Current Affairs July 19th 2022| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

New television series called “Swaraj” is being promoted by Anurag Thakur:

• In New Delhi, the preview for the upcoming television program Swaraj: Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha was unveiled by Anurag Thakur, Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
• This series will start broadcasting on Doordarshan on August 14th, 2022.
• The 75-episode drama will emphasize the efforts of the liberation fighters and unsung heroes of the independence cause.
• This show will also be broadcast on All India Radio.

Key Points:

• At New Delhi’s Akashwani Bhawan, Mr. Thakur presented the series logo.
• According to the Minister of Information and Broadcast, the country was honoring the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, and the administration had organized several activities around the country in which millions of people participated.
• The first trailer for the upcoming television program Swaraj: Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha serves as an example of the Swaraj that was imagined during the struggle for freedom.
• The media and entertainment industry in India is expanding quickly and has a lot of promise. He predicted that by the end of 2030, this industry will increase from its $24 billion present worth to $100 billion.

Consumer Affairs Department launches Jagriti, its new mascot:

• The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) developed the mascot Jagriti to empower consumers and increase awareness of their rights.
• Jagriti will be shown as a knowledgeable customer who is standing up for her rights and seeking solutions to the problems she runs into.
• The National Consumer Helpline toll-free number 1915, the provisions of the Weights and Measures Act, decisions of the Central Consumer Protection Authority, and consumer testimonies regarding grievance redressal are just a few of the Departmental topics that the Jagriti mascot will be used to increase consumer awareness.
• DoCA is incorporating the Jagriti Mascot into its consumer awareness campaign to reinforce a youthful, educated, and empowered consumer as a top-of-mind consumer rights awareness recall brand.
• The Jagriti mascot and catchphrase “Jago Grahak Jago” must be used in all of its media efforts.
• The two have come to be associated with young consumers who are knowledgeable about their rights and active in promoting and educating others about those rights.

Consumer Protection Act, 2019:

• The revised Consumer Protection Act was approved by Parliament in 2019.
• When it entered into force in July 2020, the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 was superseded.
• An Act to Establish Authorities for the Timely and Effective Administration and Settlement of Consumer Disputes and Matters Connected Therewith or Incidental Thereto provides for the Protection of Consumer Interests, and for the Said Purpose The Act is succinctly summarised thereto.
• The main objective of the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 is to protect consumers’ rights by establishing organizations for the timely and effective management and settlement of consumer complaints.

22nd Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2022 open by MoS Culture Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal:

• Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is being held to commemorate India’s 75th anniversary of independence.
• The National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, staged “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav-22nd Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2022″ from July 16 to August 14, 2022, to commemorate this.
• It is commemorated by the Ministry of Culture.
• The Padma Shree Award-winning Indian folk singer Ms. Malini Awasthi, the Director of the Ministry of Culture, Shri. Arvind Kumar, and the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture, Shri. Arjun Ram Meghwal helped make the event possible.

Key Points:

• In his remarks, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal remembered the unsung heroes of the Indian liberation fight and recommended that the National School of Drama (NSD) step up to develop plays based on those events that should be performed all across the nation to raise awareness among the populace.
• Another speaker, Ms. Malini Awasthi, stressed the significance of folk music in the Indian liberation fight during her remarks.
• Aranyadhipati Tantia Mama, a drama directed by Sh. Bansi Kaul was performed after the inaugural ceremony.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Varanasi Named First Cultural And Tourism Capital Of Shanghai Cooperation Organization for 2022-23

• The holy city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh showcasing India’s culture and traditions over the ages will be declared the first “Cultural and Tourism Capital” of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) under a new mechanism during India’s SCO Presidency from September 2022 to September 2023.
• It is under a new rotating initiative by the eight-member organization to promote people-to-people contacts and tourism among the member states.

