PREFACE
It gives us great pleasure to release the monthly edition of the PRAVAHINI - Monthly e-Compendium & Weekly e-Periodicals of Current Affairs. The magazine’s members have shown considerable cooperation as well as devotion. We at successmantra.in work tirelessly to create this magazine and bring it to you with a great sense of gratitude.
The PRAVAHINI August-2021 eBook covers the current events that happened in the month of August. Current Affairs is a crucial component of any competitive exams including CLAT, AILET, DU-LLB, HM, CAT, IAS, PCS, SSC, Banking, MBA and various other competitive examinations.
Current Affairs play the bigger role in many competitive and government exams. It holds the power of making or breaking your chance of success. Therefore, the candidates should cover the Current Affairs thoroughly and smartly.
The PRAVAHINI August-2021 eBook is divided into different sections keeping in mind the need of various exams. The sections covered namely International, National, Economy, Ecology and Environment, Science & Technology, Legal Affairs, Sports, States News Makers and few others.
We would also be pleased to receive any suggestion that could assist us with the upcoming editions.
Success Mantra (GTB Nagar, Delhi)
Website: www.successmantra.in
Mail Id: [email protected]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. National Affairs
2. International Affairs
3. Economic Affairs
4. Appointments
5. Awards And Honors
6. Important Dates & Sports
7. Reports And Indexes
8. Science & Technology
9. Miscellaneous
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1ST STATE TO ISSUE ORDER IMPLEMENTING NEP 2020
Karnataka has become the first state in the country to issue the order with regard to the implementation of the National Education Policy-2020.
The state government has issued an order on the implementation of NEP-2020 with effect from the current academic year 2021-2022.
About the policy: This policy seeks to entirely overhaul the system through various reforms:
A single regulator to oversee higher education; no more MPhil courses before PhD; fixed fees for public and private institutions; students can choose between three and four-year undergraduate courses; multiple entries and exit points in degree courses.
PM MODI LAUNCHED E-RUPI DIGITAL PAYMENT SOLUTION
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch e-RUPI, an e-voucher-based digital payment solution, via video conferencing.
The e-RUPI initiative will be one of the programmes launched over the years to limit touchpoints between the government and the beneficiary and “ensure that the benefits reach its intended beneficiaries in a targeted and leak-proof manner”.
About the e-RUPI: e-RUPI is a cashless and contactless instrument for digital payments. It acts as an e-voucher based on a QR code or SMS string, which is delivered to the mobile phones of the beneficiaries.
e-RUPI connects the sponsors of the services with the beneficiaries and service providers in a digital manner without any physical interface.
It also ensures that the payment to the service provider is made only after the transaction is completed.
Being prepaid in nature, it assures timely payment to the service provider without the involvement of any intermediary. The one-time payment mechanism of e-RUPI will allow users to redeem the voucher without a card, digital payments app or internet banking access, at the service provider.
The e-RUPI platform has been developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on its UPI platform, in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Health Authority.
1ST CITY TO ACHIEVE 100% COVID VACCINATION
Bhubaneswar has become the first Indian city to achieve 100 percent COVID-19 vaccination. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) had launched a massive vaccination drive against Covid-19.
This milestone is credited to the BMC running 55 centres at all times for vaccines. BMC has a record of around nine lakh people who are above 18 years of age in the city.
Which includes around 31 thousand healthcare workers, 33 thousand front-line workers. 5 lakh 17 thousand people are in the age group of 18 to 44 years. Three lakh twenty-five thousand people are above 45 years of age.
BRO CONSTRUCTS WORLD'S HIGHEST ROAD IN LADAKH
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed and black-topped the highest road in the world at Umlingla Pass in Eastern Ladakh.
The highest motorable road in the world is situated at an altitude of 19,300 feet.
This is higher than the base camps of Mount Everest. The road itself is a 52-km long tarmac stretch through Umlingla Pass, connecting important towns in the Chumar sector of Eastern Ladakh.
Infrastructure development in places like Umlingla Pass is difficult due to the harsh and tough terrain coupled with extremely low temperatures.
In winters, the temperature dips 40 degrees below zero. The oxygen level at this altitude is almost 50 per cent less than at normal places.
