Mars, as a part of the Mars 2020 Mission of the American Space Agency. The helicopter completed its eighth flight to land on another new location. In its latest flight, Ingenuity flew 160 meters south to a new location, previously not surveyed by the helicopter or the Perseverance rover.

Explanation

• Indian Institute of Technology Madras launched a ‘Centre for research on start–ups and risk financing’ (CREST)’. It would also create a data repository on Indian start–ups to address a major hurdle for engaging in high–quality research.
• This information would be made accessible for researchers and policymakers that can result in international publications.

Explanation

• • Indian Army procured Dragunov sniper rifles from Russia in the 1990s. The rifles have fallen behind contemporary snipers used across the world. Recently, Russia agreed to offer the Indian Army, a comprehensive upgrade of the Dragunov sniper rifle.

Explanation

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy participated in a passage exercise with the carrier strike group (CSG) of the US Navy. This exercise was carried out south of Thiruvananthapuram on the western seaboard. On Indian front, Sukhoi aircraft, Jaguars, IAF refuelling aircraft and warships and maritime patrol aircrafts participated.

Explanation

• New Zealand beat India in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final to become the first World Test Champion. This is New Zealand’s first ICC title in two decades.
• New Zealand chased down the 139–run target with eight wickets in hand on the reserve day of the final.

Explanation

• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have launched a joint initiative named Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) in Bhutan. For this initiative, India has been chosen as a Partner Jurisdiction. This programme aims to aid Bhutan in strengthening its tax administration.

Explanation

• American space agency NASA has sent a few numbers of squids into space for experimental and research purposes. These Hawaiian bobtail squids were raised at the University of Hawaii – Kewalo Marine Laboratory and have been sent to space in a SpaceX resupply mission to the International Space Station.

Explanation

• Odisha has recently witnessed the first natural nesting of gharials. With this, it has become the only state to have all the three species of the reptile: freshwater gharials, muggers, and saltwater crocodiles. 
• Gharials were first introduced in 1975 in Odisha. They are considered as the most critically endangered and genetically weak species, compared to saltwater crocodiles and muggers.

Explanation

• Every year, the 23rd of June is celebrated as the World Olympic Day or International Olympic Day across the globe.
• This day was first introduced in the year 1948, to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on June 23, 1894, at the Sorbonne in Paris. This day aims to promote participation in sport across the globe irrespective of age, gender, or athletic ability.

Explanation

• Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a report titled “Suicide Worldwide 2019”. As per the report 7 lakh people die due to suicide every year. The report reveals that nearly 77% of global suicides occur in low– and middle–income countries and suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15–19–year–olds.

Explanation

• Ms K K Shailaja – commonly known as “Shailaja Teacher”, the former Health Minister of Kerala has been awarded with the Central European University (CEU) Open Society Prize, for her selfless commitment to the public health services. This price is awarded to personalities of exceptional distinction who have served the ideals of an open society.

Explanation

• Every year, the United Nations Public Service Day is observed on 23rd of June. This day recognizes the role of public service, stresses the importance of the same and recognizes the work of public servants across the globe.
• The theme for this year is “Innovating the Future Public Service: New Government Models for a New Era to Reach the SDGs”.

Explanation 

• In December 2020, Kerala launched the pilot project of ‘Kaval Plus programme’, to support children in need of care and survivors of sexual abuse in the state.
• After the success of the pilot project, the Department of Women and Child Development in Kerala is set to expand Kaval Plus to five more districts. It covers the children at homes, child care institutes, and those in the community outside the ambit of child welfare committees.

Explanation

• Indian Navy’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) is proposed to be commissioned into service in the year 2022, and it would be named as INS Vikrant upon being commissioned.
• The vessel is being constructed at the Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi. Union Defence Minister has stated that the carrier would be an example of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Explanation

• India’s premier think tank the NITI Aayog had convened a National Convention on Prevention of Maternal, Adolescent and Childhood Obesity. NITI Aayog described obesity as a silent epidemic. It also called for a multi–sectoral approach to target the adolescents for promoting activity and healthy lifestyle. Global experts and representatives from UN bodies including UNICEF, WHO and WFP participated.

Explanation

• The International Solar Alliance is an intergovernmental coalition of over 120 countries, initiated by India and is headquartered at Gurugram. Recently, Denmark ratified the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement and by doing so, it became the first country to do so.