Key Highlights :

• India will take over as SCO chair from Uzbekistan at the Samarkand summit, scheduled to be held at Samarkand in Uzbekistan on September 15-16, 2022.
• It will come into force after the Samarkand summit following which India will take over the Presidency and host the next Heads of the State summit
• India hosted the Head of the Government of the SCO meets in 2020.
• Under this initiative, each year a city of the cultural heritage of a member country that will take over the rotating Presidency of the organization will get the title to highlight its prominence.
• Recently to commemorate the 20 years of adoption of the SCO Charter, the SCO Secretariat has finished the compilation of a picture album that includes about 240 World Cultural Heritage sites in SCO countries including 32 sites from India.
• Kazakhstan has announced a visa-free policy for tourists from India and other countries.

About SCO :

• Established: 15 June 2001
• Headquarters: Beijing, China (Secretariat)
• Secretary General: Zhang Ming
• Membership: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia,  Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Sikkim & West Bengal sign new reciprocal transport agreement

• The governments of West Bengal and Sikkim have signed an agreement to help tourists travel between the two neighboring states with ease in a bid to boost tourism.
• The agreement was signed between West Bengal transport minister Mr. Firhad Hakim and Sikkim tourism minister Mr. Sanjit Kharel.

About the new Reciprocal Transport Agreement (2022) :

• As per the agreement, ‘All-Bengal’ permits for Sikkim vehicles and ‘All-Sikkim’ permits for Bengal vehicles (except for restricted and protected areas) will be issued to facilitate vehicular movement along both the states.
• Previously, Bengal vehicles had been granted permits for efficient movement along Gangtok, Namchi, and
• While, vehicles from Sikkim received licenses to operate along Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and
• The demands of the transporters, from West Bengal and Sikkim, have been fulfilled after 15 years.
• The two governments also agreed to increase the number of vehicles being operated between Siliguri and the popular tourist destinations in Sikkim
• In the new agreement, all Counter Signature Permits will be issued from a single-point office of the State Transport Authority in Siliguri.
• The gross vehicle weight of vehicles plying under the Counter Signature Permits has been enhanced from 16,200 kilograms in the previous agreement to 18500 kilograms.

About Sikkim :

• Governor : Ganga Prasad
• Chief Minister : Prem Singh Tamang
• Capital : Gangtok

About West Bengal :

• Governor : Jagdeep Dhankhar
• CM: Mamata Banerjee
• Capital: Kolkata

Mumbai’s CSMT becomes the first railway station to have an augmented reality experience

• The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai has become the first railway station in India to have an augmented reality experience.
• The project at Mumbai’s busiest railway station aims to generate revenue for Central Railway and offer passengers fun and infotainment during wait periods.
• This technology will allow passengers at the station to get a real-time digitized timetable with a dedicated scrolling screen and railway information for an engaging experience
• The passengers will also be able to meet animals, witness magic tricks and snowfall, and visit any place in the world virtually.
• The Central Railways is looking to bring in around Rs 50,00,000 in revenues in five years.

About the Augmented reality :

• Augmented reality (AR) is an enhanced version of the real physical world that is achieved through the use of digital visual elements, sound, or other sensory stimuli delivered via technology.
• It creates an augmented world around the user’s device to create a virtual experience.
• AR Magic Mirror uses the technology of Augmented Reality to create a virtual world around the person standing in front of the screen.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Mr. R D Dhiman appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh

• Indian Administrative Officer (IAS), Mr. Ram Dass Dhiman appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh.
• He replaces Ram Subhag Singh, who has been appointed as the Principal Advisor (Administrative Reforms).
• With this, Mr. Ram Subhag Singh becomes the 5th Chief Secretary who was not able to complete his tenure during the present regime of the BJP-led government & before him, Mr. VK Parkha, Mr. Vineet Chawdhry, Mr. BK Aggarwal, and Mr. Anil Khachi served as HP Chief Secretary.

Other Appointments :

• The state government has also appointed 1987-batch IAS Ms. Nisha Singh as Principal Advisor (Training and FA).
• Also the 1988-batch IAS officer Sanjay Gupta has been appointed as Principal Advisor (Redressal of Public Grievances).