The north base in Tibet is at 16,900 feet, whereas the south base camp in Nepal is 17,598 feet. The summit of Mount Everest is a little over 29,000 feet.
The road is constructed much above the altitude of Siachen Glacier which is at 17,700 feet. The Khardung La Pass in Leh is at an altitude of 17,582 feet. With this, India has bettered Bolivia’s record of a road at 18,953 feet.
• Director-General of BRO: Lt. Gen. Rajeev Chaudhary.
• BRO Headquarters: New Delhi.
INDIA & UAE NAVAL EXERCISE 'ZAYED TALWAR 2021'
The Indian Navy and UAE Navy conducted the bilateral naval exercise ‘Zayed Talwar 2021’ on August 07, 2021, off the coast of Abu Dhabi.
The main objective of the ‘Zayed Talwar 2021’ naval exercise was to enhance interoperability and synergy between the two navies.
Indian Navy participated with INS Kochi, with two integral Sea King MK 42B helicopters, deployed in the Persian Gulf.
From UAE, UAES AL – Dhafra, a Baynunah class guided missile corvette and one AS – 565B Panther helicopter took part in the exercise.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
1ST INDIAN PM TO CHAIR A UNSC DEBATE
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has chaired the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate, via video conferencing.
With this, PM Modi has become the first Prime Minister of India to chair a UNSC open debate. It must be remembered that India has assumed the Presidency of the UNSC for August 2021, taking over from France.
The theme of the high-level open debate was ‘Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation’.
India will organize two more meetings during its presidency, on peacekeeping and counterterrorism.
During the debate, PM Modi also underlined five principles that need to be followed in terms of maritime trade and security, which included:
• free maritime trade sans barriers,
• peaceful settlement of maritime disputes,
• combating maritime threats,
• encouraging responsible maritime connectivity and
• preserving maritime environment and resources
EBRAHIM RAISI SWORN-IN AS IRAN'S PRESIDENT
Ebrahim Raisi was officially sworn in as the new president of Iran on August 05, 2021. He won the 2021 Iranian presidential election in June, with 62 per cent of the vote.
The 60-year-old Raisi succeeds Hassan Rouhani to begin his four-year term. He is also been the Chief Justice of Iran since March 2019.
Raisi’s inauguration comes at a pivotal time, with Iran currently in indirect negotiations with the United States over how to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Raisi will also face the task of reviving his country’s economy, which has been battered in recent years by the previous US administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign of sanctions.
Tensions in the region are also high following a string of maritime provocations blamed by the West on Tehran.
GERMANY BECAME 5TH NATION TO SIGN ISA AGREEMENT
Germany became the 5th country to sign the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement after amendments to it entered into force on 8th January 2021, opening its Membership to all Member States of the United Nations.
Ambassador of Germany to India Walter J. Lindner deposited signed copies of the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement with the Ministry of External Affairs, the depositary of the Agreement.
Membership to the ISA was earlier limited to 121 countries, which were partially or entirely located within the tropics.
This didn’t allow major solar energy economies such as Germany to join the alliance that is being increasingly seen as a foreign policy tool.
The initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India Africa Summit and a meeting of member countries ahead of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015.
The framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance opened for signatures in Marrakech, Morocco in November 2016.
INDIA TOOK OVER FRANCE TO ASSUME UNSC PRESIDENCY
India took over from France to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August 2021.
This is the first presidency for India during its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the first Indian PM to preside over a meeting of the UNSC.
As the president of the top UN Body, India will decide the agenda for the month, coordinate important meetings and other related issues.
India will focus on three priority areas during its presidency. These include maritime security, peacekeeping, and counter-terrorism.
• United Nations Security Council Headquarters: New York, United States.
• United Nations Security Council Founded: 24 October 1945.
MYANMAR'S MILITARY CHIEF DECLARED HIMSELF AS PM
The Chief of the Myanmar military, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has taken over as the interim prime minister of the country.
He is also the Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) which has been performing the duties of the government in Myanmar, after the February 01, 2021 coup, which overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling party.
This SAC has been reformed as the caretaker government of Myanmar in order to perform the country’s duties fast, easily and effectively.