Explanation

• The world’s biggest mobile event of the year Mobile World Congress (MWC), began in hybrid form on June 28 in Barcelona, a city in Spain. 
• Last year, the event got cancelled due to high number of cases of COVID–19. Top Brands like Google, Nokia, Xiaomi, Facebook and Sony are not attending this year’s in–person event. MWC Barcelona, is an annual event focused on innovations in telecom industry, hosted by GSMA.

Explanation

• The United Nations Human rights chief released a report on Racial Justice and Inequality and submitted to the UN Human Rights Council. 
• As per the report, racism against people of African descent still remains systemic in many parts of the world. The report highlighted 190 deaths of Africans and people of African descent globally at the hands of law enforcement officials.

Explanation

• As per the Finance Ministry’s recent notification, tax on expenses incurred on Covid treatment of an employee, borne by employers or any another person, is exempted.
• This exemption is applicable to any amount paid by the employer, and limited to Rs 10 lakh if received from any other person. This covers treatment of Covid–19 during FY20 and subsequent years.

Explanation

• Scientifically referred to as Hylocereusundatus, the dragon fruit is called as ‘Kamalam’ in India, due to its resemblance to a lotus flower. Recently, India exported its first consignment of the Dragon Fruit sourced from the farmers of Sangli district, Maharashtra to Dubai, as per the announcement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Explanation

• China has been officially certified as ‘Malaria–free’ by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is only the second country in the Asia Pacific region to get the tag, after Sri Lanka in 2016. In the 1940s, it had an estimated 30 million cases and 300,000 deaths per year.

Explanation

• 2–deoxy–D–glucose (2–DG) was developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s company.
• Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) has commercially launched 2–DG drug, an oral drug used to treat moderate to severe Covid patients.

Explanation

• Union minister of education, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank released Unified District Information System for Education Plus report (UDISE+) for 2019–2020.
• UDISE+ report highlighted some interesting facts, both positive and negative about Indian school education system.

Explanation

• The Government of Jammu & Kashmir recently ended 149–year–old practice of ‘darbar move’. Darbar Move is the name given to the bi–annual shift of the secretariat and all other government offices of Jammu and Kashmir from one capital city to another.

Explanation

• Rahi Sarnobat clinched the 25m pistol gold medal at the shooting World Cup, being held in Osijek, Croatia. It is India’s first gold at the tournament. Rahi Sarnobat also won the Arjuna Award for Shooting.

Explanation

• Scientists from NASA and some universities are undertaking a $15 million, five–year study on adjacent areas of Louisiana. The team aims to create computer models that can be used with satellite data. This will let countries around the world know which parts of their deltas can be shored up.

Explanation

• The International Day of Cooperatives was celebrated on July 3, 2021 under the theme of ‘Rebuild better together’. The day is celebrated every year on first Saturday of July.

Explanation

• Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020 has been launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN body. India has entered the top–10 list for the first time. It has moved up 37 places to be placed in the 10th best country in the world on key cyber–safety parameters. The US topped the index, followed by the UK and Saudi Arabia at the second position, and Estonia at third in the index.

Explanation

• The United Nation’s trade and development body, UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) has recently released a report ‘COVID–19 and Tourism’.
• As per the report, the world’s tourism sector could lose at least USD 1.2 trillion or 1.5% of the global gross domestic product (GDP). If the break in international tourism lasts for 8 months, the loss could rise to USD 2.2 trillion or 2.8% of the global GDP.

Explanation

• July 1st 2021 marks the 4th anniversary of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which was implemented on the same date in 2017. This date has been designated by the Central Government as GST DAY.
• This year, the Union Finance Ministry has proposed to issue certificates of appreciation to 54,000 GST payers for timely filing of returns to mark the GST Da

Explanation

• The Central Government has brought into effect Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order 2021. As per the order, stock limits have been imposed on wholesalers, retailers, millers and importers of pulses.
• Stock limits are prescribed for all pulses except Moong Daal until October 31, for all states and UTs. This decision was taken amidst the continuous rise in the prices of pulses.

Explanation

• Paradoxurus hermaphrodites, the common palm civet has been spotted in Odisha after 129 years, in the Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR). It is also called as the Asian palm civet, found in southern and south–eastern Asia. It is a small mammal belonging to the family Viverridae. Their long body is covered with coarse hair, which is usually grey in colour.

Explanation

• Maana Patel made history on July 2, 2021 as she became the first Indian female swimmer to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics through the ‘Universality quota’. Maana Patel, 21, will join Sajan Prakash and Srihari Natarajan in India’s swimming squad for this month’s Summer Olympics.