About Mr. R D Dhiman :

• Dhiman hails from Dhalwari district Una in Himachal Pradesh.
• He is a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Himachal cadre, he has a vast experience of more than 31 years.
• He has held various important Administrative positions in the HP government including ACS Revenue, Forest, Language Art and Culture, Principal Secretary Industry Labour and Employment, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Social Justice and Empowerment, Industries, Education, Agriculture, Chairman, Managing Director (MD) and Member (Administration) of HP State Electricity Board, MD HP Power Corporation Limited, Electronics Development Corporation, HP Financial Corporation, State Industrial Development Corporation, Secretary Rural Development, and Panchyati Raj.

About Himachal Pradesh :

• Governor : Rajendra Arlekar
• CM: Jai Ram Thakur
• Capital: Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

Bank of India & PFRDA launches platform for opening NPS account via mobile phone

• Bank of India (BoI) & Pension Fund Regulator & Development Authority (PFRDA) in association with K-fintech launched a digital platform that allows customers to open National Pension System (NPS) accounts using mobile phones.
• It was inaugurated by Supratim Bandhyopadhyay, Chairman, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in the presence of Mr. AK Das (MD and CEO) Bank of India, and three executive directors of the Bank of India, namely, Mr. Swarup Dasgupta, Mr. M Karthikeyan, and Ms. Monika Kalia.

About K-fintech :

• K-fintech provides SaaS (Software as a Service) based end-to-end transaction management, channel management, and compliance solutions.
• It also provides data analytics and various other digital services to asset managers across segments as well as outsourcing services for global players.

Key Highlights :

• The digital process of account opening is simple, fast, and completely paperless, making it easier for customers to open a new account in just a few clicks.
• Further, new subscribers can also make additional contributions through QR codes.

About BoI :

• Founded: 7 September 1906
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Atanu Kumar Das
• Tagline: Relationship beyond Banking

About PFRDA :

• Founded: 23 August 2003
• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chairman: Supratim Bandyopadhyay
• Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority is the regulatory body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, GoI for the overall supervision and regulation of pensions in India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

CCI approves the acquisition of Ageas Federal Life Insurance by Ageas Insurance

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of Ageas Federal Life Insurance Company Limited (AFLI) by its group company Ageas Insurance International NV.
• Ageas currently has 49% shareholding in AFLI and it jointly controls the operations of AFLI along with the other shareholders viz., IDBI, and Federal Bank.

About Ageas :

• Ageas is the ultimate holding company of the Ageas group.
• It is an international insurance group having business activities in Europe and Asia.
• The products and services offered by the Ageas group globally include life insurance products, general non-life insurance products, reinsurance services, and distribution of insurance products.
• AFLI is engaged in the business of providing life insurance products in India under the category of term plan, child plan, ULIP plan, saving plan, retirement solutions, health plan, group plan, online plans, etc

About CCI :

• Established: 14 October 2003
• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chairman: Ashok Kumar Gupta
• Secretary : P K Singh
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is the chief national competition regulator in India.
• It is a statutory body within the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

CCI approves the proposed combination involving indirect subscription of over 30% of the total number of issued shares of CitiusTech by Bain Capital and Bain Credit

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposed combination involving the indirect subscription of over 30% of the total number of issued shares of CitiusTech by Bain Capital Investors, LLC (Bain Capital) and Bain Capital Credit Member, LLC and Bain Capital Credit Member II, Ltd. (Bain Credit).

About Bain Capital: 

• Bain Capital is a private equity investment firm that invests, through its family of funds, in companies across many industries, including information technology, healthcare, retail, consumer products, communications, financial, and industrial/manufacturing.

About Bain Credit: 

• Bain Credit is a leading global credit specialist, which invests up and down the capital structure and across the spectrum of credit strategies, including leveraged loans, high-yield bonds, distressed debt, private lending, structured products, non-performing loans, and equities.
• Its team of more than 240 professionals creates value through rigorous, independent analysis of thousands of corporate issuers around the world.

About CitiusTech: 

• CitiusTech holds approximately 80% interest in CitiusTech Healthcare Technology Private Limited (CT India) and does not have any business activities as such.
• CT India is a healthcare technology services and solutions provider.
• CT India provides healthcare software engineering, healthcare professional services, healthcare QA test automation, healthcare technology consulting, healthcare BI/ Analytics, and business and process outsourcing services in healthcare.

