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JLL launches residential property portal
- Real estate consultancy firm JLL has launched a portal, JLL Homes.co.in.
- It will help prospective homebuyers choose from an array of residential projects that have been pre-screened by professionals from the company.
- JLL Homes will offer a customer-centric platform with over 4,000 projects backed by the JLL brand.
Bhubaneswar: 1st to achieve 100% vaccination
- Odisha capital Bhubaneswar has become the first city in India to achieve 100% vaccination of its people against covid-19.
- Additionally, about one lakh migrant workers have also been administered the first dose of covid vaccine in the city.
- Those vaccinated include about 9 lakh people 18 years of age and above.
- Puri in Odisha has also become the first city to supply 24/7 drinking water.
Indian Women’s Hockey team scripts history
- In the Tokyo Olympics, the Indian women’s hockey team scripted history by qualifying for the Olympic Games semifinals for the first time ever, on 2 August 2021.
- This comes a day after, Indian Men’s Hockey team entered the Olympic semifinals after four decades beating Great Britain 3-1.
- However, the men’s team lost to Belgium in the semifinals.
Railways’ highest incremental freight loading
- The railways has registered their highest ever freight loading for the month of July 2021.
- It achieved the highest ever incremental freight loading of 17.54 million tonnes (MT) in July 2021, an increase of 18.43 percent over July 2020, with total freight loading of 112.72 MT as against the earlier best of 99.74 MT in July 2019 and as against 95.18 MT in July 2020.
Parliament passes Inland Vessels Bill
- The Parliament has passed the Inland Vessels Bill, 2021.
- The legislation will replace the Inland Vessels Act, 1917.
- The bill seeks to introduce a uniform regulatory framework for inland vessel navigation across the country.
- It provides a central database for recording the details of the vessel, vessel registration, and crew on an electronic portal.
Eastern Fleet Ships on an overseas deployment
- A task force of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet is scheduled to proceed on an overseas deployment to South East Asia, the South China Sea, and Western Pacific from early Aug 2021 for over two months.
- This is in pursuit of India’s ‘Act East policy and to enhance military cooperation with friendly countries,
- The ships would also participate in multilateral exercise MALABAR-21.
PM to chair UNSC Open Debate on 9 August
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair UN Security Council Open Debate on “Maintenance of international peace and security: Maritime security” in virtual mode on 9 August 2021.
- This will be the first time an Indian Prime Minister will preside over an Open Debate.
- India had on 1 August 2021 assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council.
Rs 756 crore allocated under the FAME scheme
- The government has allocated over Rs 756 cr under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, FAME scheme till June 2021.
- The main objective of the scheme is to encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by way of offering an upfront incentive on the purchase of electric vehicles.
- The scheme was launched in 2015.
Unemployment rate rises to 13.3 pc
- Unemployment rate (UR) rose to 13.3 percent in July-September 2020 as compared to 8.4 percent in the year-ago period.
- The UR was 20.9 percent in April-June 2020, according to the eighth Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).
- The National Statistical Office launched PLFS in April 2017.
- On the basis of PLFS, a quarterly bulletin is brought out giving estimates of labour force indicators.
Exports up 47.91 pc in July to USD 35.17 bn
- The country’s exports grew 47.19 per cent to USD 35.17 billion in July 2021 on account of healthy growth in petroleum, engineering, and gems and jewellery segments.
- Imports during the month also rose by 59.38 per cent to USD 46.40 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 11.23 billion.
- Exports of oilseeds, rice and meat, dairy and poultry products recorded negative growth in July 2021.
J-K govt enhances DA for employees
- Jammu and Kashmir administration has increased the Dearness Allowance for government employees and pensioners from existing 17 percent to 28 percent.
- The payment of Dearness Allowance to Government employees is effective from July 1 2021.
- The rate of Dearness Allowance for the period from January 1, 2020, till June 30, 2021, shall remain at 17 percent.
Over 29.55 crore loans sanctioned under PMMY
- Over 29.55 crore loans amounting to Rs15.52 lakh crore have been sanctioned till July 2021, under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) across the country since its inception in April 2015.
- Under the PMMY, institutional credit up to Rs10 lakh is provided by Member Lending Institutions (MLI) for entrepreneurial activities to micro and small business units, including for new enterprises.
Ecotourism is recognized as a Niche Tourism area
- Ecotourism has been identified as one of the Niche Tourism areas for development in the country by the Ministry of Tourism.
- The Ministry of Tourism has formulated a Draft National Strategy and Roadmap for Sustainable Tourism, focusing on ecotourism.
- Eco circuit and Wildlife circuit are among the fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
NCSM develops a chain of science museums
- National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) has developed a chain of science museums and science centers throughout the country.
- NCSM has taken up projects for setting up of new science centers under Science Cities through Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) scheme of Govt. of India.
- NCSM is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India.