Explanation

• Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari took over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff on July 1, 2021. He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Air Force on December 29, 1982, and has a flying experience of more than 3800 hrs on a wide variety of fighter and trainer aircrafts.

Explanation

• As per the provisional statistics of 2020–21 of the Coal Ministry, India’s total coal production registered a decline of 2.02 per cent to 716.084 million tonnes during 2020–21. Of the total production, 671.297 MT was non–coking coal and 44.787 MT was coking coal. Chhattisgarh registered highest coal production of 158.409 MT, followed by Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. Jharkhand was the top producer of coking coal.

Explanation

• Tropical storm Elsa recently hit Cuba. It subsequently exited Cuba, east of the city of Havana, towards Florida. Cuba faced heavy rains due to the storm, causing light flooding in the capital in lower lying coastal areas.

Explanation

• India recently hosted the CoWIN Global Conclave. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the virtual conclave. As per the CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA), Dr RS Sharma, about 50 countries have shown interest in adopting CoWIN.
• India is set to provide the open–source version of the platform to the interested countries. CoWIN is a digital platform, developed by India, to efficiently run its vaccination drive.

Explanation

• The French Navy hosted the 7th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). It was concluded at Réunion island, a French department in the Indian Ocean. Indian Ocean Naval Symposium is a biennial event, which was conceived by the Indian navy in 2008. IONS includes 24 member nations that touch or lie within the Indian Ocean Region and 8 observer nations.

Explanation

• Levon Aronian won the Goldmoney Asian Rapid online chess title 2021. Levon Grigori Aronian is an Armenian–American chess grandmaster.
• He won the title after defeating Vladimir Artemiev. Magnus Carlsen, the current world champion was on the 3rd position. The Goldmoney Asian Rapid is the seventh tournament of the Champions Chess Tour 2021 or Meltwater Champions Tour.

Explanation

• Maharashtra has become the 5th state in India and 125th global state to join the “Under2 Coalition” to fight the climate change.
• The other four states are: Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana and West Bengal. The Under2 Coalition is a global community of state and regional governments committed to ambitious climate action in line with the Paris Agreement. It started as a MoU which was signed by 12 founding jurisdictions in 2015 in Sacramento, California.

Explanation

• India hosted the BRICS Education Ministers 2021. This meeting is being held as part of the 13th BRICS Summit being hosted by India this year. Sanjay Dhotre, Minister of State for Education, chaired the meeting of the 8th BRICS Education Ministers in virtual mode.
• Education Ministers from the five BRICS member states resolved to enhance academic collaboration in higher education.

• Stan Swamy, the Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist spent nine months in custody after being booked under the UAPA, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. UAPA is the primary counter–terror law in India. Though it was originally enacted in 1967, the law has undergone over 6 amendments, the last one in 2019. 
• Stan Swamy was among the 16 activists, academics, and lawyers booked and arrested for their alleged links to Maoists in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence.

Explanation

• The Reserve Bank of India mandated that 7.5 % of the bank’s total credit (ANBC or CEOBE) should be provided to Micro enterprises. Recently, the Union MSME Ministry announced the inclusion of retail and wholesale trade under MSMEs (Micro, small and medium enterprises).
• As per this categorisation, the traders will now get the benefit of priority sector lending under RBI guidelines. They will also be eligible for availing immediate–term finance as part of the schemes announced under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

Explanation

• Invest India, has been awarded the world’s most innovative Investment Promotion Agency 2021 by OCO Global. Invest India was set up in 2009, as a non–profit venture under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of India and act as the first point of reference for investors in India.

Explanation

• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organised the first edition of Indo–Pacific Business Summit 2021, in association with the ministry of External Affairs. The Business Summit, organised over virtual platform, had participation of Governments, Enterprises & Business Chambers from the countries in the Indo–pacific region. 

Explanation

• The third ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Conference on Biodiversity was held recently.
• The fifth and the final session of the Conference focussed on the theme of ‘Towards 2050: Living in Harmony with Nature.’ As per the ASEAN nations, developing countries will need resources for proper implementation of the Post–2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
• The ASEAN includes 10 countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Explanation

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recently appointed an advisory committee for its Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) project. It aims to promote Open networks developed in open–source methodology.
• This can also make e–commerce processes open source. National Health Authority CEO RS Sharma and Infosys non–executive chairman Nandan Nilekani are appointed in this council.