CCI approves an increase in the proportion of voting rights held by CPPIB in ReNew Energy Global

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves an increase in the proportion of voting rights held by CPPIB in ReNew Energy Global.
• The proposed combination envisages an increase in the proportion of voting rights held by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in ReNew Energy Global plc. (ReNew) as a result of a repurchase program to buy back Class A Ordinary Shares (i.e., shares carrying voting rights) announced by ReNew (Buyback).
• As a result of the Buyback, the aggregate number of voting shares of ReNew is expected to decrease, which may lead to a corresponding increase in the proportion of voting rights held by CPPIB.

About CPPIB :

• CPPIB is an investment management organization.
• It invests the funds transferred to it by the Canada Pension Plan Fund (CPP Fund) that are not needed by the CPP Fund to pay current benefits on behalf of 21 million contributors and beneficiaries.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE NEWS

Ministry of Defence sets up an Apex Committee for Performance and Efficiency Audit

• The Ministry of Defence has set up an institutional mechanism consisting of an Apex committee with the Defence Secretary as Chairman to conduct a Performance and Efficiency Audit into various aspects of its activities.

About the Committee :

• The committee is headed by defense secretary Ajay Kumar, IAS.
• The members of the committee include Vice Chiefs of the three Services, Secretary of Defence (Finance), Chief of Integrated Staff Committee (CISC), Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Director General (Acquisition), and other senior officials of Ministry of Defence and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The Committee will identify specific areas for the conduct of performance and audit by CGDA and monitor performance audit reports
• It provides valuable inputs to the top management of the Ministry of specific shortcomings, if any, in the planning and execution of projects, and suggests systemic improvements in internal controls, soundness of financial procedures, identification of risk factors, etc.
• The broad areas that have been identified for the conduct of Performance and Efficiency Audit include Defence Capital Procurements, provisioning, logistics, inventory levels, Maintenance of platforms/ assets, role and performance of Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP),
• The Apex committee can recommend any other specific area for Performance and Efficiency Audit.
• It also shall advise Raksha Mantri on remedial measures to be adopted as well as measures for overall improvement in the strengthening of internal oversight and Risk Management Framework.

About Ministry of Defence :

• Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State: Ajay Bhatt
• Defence Secretary: Dr. Ajay Kumar

Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh Launches Y-3023 Dunagiri, Project 17A frigate at GRSE Ltd in Kolkata

• Union Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched Y- 3023 Dunagiri, Project 17A frigate built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, and other senior officers from the Indian Navy and Ministry of Defence were amongst the dignitaries who attended the ceremony.
• Dunagiri is the fourth ship of P17A Frigates.
• It has been designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design (DND), New Delhi.

About Project 17A ships :

• P17A Frigates are a follow-on class of the P17 (Shivalik Class) Frigates with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors, and platform management systems
• Seven P17A Frigates are under various stages of construction at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and GRSE, namely Nilgiri, Himgiri, Taragiri, Udaygiri, Dunagiri, and Vindhyagiri, Mahendragiri.
• The three preceding ships of Project 17A Frigates had been launched in 2019, 2020, and May 2022 respectively.

About Dunagiri

• Dunagiri is the reincarnation of the erstwhile ‘Dunagiri’, the Leander Class ASW Frigate, which in her 33 years of service from 5 May 1977 to 20 October 2010, had witnessed various challenging operations and multinational exercises.

About GRSE Ltd :

• Founded: 1884
• Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal, India
• Chairman & MD: Cmde P R Hari
• The company was nationalized by the Government of India in 1960.
• It is the first Indian shipyard to build 100 warships.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Following $100 million in investment, OneCard becomes India’s 104th unicorn:

• OneCard, a mobile-first credit card provider, became India’s 104th unicorn after raising $100 million in a Series D round of investment supported by Temasek.
• OneCard, Open, Oxyzo, and Yubi are just a few of the more than 20 financial unicorns that India has so far in 2022 generated.
• The most recent round of funding for OneCard, which is owned by Pune-based FPL Technologies, also included investments from pre-existing investors such as QED, Sequoia Capital, and Hummingbird Ventures.