Min Aung Hlaing is also been the commander-in-chief of Defence Services of Myanmar since March 2011. Hlaing has pledged to hold elections by 2023.
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
ALLOCATION OF $650 BN IN IMF SPECIAL DRAWING RIGHTS
The Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have approved a record general allocation of $650 billion in IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR), to help boost global liquidity.
The $650 billion SDR allocation aims to support member countries, especially emerging and developing nations, battling the coronavirus pandemic and the economic downturn it has caused.
This allocation is the largest-ever distribution in the IMF’s 77-year history, in terms of monetary reserves assets.
The allocation will become effective from August 23, 2021. The newly created SDRs will be credited to member countries in proportion to their existing quotas shareholding in the Fund.
WORLD BANK & INDIA SIGNED USD 250MN PROJECT
The World Bank has approved a USD 250 million projects in India for a long-term dam safety program and improving the safety and performance of existing dams across various states of India.
The Second Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP-2) agreement was inked on between the World Bank, the Government of India, the Central Water Commission, and government representatives from 10 participating states.
The project will be implemented at the national level through the Central Water Commission (CWC).
At the state level, approximately 120 dams will be undertaken across the states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. Other states or agencies may be added to the project during project implementation.
Other important measures that DRIP-2 will support include flood forecasting systems and integrated reservoir operations that will contribute to building climate resilience; the preparation and implementation of Emergency Action Plans to enable vulnerable downstream communities to prepare for and enhance resilience against the possible negative impacts and risks of climate change; and the piloting of supplemental revenue generation schemes such as floating solar panels.
APPOINTMENTS
SN GHORMADE AS VICE CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF
Vice Admiral SN Ghormade has assumed charge as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff at a formal ceremony in New Delhi.
He succeeds Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar who retired on July 31, 2021, after more than 39 years of illustrious service.
The Flag officer SN Ghormade was commissioned in the Indian Navy on January 01, 1984.
He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) on January 26, 2017, and Nausena Medal (NM) in 2007 by the President of India, and a Commendation by the Chief of the Naval Staff in 2000.
AWARDS & HONOURS
KHEL RATNA AWARD NAMED AFTER MAJOR DHYAN CHAND
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award will be renamed as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
The Prime Minister said the move was based on the numerous requests he received from across the nation.
Dhyan Chand, whose birthday is celebrated as National Sports Day, won three Olympic golds for the country in Hockey.
About the award: The award was inaugurated in 1991-92, the award comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹ 25 lakh.
The first recipient of the Khel Ratna was chess legend, Viswanathan Anand. Some of the winners in recent years include cricketer Rohit Sharma, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal, among others.
C.R. RAO CENTENARY GOLD MEDAL AWARD
The Indian Econometric Society (TIES) Trust has selected two renowned economic scholars for the Prof. C.R. Rao Centenary Gold Medal award.
Renowned economists Jagdish Bhagwati and C Rangarajan have been conferred with the inaugural Prof CR Rao Centenary Gold Medal (CGM).
Bhagwati is a professor of economics, law and international relations at Columbia University while C Rangarajan is the former chairman of the Economic Advisory Council of the Prime Minister and former governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
About the award: TIES Trust had constituted a jury to shortlist the awardees. Based on the jury’s recommendations, it announced that inaugural award to two distinguished scholars.
The medal is presented once in two years to an Indian or Indian-origin scholar for lifetime contributions to the fields of theoretical and applied aspects of quantitative economics and official statistics.
CYRUS POONAWALLA WINS LOKMANYA TILAK AWARD
Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman of the Pune-based vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII), has been selected for the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak National Award for 2021.
He has been named for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic, by manufacturing the Covishield vaccine.
He will receive the award on August 13. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs one lakh and a memento.
About the award: The Lokmanya Tilak national award is given annually since 1983 on August 1, the death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, by the Lokmanya Tilak Trust.
However this year the date has been changed due to the coronavirus situation.
SPORTS
INDIAN BOXER LOVLINA BORGOHAI WINS BRONZE MEDAL
Indian Boxer, Lovlina Borgohain has failed to reach the gold medal final match. She settles for a bronze medal.