Explanation

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will impose a fine of up to Rs 10,000 per violation of commercial SMS senders who send fraudulent SMS with fake headers.
• Apart from the fine of Rs 1000 to Rs 10000 per violation, the DoT will also undertake permanent suspension of the sending mobile number or sender ID, depending on the number of violations.

Explanation

• Legendary actor Dilip Kumar died recently at the age of 98. He holds the record of receiving most Filmfare Award for Best Actor, by winning the award for 8 times.
• He had won various awards during his 5–decade journey in Cinema, including Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994, Padma Bhushan (1991), Padma Vibhushan (2015) and Pakistan’s Nishan–e–Imtiaz (1998). He was nominated as the Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra in 2000–2006.

Explanation

• Union Minister Amit Shah, has been appointed as the first Union Minister of the newly–set up Ministry of Cooperation along with his current Home Affairs portfolio. The setting up of the Ministry of Cooperation was aimed at providing more focus to the cooperative movement in the country.
• “Sahkar se samriddhi” (Prosperity from cooperation) is its vision statement, according to a release from the Cabinet Secretariat. This ministry will provide a separate administrative, legal, and policy framework to strengthen the cooperative movement in the country.

Explanation

• Article 169 of the Indian constitution is associated with ‘Abolition or creation of Legislative Councils in States’. West Bengal Assembly has recently passed a resolution to set up Legislative Council with a two–thirds majority. The resolution moved under the Article 169, was favoured by 196 and opposed by 69. The Legislative Council existed till 1969 till a resolution was passed for its dissolution.

Explanation

• Dashli ada or Dashly Island is one of the islands of Baku Archipelago, located in the Caspian Sea. The volcanic island is also called as the Ignatiy Stone Island. Recently, an explosion occurred near an oil field in the Caspian Sea off Azerbaijan.
• As per media reports, a mud volcano is the cause of the explosion. Mud volcanoes are driven by hot water and natural gas. They tend to occur where layers of water–saturated clay rocks, in Earth’s interior, are under pressure from the layers above.

Explanation

• A new report by WWF and UNEP has found that 35 per cent of India’s tiger ranges currently lie outside protected areas. The report was titled “A Future for All – A need for Human–Wildlife Coexistence”.
• 40% of the African lion range and 70% of the African and Asian elephant ranges fall outside protected areas. As the protected areas disconnected from each other, many animals depend on human–dominated spaces for their survival. 

Explanation

• As per a recent study, NASA’s ‘Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite 2’ or ICESat–2, allowed scientists to precisely map the sub–glacial lakes. The satellite measures the height of the ice surface. ICESat–2 maps the elevation changes of the ice surface with a precision, using a laser altimeter system that can measure Earth’s surface, with more details.

Explanation

• Indian biologists have identified a species of moss during an expedition to Antarctica in 2017. This has been published in an international journal recently. The biologists, based in the Central University of Punjab, have named the species as Bryum bharatiensis. Bharati is the name of one of India’s Antarctic research stations. The most astonishing fact is how the moss survives in the landscape of rock and ice.

Explanation

• Geographical Indications (GI) certified Madurai jasmine and other traditional flowers such as button rose, lily, chamanthi, and marigold were exported to the US and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Tamil Nadu.
• As per the Commerce & Industry Ministry, this export initiative generated employment for 130 women workers. The flowers sourced from places near Madurai are processed in APEDA registered centre.

Explanation

• In the seaside town of Blokhus – Denmark, the world’s tallest sandcastle has been built. The castle is more than 20 metres in height and has been built using nearly 5,000 tonnes of sand. This is 3 metres taller than one built in Germany in 2019, which was previously the tallest sand castle to be built on earth.

Explanation

• International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) was set up to develop and regulate the financial products, financial services and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs). IFSCA has issued a framework for setting up and operating International Trade Finance Services Platform (‘ITFS’).
• This will help the Exporters and Importers to avail various types of trade finance facilities for their international trade transactions.

Explanation

• The United Nations declared July 12, Malala’s birthday, as World Malala Day in honour of the young education activist from Pakistan. In 2012, Malala was shot at by Taliban insurgents while she was on her way to school. This day is observed to make an appeal to world leaders, to ensure compulsory and free education for every child in their country.

Explanation

• The count of persons infected with the Zika virus in the state of Kerala has been on the rise. The infection is a viral disease spread through mosquito bites from one person to another. It is said that in most cases, it is asymptomatic, but sometimes it can lead to paralysis.
• The neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have intensified their checks at inter–state borders to prevent the infection from spreading.