Key Points:

• Earlier this year, FPL Technologies raised $75 million as a part of its Series C funding. The round was raised with assistance from previous investors QED Investors, Janchor Partners, Sequoia Capital India, Matrix Partners, and others.
• In 2015, Rupesh Kumar, Vibhav Hathi, and Anurag Sinha started the company. The trio has financial expertise.
• The ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2022 estimates that there will be 122 new unicorns in India in the next two to four years.
• OneCard is not subject to the PPI standards, according to Mohit Bhandari, managing director, investment (India), of Temasek, because it was not a PPI issuer and like some of the other companies, which now must reorganize their business models.
• Onecard provides banks with technical solutions.
• Legitimate credit cards are produced by banks. Of course, as a supplier of technology solutions, OneCard takes part in that.

Bharti Airtel allotted 1.2% equity shares to Google for USD 1 Billion:

• Internet giant Google has received more than 7.1 crore equity shares from telecom provider Bharti Airtel, each worth Rs 734.
• The allocation is a component of Google’s USD 1 billion investment pledge to Airtel, which also includes an equity investment in the firm for USD 700 million (about Rs 5,224 crore).
• Currently, Google owns 1.2 percent of each of India’s two telecom service providers.
• The investment comes after Google’s USD 4.5 billion purchase of Reliance Jio for the India Digitization Fund in July 2020.
• As a part of its USD 10 billion India Digitization Fund, Google invested. On a fully diluted basis, Google will own around 1.17 percent of the company’s post-issue equity shares, or about 1.2% of the total.
• Just a few days after announcing the India Digitization Fund, Google committed Rs 33,737 crore (about USD 4.5 billion) to purchase a 7.73 percent share in Jio Platforms.

About Bharti Airtel

• Founded: 1995
• Founder: Sunil Bharti Mittal
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairman: Sunil Bharti Mittal
• MD & CEO: Gopal Vittal.

Center extends State and Central Tax and Levies Rebate Program:

• In an attempt to boost exports and generate employment for the textile sector, the government is set to extend the RoSCTL Scheme for Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) through March 31, 2024, at the same rates stated by the Ministry of Textiles.
• RoSCTL is a growth-oriented, forward-looking initiative that has aided in boosting exports and employment by building a stable and predictable policy environment.
• The initiative improved export competitiveness and cost-effectiveness in the international market.
• It has also encouraged a large number of MSMEs to enter the garment export market and helped startups and entrepreneurs in the sector grow.
• The RoSL (Rebate of State Levies) program was succeeded by the new RoSCTL (Rebate of State and Central Taxes Levies) plan in March 2019 following the establishment of GST in 2017.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Japan awards Ex-PM Shinzo Abe country’s highest order posthumously:

• Shinzo Abe will receive Japan’s highest honor, the “Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum,” posthumously, the Japanese government stated.
• Shinzo Abe will be the fourth former premier to receive the honor under the postwar Constitution.
• Shigeru Yoshida, Eisaku Sato, and Yasuhiro Nakasone, like former prime ministers, received the honor before him.
• Notably, the Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Japanese Emperor Meiji.
• The Order’s Collar was later added to it in 1888.
• In contrast to Europe, Japan has the authority to bestow it after a person’s passing. A Japanese national can only be awarded the grand cordon once in their life.
• Apart from the Imperial Family, up to 44 other Japanese nationals have received the grand cordon as of right now.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

RIL tie-up with Athletics Federation of India to support Indian Athlete:

• Toto promotes the overall development of athletics in India, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has formed a long-term relationship.
• The partnership uses the ecosystem of the Reliance Foundation, which includes the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High-Performance Center, to find, develop, and support Indian athletes from all over the nation by giving them access to top-notch facilities, coaching, and support in sports science and medicine.