This is India’s third medal of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. She lost to Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey by unanimous decision in the women’s welterweight (69 kg) semifinal at Tokyo 2020.
Lovlina had already assured India of their first boxing medal at the ongoing Olympic Games when she upstaged former world champion, Nien-Chin Chen of Taiwan, to enter the semis.
INDIA HOCKEY TEAM WINS BRONZE AT TOKYO
Indian men’s hockey team defeated Germany to win their first-ever Olympic medal in 41 years. India wins the bronze medal in men’s hockey after beating Germany 5-4 at Tokyo Olympics.
Before this podium finish for bronze, India last climbed up the Olympic podium in 1980, when it won its 8th gold at the Games.
Simranjeet Singh scored two goals for India at the Oi Hockey Stadium, along with Hardik Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh also adding their names on the scoresheet.
PV SINDHU WINS BRONZE MEDAL IN TOKYO OLYMPICS
Ace Indian badminton player PV Sindhu defeated China’s He Bingjiao to win the bronze medal in the women’s singles event at the Tokyo Olympics on August 01, 2021.
With this win, Sindhu scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman and the only second Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals in individual events.
Earlier she won the silver in women’s singles badminton at the Rio Olympics in 2016. This is India’s second medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
NEERAJ CHOPRA CREATES HISTORY AT TOKYO OLYMPICS
Neeraj Chopra has won a Gold medal for India in the javelin throw event at Tokyo Olympics. With a throw of 87.03 metres in his first attempt, Neeraj killed the competition.
In his second he improved it to 87.58m and that turned out to be the golden throw. Except for Viteszalav Veslay of the Czech Republic who threw 86.67m none of his rivals including world champion Johannas Vetter fell by wayside.
This is India’s 7th medal at Tokyo 2020, the best ever medal haul for India at a single edition of the Games.
Neeraj Chopra’s Gold is also India’s second-ever individual Gold medal at the Olympics, after Abhinav Bindra in Shooting.
TOKYO OLYMPICS 2020 CLOSING CEREMONY
The Tokyo Olympics 2020 came to an end on August 08, 2021. The international multi-sport event was held from July 23 to August 08, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
This was for the fourth time that Japan hosted the Olympic Games, after previously hosting the Tokyo 1964 (Summer), Sapporo 1972 (Winter), and Nagano 1998 (Winter) games. Apart from this, Tokyo is the first Asian city to hold the Summer Games twice.
Medal Tally: The United States has topped the overall medal table with 113 medals, which includes 39 Gold, 41 Silver and 33 Bronze Medal.
Indian Contingent managed to win 7 medals comprising 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 4 Bronze Medals. The country stood at the 48th position in the medal table out of 86 countries.
Top Five Nations in the Medal Tally:
• United States: 113 (Gold: 39, Silver: 41, Bronze: 33)
• China: 88 (Gold: 38, Silver: 32, Bronze: 18)
• Japan: 58 (Gold: 27, Silver: 14, Bronze: 17)
• Great Britain: 65 (Gold: 22, Silver: 21, Bronze: 22)
• Team ROC (the Russian Olympic Committee): 71 (Gold: 20, Silver: 28, Bronze: 23)
• India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020
India finished the Games with its best-ever Olympic medal tally of 7 in Tokyo Games 2020, surpassing the previous best record of 6 medals at the 2012 London Olympics.
MC Mary Kom, and men’s hockey team skipper, Manpreet Singh, were flag-bearers for the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony.
Bronze-medalist Bajrang Punia was the flag-bearer at the closing ceremony of the event.
Indian Medal Winners List
Gold: Men’s Javelin Throw: Neeraj Chopra
Silver: Women’s 49kg Weightlifting: Mirabai Chanu , Men’s Freestyle 57kg Wrestling: Ravi Dahiya
Bronze: Women’s Welterweight boxing: Lovlina Borgohain, Women’s Singles Badminton: PV Sindhu, Men’s 65kg Freestyle Wrestling: Bajrang Punia, Men’s hockey: India men’s hockey team
IMPORTANT DAYS AND DATES
'PANI MAAH OR WATER MONTH' LAUNCHED IN LADAKH
Pani Maah’ or water month has been launched in Ladakh to inform villagers about the importance of clean water. The Ladakh government has also announced a reward of Rs 2.5 million for the first block in each district that achieves the status of ‘Har Ghar Jal’.