Explanation

• India had proposed the Science, Technology Innovation– led BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan (2021–24). Recently, during the 12th meeting of the BRICS S&T Steering Committee, hosted by the Department of Science and Technology, all BRICS countries agreed to the STI–led Action Plan.
• It enables sharing of experiences of each other’s innovation ecosystem and networking of innovators and entrepreneurs.

Explanation

• The Administration of UT of Ladakh has achieved 100 per cent vaccination with the first dose of the Covid–19 vaccine to all its eligible population, i.e., people above 18 years.
• The UT Administration has given the first dose of COVID–19 vaccine to all beneficiaries, by covering all Health Care Workers, Front line Workers, all those in the age group of above 45 and 18 to 45. India’s vaccination drive has crossed 38 Crore mark of administered doses, as on July 14, 2021.

Explanation

• As per the recent study conducted by USA’s NASA, a ‘wobble’ in Moon’s orbit combined with rising sea levels due to climate change will lead to devastating floods on Earth. Called ‘Nuisance floods’, these usually occur in coastal areas when the tide reaches about 2 feet above the daily average high tide. As per the study, these nuisance floods will become more frequent and irregular by mid–2030s.

Explanation

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Steel of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation on cooperation regarding Coking Coal.
• Coking Coal is used for Steel making. The MoU shall benefit the steel sector in India by reducing their input cost and cost of steel in domestic market. The Cabinet also approves MoU between India and Denmark for cooperation in health and medicine.

Explanation

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Eleventh Extension of the term of the Commission constituted under Article 340 of the Constitution to examine the issue of Sub–categorization within Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the Central List by 6 months, up to 31st January 2022. 
• The commission, which took charge on October 11, 2017, is headed by retired Delhi High Court Chief Justice G Rohini.

Explanation

• According to India’s second annual Lightning Report, Bihar reported the most deaths due to lightning between April 1, 2020– March 31, 2021 (401 deaths), followed by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. 
• According to the report, the most number of deaths are due to people standing under isolated tall trees. The Odisha–West Bengal–Jharkhand belt is more prone as lightning strikes originate from Chot Nagpur Plateau. India witnessed 1.85 crore strikes in 2020–2021 compared to 1.38 crore strikes in 2019–2020.

Explanation

• The state–run PSU – NTPC’s renewable energy arm NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL) has proposed to set up India’s single–largest solar photovoltaic project at Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, with a capacity of 4750 MW. The company has received approval from the Union Energy Ministry. The company has been given a target of building 60 GW renewable energy capacity by 2032.

Explanation

• India’s state–owned PSU Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam has signed an MoU with the Government of Nepal, to establish 679–Megawatt Lower Arun Hydropower project in eastern Nepal.
• The cost of the project is approximately $1.3 billion and is the single biggest foreign investment project of Nepal. This is the second mega project being undertaken by India in Nepal.

Explanation

• The Union Cabinet has approved to continue the National AYUSH Mission as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for another five years till 2026. A financial outlay of Rs 4,607.30 crores to be spent during the period. The scheme which was launched on September 15, 2014, is being implemented by the AYUSH Ministry.
• The objective of providing cost–effective services, with a universal access through upgrading.

Explanation

• As per the data released by World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, 23 million children across the globe have missed their routine immunization in the year 2020 and this figure is 3.7 million more than the 2019 value. This reflects the global service disruptions due to COVID–19 pandemic in 2020.

Explanation

• The Organisation for Economic Co–operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organization, founded in the year 1961 with it headquarter in Paris, France.
• As per the OECD FAO Agricultural Outlook 2021–2030 released recently, the global pulse market would increase by 22 million tons by 2030 from the present level of 92 million tons. The report further states that the projected increase would come mostly from Asian countries, especially India.

Explanation

• The Labour Ministers of five BRICS nations –Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa took part in the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Declaration. India’s Union Minister for Labour and Employment Bhupender Yadav chaired the 7th BRICS meeting.
• The five countries resolved to recover with stronger national economies, inclusive labour markets and social protection systems. Russia organized the 6th meeting of Labour and Employment Ministers in Moscow on October 9, 2020.

Explanation

• Plastic surgery is said to have originated in India. Association of Plastic Surgeons in India (APSI) introduced the concept of National Plastic Surgery Day in 2011. Since then, on July 15, the day has been observed in India, when Plastic surgeons across the country perform free operations and conduct awareness programmes.
• At the World Council of Leaders organised recently, July 15 is accepted as World Plastic Surgery Day.