Reliance Industries’ contribution:

• In keeping with the organization’s overarching goals, this cooperation will pay particular attention to girl athletes to bridge the gender gap and help them realize their potential.
• Through the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports program, which reaches more than 5,500 educational institutions in more than 50 districts nationwide, Reliance Foundation has been making investments in the growth of athletics since 2017.
• In conjunction with the Government of Odisha, Reliance Foundation established the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics HPC in 2018, a high-performance facility from which several national and international medalists and national record holders have emerged.
• Reliance Foundation physiotherapists will be traveling with the Indian team to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as part of the organization’s support of the AFI in the areas of sports science and medicine.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

GODI India India’s 1st Company to Receive BIS Certification to Sell Li-ion Cells for Electric Vehicles

• GODI India has become the first Indian company to receive the prestigious Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for its 21700 cylindrical NMC811 lithium-ion cells with their homegrown technology.
• As per the BIS requirement, the Godi-designed and made-in-India cells were tested and qualified by TUV, the third-party testing agency.
• GODI India is innovating in every layer of cell technology.
• For the first time in Indian history, NMC811 21700, 3.65V-4.5Ah cylindrical cells were made-in-India & Made-for-India.”

About GODI India :

• Founded: 2020
• Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana
• Founder and CEO: Mr. Mahesh Godi
• GODI India is an innovative cell manufacturer focusing on research and development (R&D), Giga scale Manufacturing (Indigenous Gigafactory), and Recycling of sustainable green energy storage technology. 
• It is determined to accomplish a zero-carbon footprint by promoting and adopting environmentally friendly and complaisant technologies in the fastest and safest possible way.

GE Healthcare launches its first ‘5G Innovation Lab’ in India 

• GE Healthcare, a leading global medical technology, diagnostics, and digital solutions innovator, announced the launch of its 5G Innovation Lab in India, the first for GE Healthcare across the
• It is Situated at the John F.Welch Technology Centre (JFWTC) Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• With the advantage of massive bandwidth, high data speeds, low latency, and highly reliable connectivity, 5G has the potential to disrupt the patient care continuum, transforming diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis.
• “The 5G Innovation Lab is designed to position GE Healthcare at the forefront of these groundbreaking advances in patient care, including potentially bringing cutting-edge technology to rural and suburban regions,”.
• The 5G in Healthcare was valued at an estimated USD 215 million in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 3,667 million by
• The Lab will serve as a conduit for the interplay of exponential technologies like AI/ML, IoT, Big Data, Edge Computing, and Cybersecurity

About GE Healthcare :

• Founded: September 28, 1994
• Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
• CEO: Peter J Arduini

NPCI partners with JBIMS to provide master’s degrees in digital payments for employees

• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has collaborated with Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) to co-create a Master’s in Management Studies (MMS) program in Digital Payments for its
• The degree was launched under NPCI’s “learn while you earn” higher education program.

Aim :

• To integrate aspects of technology, finance, BFSI, and information system and management studies into a single Master’s specialization in digital payments.
• The program is designed in a hybrid model where employees will take weekend classes and spend only one week on campus per semester thereby allowing them to learn while they continue to earn at NPCI.
• Additionally, NPCI employees also have the opportunity to pursue super-specialization and further studies (Ph.D.) after the completion of the Master’s program.

About NPCI :

• Founded: 2008
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Non-Executive Chairman: Biswamohan Mahapatra
• MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe
• The NPCI is the specialized division of the Reserve Bank of India which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance,

About JBIMS :

• Established: 1965
• Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Director: Dr. Shrinivasan Iyengar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Singapore Open 2022: PV Sindhu wins first Super 500 title

• In the Singapore Open final, PV Sindhu defeated China’s Wang Zhi Yi to win the tournament’s first Super 500 title.
• The score was 21-9, 11-21, and 21-15. She hasn’t achieved a 500 since winning the world championship in 2019.
• Her first 500-or-better final in 2022 is this one.
• While the standings are currently locked, this is a significant milestone for world No. 7.
• At the Singapore Open for badminton in 2022, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting won the men’s singles competition.
• In a fiercely contested final, Indonesian Olympian Ginting defeated unseeded Japanese player Naraoka Kodai.

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa wins Paracin Open Chess title in Serbia:

• In Chess, young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has won the Paracin Open ‘A’ chess tournament 2022 in Serbia.
• The 16-year-old remained unbeaten and finished half a point ahead of the field.
• Second-seeded, Praggnanandhaa scored 8 points from nine rounds.
• Top seed, Alexandr Predke took the second spot with 7.5 points ahead of Alisher Suleymenov and India’s AL Muthaiah, who both scored 7 points.
• Suleymenov grabbed third place based on a better tie-break score.
• The teenage prodigy will be part of a strong India ‘B’ team in the 44th Chess Olympiad to be held near Chennai from July 28.