‘Pani Maah’ campaign will adopt a three-pronged approach — focussing on water quality testing, planning and strategizing water supply, and seamless functioning of Pani Sabha in villages.
As per the government data:
Only 11.75 per cent of rural households in Ladakh have access to tap water connections. The Pani Maah campaign is expected to expedite the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in the union territory.
During this campaign, village communities will be encouraged to send water samples to water quality laboratories for quality checks and monitoring.
In the first phase of ‘Pani Maah’, water samples will be collected from all identified sources and service delivery points for testing. The first phase will also include awareness and sensitisation campaigns.
The second phase will focus on organising the Pani Sabhas/Gram Sabhas/Block level meetings and door to door visits for effective communication on water quality and service delivery under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a scheme of the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched in 2019 to provide safe piped drinking water to every rural household in the country by 2024.
WORLD BREAST- FEEDING WEEK: 1ST - 7TH AUGUST
The World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is marked every year in the first week of August, between 1 to 7 August, to raise awareness on the importance of breastfeeding for mothers and infants.
The theme of the World Breastfeeding Week 2021 is “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility”. The annual week is organized by WABA, WHO and UNICEF since 1991.
About Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding provides every child with the best possible start in life. It delivers health, nutritional and emotional benefits to both children and mothers.
And it forms part of a sustainable food system. But while breastfeeding is a natural process, it is not always easy. Mothers need support – both to get started and to sustain breastfeeding.
MUSLIM WOMEN'S RIGHTS DAY: 1ST AUGUST
In India, “Muslim Women’s Rights Day” is celebrated across the nation on August 01 to celebrate the enactment of the law against Triple Talaq.
The first Muslim Women’s Rights Day was observed in 2020. The Government of India enacted the law against Triple Talaq on August 01, 2019 to make the social malpractice of Triple Talaq a criminal offence.
The law is formally called the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.
It prohibits the practice of instant divorce by Muslim men and any violation of the law is punishable by a jail term of up to three years.
INDIA MARKED 7TH NATIONAL HANDLOOM DAY
India has marked the 7th National Handloom Day to showcase the legacy of the Indian handloom industry.
The day is to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement and to celebrate our country’s rich fabrics and colourful weaves.
The whole nation will mark the day to showcase the legacy of the Indian handloom industry and to honour the weavers across the country. It was first observed in 2015 by the Govt of India.
National Handloom Day seeks to focus on the contribution of hand-loom to the socio-economic development of the country and also increase the income of weavers.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WORLD'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
The United Nations observes the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on 09th August every year.
The day is being observed to protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population and recognize the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.
The theme for 2021 is “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract.”
The day was recognised by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1994. The date marks the day of the inaugural session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations at the United Nations in 1982.
'HIROSHIMA DAY' OBSERVED ON 6TH AUGUST
Each and every year 6th of August marks the anniversary of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima at some stage in World War II.
The horrific incident took place on 6th August 1945, when the United States dropped an atomic bomb named "Little Boy" on Hiroshima in Japan.
This bomb attack was achieved with the motive to give up the Second World War in 1945. This day is remembered to promote peace and recognise the chance of nuclear strength and nuclear weapons.
During the 2nd World War, which was energetic in 1939- 1945, the world's first deployed atomic bomb with more than 9000 kilos uranium-235 was loaded. US B-29 bomber aircraft, the Enola Gay, attacked the Japanese metropolis of Hiroshima on sixth August 1945.
The explosion was so large that it right away killed 70,000 humans, wiping 90% of the city and later on, around 10,000 human beings died due to the effect of radiation exposure.
JAPAN COMMEMORATES NAGASAKI DAY: 9TH AUGUST
Japan commemorates the 9th of August every year as Nagasaki day.
On August 9, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. It was code-named “Fat Man” due to the design of the bomb as it had a wide, round shape. This happened 3 days after dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
An area of about 5 square miles was completely obliterated and around 65,000 people were killed in the bombing.