Film critic Rashid Irani passes away
- Rashid Irani, 74, one of the country’s foremost film critics, passed away on 30 July 2021.
- A former accountant and co-owner of the iconic Brabourne Irani café, Irani had been a film critic for more than four decades.
- Irani, who had contributed several articles in national dailies like Times of India, and the website Scroll. in, was ‘one of the pillars of the Mumbai Press Club Film Society.
Culture Ministry launches unique programme
- The Union Ministry of Culture has launched a unique program to invite people to sing the national anthem and upload the video on the website www.RASHTRAGAAN.IN.
- The compilation of the National Anthem will be shown live in August 2021.
- The programme has been launched under ”Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ which was started in 2021 to commemorate the country’s 75 years of Independence.
Freakout Ent. honoured with DPIT Award 2021
- Movie promotion company Freakout Entertainment has been awarded the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Indian Television Award 2021 as a mark of recognition for its contribution to the Indian film and television industry over the last nearly decade.
- It is credited with having successfully managed more than 200 film city tour promotions in India and overseas, including the UK, US, and Dubai.
Singer Kalyani Menon passes away
- Popular playback singer Kalyani Menon passed away on 2 August 2021 due to an age-related illness.
- Born in Kerala, Menon has sung over 100 songs in Malayalam and Tamil movies and rendered many hit songs in Malayalam, including ‘Narayaneeyam’, ‘Mukundamala’, and ‘MookambikaStotram’.
- Kalyani Menon was the recipient of Kalaimamani Award by Tamil Nadu Government.
Copenhagen invests $100 mn in Amp Energy India
- Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has signed an investment agreement through its Copenhagen Infrastructure New Markets Fund I (CI NMF) with Amp Energy India Pvt Ltd.
- The agreement enables joint equity investments in excess of $200 million in renewable energy projects in India.
- Amp India and CI NMF have targeted an initial 1.7 GWp portfolio of renewable energy projects.
DBS clinches global accolade for innovation
- DBS has been honored as the global winner for ‘Most Innovative in Digital Banking’ by Financial Times publication, The Banker, in its 2021 Innovation in Digital Banking Awards.
- The bank was also recognized as the Asia-Pacific winner and won in the Cyber Security category for its Secure Access and Remote Working Solution.
- DBS is a leading financial services group headquartered in Singapore.
Rotavac 5D gets WHO prequalification
- Bharat Biotech has announced that the WHO has awarded prequalification to its rotavirus vaccine, Rotavac 5D.
- It will help prevent rotavirus diarrhea.
- It is a unique rotavirus vaccine formulation that can be administered without a buffer and its low dose volume, facilitates easy vaccine logistics, cold chain management, and low biomedical waste disposal post-vaccination.
Tony Abbott: Special Trade Envoy for India
- Australia has appointed its former PM Tony Abbott as Prime Minister Scott Morison’s special Trade Envoy for India to deepen trade and investment links that will help drive post-covid recovery.
- Abbott would be in India from 2-6 Aug’21 to discuss the building of “secure and resilient supply chains.”
- He will have discussions on the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.
Fincare Small Finance Bank gets the nod for IPO
- Digital lender Fincare Small Finance Bank has received SEBI’s approval to raise ₹1,330 crores through an initial share sale.
- The initial public offer (IPO) comprises a fresh issue of equity share of the bank worth ₹330 crores and an offer for sale aggregating up to ₹1,000 crores by promoter Fincare Business Services Limited.
- This offer includes a reservation for subscriptions by employees.
Ericsson wins 5G radio contracts in China
- Sweden’s Ericsson has won a 3% share in a joint 5G radio contract from China Telecom and China Unicom.
- Nokia, which was expected to take away Ericsson’s market share in China, did not receive any share.
- This was the second phase of the 5G radio contracts by Chinese telecom operators and covers thousands of new base stations.
Manpreet Vohra: High Commissioner to Nauru
- Manpreet Vohra has been concurrently accredited as the next High Commissioner of India to Nauru, with residence in Canberra.
- He is presently the High Commissioner of India to Australia.
- He was Ambassador of India to Mexico and High Commissioner to Belize (2019-21), Ambassador to Afghanistan (2016-18), and Ambassador to Peru and Bolivia (2011-15).
Researchers discover new frog species
- A team of Delhi University researchers has discovered a new frog species —Minervarya Pentali.
- They have named it after former DU Vice-Chancellor and plant geneticist Deepak Pental.
- The Minervarya Pentali species was discovered from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, extending along the southwest coast of the Indian Peninsula.
- This new species is endemic to the southern Western Ghats.
New Zealand PM apologises for a 1970 raid
- New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has issued an apology to the Pacific community for racially targeted immigration raids in the 1970s that resulted in deportations and prosecutions.
- The “Dawn Raids” took place from 1974 to 1976 when New Zealand’s economy was in a downturn.