Murali Sreeshankar becomes first Indian to enter men’s long jump final at World Athletics Championships:

• In the World Athletics Championships, Murali Sreeshankar has become the first Indian to enter the men’s long jump final in Oregon, USA.
• He leaped meters in the qualification round.
• The 23-year-old from Kerala finished second in qualification round Group B and seventh overall.
• Sreeshankar could not touch the automatic qualification mark of 8.15 meters but made it to the finals nonetheless as one of the best twelve performers.
• The Indian contingent at the Championships witnessed mixed results.

Key Points:

• Avinash Sable in Men’s 3000-meter steeplechase and Murali Sreeshankar in Men’s Long Jump qualified for the final in their respective events.
• Sable finished third in Heat 3, clocking 8:18.75.
• Sreeshankar will be in action in the men’s long jump final while MP Jabir will also compete in the men’s 400-meter Hurdles qualification round.
• The World Athletics Championships is a congregation of over 2000 athletes from 200 countries around the world.
• The 10-day biennial event will conclude on the 24th of July.
• The championships are being held in the United States of America for the very first time at the Hayward Field Stadium at the University of Oregon.

India top ISSF Shooting World Cup medal tally at Changwon in South Korea:

• In the ISSF Shooting World Cup, India topped the medal tally at Changwon in South Korea.
• India finished the tournament with eight medals including three golds, four silvers, and one bronze, and was way ahead of hosts Korea and Serbia in the medal tally.
• The day began on a brilliant note for India when the troika of Arjun Babuta, Shahu Tushar Mane, and Paarth Makhija helped the country bag its third gold medal beating Korea 17-15 in the 10-meter air rifle team event.

Key Points:

• Earlier, Arjun Babuta had won the gold medal in the men’s air rifle category, while the duo of Mehuli Ghosh and Shahu Tushar Mane bagged gold in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team category.
• Arjun, Makhija, and Mane fought neck to neck and staged a comeback, leading through the final to claim the top prize ahead of the Korean team of Seungho Bang, Sangdo Kim, and Hajun Park.
• In the men’s 10m air Pistol team event final, the Indian team put up a spirited fight against the experienced Italian trio of Paolo Monna, Alessio Torracchi, and Luca Tesconi before going down 15-17, ensuring another silver for the country.
• India’s third silver of the day came in the 10m air pistol team women’s event when the new-look team of Rhythm Sangwan, Yuvika Tomar, and Palak faced a 2-10 drubbing against a quality Korean side comprising Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Kim Minjung.

IOA announces 322-member strong squad for Commonwealth Games 2022:

• Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced a 322-member strong Indian squad for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games (CWG), beginning 28th of July.
• The contingent includes 215 athletes and 107 officials and support staff.
• The CWG games are set to take place from 28 July to 8th August this year in the British city.
• In the 2018 CWG at the Australian city Gold Coast, India finished third behind Australia and England.

Key Points:

• Some prominent names in the squad besides Neeraj Chopra include Olympic medallists PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Lovlina Borgohain, Bajrang Punia, and Ravi Kumar Dahiya.
• Defending CWG champions Manika Batra, and Vinesh Phogat as well as 2018 Asian Games Gold medallists Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Hima Das, and Amit Panghal are also part of the squad.
• Rajesh Bhandari, Vice President, Boxing Federation of India, has been appointed the Chef de Mission of the squad.
• Team India will compete in 15 sporting disciplines as well as four disciplines in the Para Sports category.
• The CWG village will officially open its doors to contingents on the 23rd of July.