Nagasaki and Hiroshima continue to feel the impact of the destructive bombing even today.
7TH AUGUST TO BE CELEBRATED AS 'JAVELIN THROW DAY'
The Athletics Federation of India has decided that javelin throw day will be on 7th August every year in honour of Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra.
The 23-year-old Neeraj is India’s second individual Olympic gold medallist after Abhinav Bindra. Neeraj bagged the gold medal in men’s javelin throw at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on 7th August 2021.
Neeraj has scripted the history at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo when he threw the javelin to a distance of 87.58m to end India’s medal drought in athletics at the Olympics.
This is India’s first-ever gold medal in athletics in the history of the Olympics. AFI’s bid to name August 7 as Javelin Throw Day is an attempt to attract more youth towards the sport.
• Athletics Federation of India President: Adille J Sumariwalla
• Athletics Federation of India Founded: 1946.
• Athletics Federation of India Headquarters location: New Delhi.
WORLD BIOFUEL DAY OBSERVED ON 10TH AUGUST
World Biofuel Day is observed on August 10 every year. The day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and highlight the various efforts made by the Government in the biofuel sector.
The development of biofuels is in sync with schemes such as Swach Bharat Abhiyan and Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
World Biofuel Day was first observed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas in August 2015.
Biofuels are environmentally friendly fuels whose use would go a long way in reducing carbon emissions. They are created through renewable biomass resources and therefore make a strong case for sustainable development.
As such biofuels will help meet the energy requirements of the 21st-century world without damaging the environment in the process.
WORLD LION DAY OBSERVED ON 10TH AUGUST
World Lion Day is observed globally on August 10 every year. World Lion Day is marked to raise awareness about the king of beasts and the efforts undertaken for their conservation.
Owing to their courage, intelligence, strength, and magnificence, lions often feature on national flags, and royal symbols and emblems to represent command, power or authority across cultures. World Lion Day was launched in 2013.
About the big cat: The big cat is listed as an endangered species in the IUCN Red List. The majestic animal is the second-largest member of the Felidae (cat family), after the tiger.
There is only one species of the lion in the world whose scientific name is Panthera leo.
As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN)’s Red List of Threatened Species (2016), the Panthera leo has two subspecies: Panthera Leo and Panthera leo persica, found in Africa and Asia.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature CEO: Bruno Oberle.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature Founder: Julian Huxley.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature Founded: 5 October 1948.
REPORTS AND INDEXES
TOP 100 QS BEST STUDENT CITIES RANKING
Mumbai and Bengaluru are out of the global top-100 list and are currently ranking at 106 and 110, respectively in the latest edition of the QS Best Student Cities Ranking.
While Mumbai lost 29 places, Bengaluru fell by 21 places in the ninth edition of the rankings brought out by global higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds.
Globally, the results, which enable students to compare 115 premier educational destinations, see London retain its status as the world’s best student city for the third consecutive edition.
It is followed by Munich, which rises from 4th to 2nd. Seoul, which jumps from 10th to joint-3rd, shares the bronze-medal position with Olympic hosts Tokyo.
About the QS rank cities: QS rank cities with a population of at least 250,000 and with at least two universities placing in the QS World University Rankings.
The ranking offers a powerful lens into the sentiments of both prospective and former students, with over 95,000 survey responses contributing to the Desirability (prospective students) and Student View (former students) indexes.
As part of its methodology, QS covers metrics like university rankings, student mix, desirability, employer activity, and affordability, among others.
2021 FORTUNE'S GLOBAL 500 LIST
Seven Indian companies have found a place in 2021 Fortune’s Global 500 list.
The Fortune Global 500 is an annual ranking of the top 500 enterprises globally, as measured by businesAs revenues. Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd is the highest-ranked Indian company on the list in terms of revenue, with revenues of nearly $63 billion. It is placed at 155th spot globally.
Globally, Walmart has topped the list in terms of revenue for the eighth consecutive year and the 16th time since 1995.
China has dominated this years list for the highest number of companies featuring in the list at 143, including those from Taiwan. This is followed by the U.S. with 122, and Japan with a total of 53, respectively.