Explanation

• Operation Sankalp was launched by the Indian Navy in June 2019, after there were explosions on board two oil tanker ships in the Gulf of Oman. As per the official statement of the Indian Navy, the operation has provided safe passage to an average of 16 Indian–flagged merchant vessels in the Gulf region every day.
• The Indian Navy ship with an integral helicopter has been continuously deployed in the north–west Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf from June 2019.

Explanation

• A rare case of monkeypox was detected in Texas, in the United States, as per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Monkeypox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox. It induces flu–like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes and rashes.
• Scientists have discovered two distinct genetic groups of monkeypox virus—Central African and West African. The first case of monkeypox in humans was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Explanation

• New Zealand is the revolving host of the Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. It is headquartered in Singapore. Recently, New Zealand chaired an extraordinary meeting ahead of a formal meeting in November.
• US President Joe Biden, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping and other world leaders met virtually. They discussed on collective actions to tackle the Covid–19 pandemic and its economic impacts.

Explanation

• Every year ‘Passport Seva Divas’ is celebrated on 24 June in India, to commemorate the enactment of the Passports Act on 24 June, 1967. Passport Seva Puraskars were announced for the best performing Passport Offices and their personnel.

Explanation

• The birth anniversary of 11th President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, October 15 has been recognised by the United Nations to be celebrated as World Students’ Day.
• Recently, the country remembered the Missile Man of India on his 6th death anniversary, on July 27. While addressing students at IIM –Shillong, the former President died of cardiac arrest.

Explanation

• July 18 is celebrated as Nelson Mandela International Day marking his birth date. He is known and remembered all over the world for his efforts to promote peace and reconciliation. He became the first Black President of South Africa and was awarded the Noble Prize for Peace in the year 1993. The South African anti–apartheid revolutionary served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.

Explanation

• Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company and Snehakunja Trust are the two Indian institution among the 10 awardees of the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) Equator Prize 2021.
• This is a biennial award to recognize community efforts for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Limited is a 1,700–member cooperative, run by indigenous people from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu. Snehakunja Trust has protected wetland and coastal ecosystems in the Western Ghats and the Karnataka coast.

Explanation

• Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE) is the World Chess Federation, headquartered at Lausanne, Switzerland. It was founded on July 20, 1924 and has as many as 195 member countries.
• To commemorate the formation of FIDE, World Chess Day is celebrated on July 20, every year since 1966. The day encourages more people to play and enjoy the game of chess. Chess originated in India, moved to Persia and spread across the Southern Europe.

Explanation

• NASA recently announced that its new spacecraft, named NEA Scout (Near–Earth Asteroid Scout) has completed all required tests and has been safely tucked inside the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. NEA Scout is one of several payloads that will ride on Artemis I, which is expected to be launched in November. Under the Artemis programme, NASA has aimed to land the first woman on the Moon in 2024.

Explanation

• A pair of rare Chrysilla volupe spiders was recently spotted at Puttenahalli lake in Kerala. The Chrysilla volupe was believed to be extinct for 150 years, until it was discovered at the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in 2018.
• The spider belongs to the family of jumping spiders (Salticidae). Male spiders are 5.44 mm long including stretched legs and 1.76 mm wide. Females measure 2.61 mm long and 0.88 mm wide.

Explanation

• China has launched a high–speed train that works on magnetic levitation (maglev), which is designed to achieve a top speed of 600 kmph. This is stated to be the world’s fastest ground vehicle.
• This project was launched by China in the year 2016 and the prototype was made ready in the year 2019. The model was tested in 2020 and now it is made operational.

Explanation

• On 20th July, 2021, “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” the Olympic motto was updated to “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”. This updating was done to show solidarity around the globe at the time of the Covid–19 pandemic. At its session ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, the International Olympic Committee has approved the change.
• Since 1894, the Olympic motto has been “Citius, Altius, Fortius” in Latin or “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” when it was adopted at the suggestion of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee. “Citius, Altius, Fortius, Communiter” is the latin version of the new motto.

Explanation

• Essential Defence Services Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha recently. The Bill empowers the government to declare services mentioned in it as essential defence services.
• The Essential Defence Services Bill is aimed at preventing the staff of the government–owned ordnance factories from going on a strike. Around 70,000 people are working at 41 ordnance factories located around the country.