- The government clamped down on immigrant workers from the Pacific who overstayed their work visas.
Saudi Arabia invites PM Modi for a summit
- Saudi Arabia has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Middle East Green Initiative Summit, which will take place in October 2021.
- Through the initiative, the country aims to lead regional efforts in combating climate change.
- The Middle East Green Initiative, along with the Saudi Green Initiative, was announced in March 2021 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Tata Motors declares investment of ₹28,900 cr
- Tata Motors has announced an investment of ₹28,900 crores mostly for its British arm Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
- The company is also looking to raise capital separately for its electric vehicle segment and aiming for 25% sales in the segment in the medium and long term from its current 2%.
- Tata Motors had announced earlier that it will be launching at least 10 EV models before 2025.
Zverev wins men’s singles tennis gold
- Germany’s Alexander Zverev has beaten Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-1 to win the men’s singles gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
- Zverev became only the second German to win Olympic singles gold, matching Steffi Graff’s achievement at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
- Germany also won Olympic gold in the doubles with Boris Becker and Michael Stich at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Isha Foundation launches farming model
- Isha Foundation has launched its second major farmer outreach program on 2 August 2021.
- Isha Foundation is a spiritual organization that has undertaken the campaign Cauvery Calling to revive the river of the South.
- The coming eight weeks would see 1,800 events to popularise the tree-based farming model among the farming community.
Paras Khadka announces retirement
- Nepal’s former cricket team captain Paras Khadka has announced his retirement from international cricket.
- He took over as captain of the national team in 2009, taking Nepali cricket from Division 5 to ODI status.
- One of his best achievements to date is taking Nepal to the 2014 T20 World Cup held in Bangladesh.
Iron Pillar invests $15 million in Skill-Lync
- Iron Pillar, a venture growth investor that backs technology companies, has invested a $15 million investment in Y-Combinator-backed, engineering-focused edtech start-up, Skill-Lync.
- Existing investors Y Combinator and Better Capital also invested in the $17.5 million funding round.
- Skill-Lync was launched in April 2018 by Suryanarayanan P and Sarangarajan V.
NITI Aayog and RMI release a report
- NITI Aayog has released a report that presents reform pathways that can transform the country’s power distribution sector, in a step towards improving policymaking in this area.
- The report, titled Turning Around the Power Distribution Sector, is co-authored by NITI Aayog, RMI, and RMI India.
- The report is divided into chapters focusing on structural reforms, regulatory reforms, etc.
Nykaa files DRHP to raise funds via IPO
- Nykaa, an e-commerce startup for beauty products, has filed a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI to raise funds via an initial public offering (IPO).
- FSN E-Commerce Ventures Ltd, the owner of Nykaa, is looking to raise Rs 525 cr through a fresh issue of shares and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to 43.11 million shares.
- Nykaa was founded in 2012 by investment banker Falguni Nayar.
Ebrahim Raisi: President of Iran
- Ebrahim Raisi became Iran’s President on 3 August 2021.
- Raisi will begin his tenure after he’s officially confirmed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a televised ceremony, ending the eight-year rule of Hassan Rouhani.
- He’s expected to present his proposed cabinet on 5 August 2021.
- Ali Khamenei is the Supreme Leader of Iran.
- The capital of Iran is Tehran.
GST collections touched ₹1.16 Lakh cr in July
- GST collections for July 2021 were ₹1.16 lakh crore, 33 percent more than the corresponding period of 2020.
- Gross GST revenue collected in July 2021 is ₹ 1,16,393 crore, out of which Central GST is ₹ 22,197 crore, State GST is ₹ 28,541 crore and Integrated GST is ₹ 57,864 crores (including ₹ 27,900 crores collected on import of goods) and cess of Rs 7,790 crore.
Novelist Kunal Basu’s to come up with the new book
- Renowned novelist Kunal Basu’s new work of fiction, ‘In An Ideal World’, will be released in 2022.
- The book is scheduled to release under Penguin Random House India’s ‘Viking’ imprint.
- It is a “powerful and fast-paced literary novel” exploring a variety of themes relevant to the current times — college, politics, family, crime investigation, and fanaticism.
Nikol Pashinyan reappointed as PM of Armenia
- Nikol Pashinyan has been re-appointed as Armenia’s Prime Minister by President Armen Sarkissian.
- Pashinyan’s appointment came after he was re-nominated by the Civil Contract party, which won a majority of the seats in the June 21 parliamentary elections.
- He was first appointed as the PM in 2018.
- Armenia is a nation, and former Soviet republic, in the Caucasus region between Asia and Europe.
SBI launches new and enhanced security feature
- State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a new and enhanced security feature – ‘SIM Binding’ in YONO and YONO Lite app.
- The new version of these platforms will protect customers from various digital frauds.
- With the SIM Binding feature, YONO and YONO Lite will work only on those devices which have the SIM card of mobile numbers registered with the bank.