Indian Companies in the list:
• Reliance Industries (155)
• State Bank of India (205)
• Indian Oil (212)
• Oil & Natural Gas (243)
• Rajesh Exports (348)
• Tata Motors (357)
• Bharat Petroleum (394)
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ISRO-NASA JOINT MISSION 'NISER'
The ISRO-NASA joint mission NISER (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite, aimed at making global measurement of land surface changes using advanced radar imaging, is proposed to be launched in early 2023.
It is a dual-band (L-band and S-band) radar imaging mission with the capability of full polarimetric and interferometric modes of operation to observe minor changes in land, vegetation and cryosphere.
NASA is developing L-band SAR and associated systems while ISRO is developing S-band SAR, spacecraft bus, the launch vehicle and associated launch services.
The major scientific objectives of the mission are to improve understanding of the impact of climate change on Earth’s changing ecosystems, land and coastal processes, land deformations and cryosphere.
NISER is one of the crucial collaborations of the ISRO and NASA. India and the U.S. had agreed upon this mission during then-President Barack Obama’s visit to India in 2015.
• ISRO Chairman: K.Sivan.
• ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• ISRO established: 15 August 1969.
• NASA administrator: Bill Nelson.
• Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States.
• NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.
EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE TO BE LAUNCHED BY ISRO
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to launch an Earth Observation Satellite on 12th August.
The satellite is set to be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. Satellite referred to as EOS-03 will be carried onboard the 14th flight of the GSLV celled GSLV-F10.
GSLV-F10 will be a satellite in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. EOS-03 will attain the remaining geostationary orbit using its onboard propulsion system.
In this GSLV flight, a 4-metre diameter Ogive-shaped payload fairing will be flown for the first time. This will be the 14th flight of GSLV.
INDIA TO LAUNCH GEO-IMAGING SATELLITE (GISAT-1)
India will finally launch its most advanced geo-imaging satellite (GiSAT-1), which will allow better monitoring of the subcontinent, including its borders with Pakistan and China, by imaging the country 4-5 times a day.
The satellite will be launched on August 12 from Sriharikota. Isro’s GSLV-F10 rocket will finally put the 2,268-kg Gisat-1, codenamed EOS-3, into the geo-orbit. This will be India’s first launch of a primary satellite this year.
Once placed 36,000 km above the earth in the geostationary orbit after space manoeuvres, the advanced ‘eye in the sky’ can constantly monitor areas of interest (the satellite will move in sync with the rotation of the Earth and hence would look stationary) and will give real-time information about a large area unlike other remote sensing satellites placed in lower orbits that come to a spot only at regular intervals.
EOS-3 will also enable quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic and short-term events.
MISCELLANEOUS
WORLD'S YOUNGEST MOUNTAINEER TO SCALE K2
A 19-year old Pakistani climber Shehroze Kashif became the youngest person in the world to reach the summit of K2, the second-highest peak in the world.
Shehroze Kashif from Lahore achieved the feat of scaling the 8,611-metre high peak with the aid of bottled oxygen. Before Kashif, Sajid Sadpara, the son of the legendary climber Muhammad Ali Sadpara, was the youngest person to have climbed K2 at the age of 20.
Kashif also scaled the world’s 12th-highest mountain, the 8,047-meter Broad Peak, at the age of 17. In May this year, he became the youngest Pakistani to scale Mount Everest.
Pakistan, Nepal, and China are home to the 14 highest peaks in the world, also known as the 8,000ers. Five 8,000-metre peaks, including K2 and Nanga Parbat, are in Pakistan.
INDIA'S NUCLEAR CAPACITY TO REACH 22,480 MW BY 2031
India’s nuclear power capacity is expected to reach 22,480 Mega Watts by 2031 from the current 6,780 MegaWatts.
There are presently 22 reactors with a total capacity of 6780 MW in operation and one reactor, KAPP-3 (700 MW) has been connected to the grid on January 10, 2021.
Ten (10) nuclear power reactors with 8000 MW capacity (including 500 MW PFBR being implemented by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited {BHAVINI}) are under construction.
Additionally, the Government has accorded administrative approval and financial sanction of ten (10) indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) of 700 MW each to be set up in fleet mode.