Indian GM Aravindh Chithambaram won the tournament in Spain:

• The 41st Villa De Benasque International Chess Open was won by Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram in
• R B Ramesh, Chithambaram’s coach, commended his pupil for winning.
• Based on a tie-break score, he defeated Raunak Sadhwani and Robert Hovhannisyan of Armenia.
• In third place, after the Armenian, was Sadhwani. Chithambaram has won national competitions in the past.
• Through the 10 rounds, the 17-year-old Sadhwani was unblemished, recording six victories and four ties.
• His prospects of winning the top slot were hampered by a low tie-break score.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

Malayalam actor-director Pratap Pothen passes away

• Malayalam actor and filmmaker Pratap Pothen passed away at the age of 70 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

About Pratap Pothen :

• Pratap was born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on 13 August 1952.
• He was an Indian actor and filmmaker who acted in about 100 films and directed 12 films.
• He appeared in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu as well as Hindi films.
• He began his acting career in Malayalam cinema with the legendary director Bharathan, through movies like Aavaram, Thakara, and
• He also worked in the film industry as a scriptwriter and producer.

Awards & Honors :

• In 1985 his first movie Meendum Oru Kathal Kathai won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director.
• In 1984, he won National Film Awards for Best Debut Film of a Director for the film Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai.
• In 2014, he received the Kerala State Film Awards the category of Special Jury Award for acting in the film Once Upon a Time There was a Kallan.

Daily CA on July 19:

• In New Delhi, the preview for the upcoming television program Swaraj: Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha was unveiled by Anurag Thakur, Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
• The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) developed the mascot Jagriti to empower consumers and increase awareness of their rights.
• Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is being held to commemorate India’s 75th anniversary of independence.
• OneCard, a mobile-first credit card provider, became India’s 104th unicorn after raising $100 million in a Series D round of investment supported by Temasek.
• Internet giant Google has received more than 7.1 crore equity shares from telecom provider Bharti Airtel, each worth Rs 734.
• In an attempt to boost exports and generate employment for the textile sector, the government is set to extend the RoSCTL Scheme for Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) through March 31, 2024, at the same rates stated by the Ministry of Textiles.
• Shinzo Abe will receive Japan’s highest honor, the “Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum,” posthumously, the Japanese government stated.
• To promote the overall development of athletics in India, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) have formed a long-term relationship.
• In the Singapore Open final, PV Sindhu defeated China’s Wang Zhi Yi to win the tournament’s first Super 500 title.
• In Chess, young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has won the Paracin Open ‘A’ chess tournament 2022 in Serbia.
• In the World Athletics Championships, Murali Sreeshankar has become the first Indian to enter the men’s long jump final in Oregon, USA.
• In the ISSF Shooting World Cup, India topped the medal tally at Changwon in South Korea.
• Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced a 322-member strong Indian squad for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games (CWG), beginning 28th of July.
• The 41st Villa De Benasque International Chess Open was won by Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram in
• The holy city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh showcasing India’s culture and traditions over the ages will be declared the first “Cultural and Tourism Capital” of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) under a new mechanism during India’s SCO Presidency from September 2022 to September 2023.
• The governments of West Bengal and Sikkim have signed an agreement to help tourists travel between the two neighboring states with ease in a bid to boost tourism.
• The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai has become the first railway station in India to have an augmented reality experience.
• Indian Administrative Officer (IAS), Mr. Ram Dass Dhiman appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh & he replaces Ram Subhag Singh, who has been appointed as the Principal Advisor (Administrative Reforms).
• Bank of India (BoI) & Pension Fund Regulator & Development Authority (PFRDA) in association with K-fintech launched a digital platform that allows customers to open National Pension System (NPS) accounts using mobile phones.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of Ageas Federal Life Insurance Company Limited (AFLI) by its group company Ageas Insurance International NV.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposed combination involving the indirect subscription of over 30% of the total number of issued shares of CitiusTech by Bain Capital Investors, LLC (Bain Capital) and Bain Capital Credit Member, LLC and Bain Capital Credit Member II, Ltd. (Bain Credit).
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves an increase in the proportion of voting rights held by CPPIB in ReNew Energy Global.
• The Ministry of Defence has set up an institutional mechanism consisting of an Apex committee with the Defence Secretary as Chairman to conduct a Performance and Efficiency Audit into various aspects of its activities.
• Union Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched Y- 3023 Dunagiri, Project 17A frigate built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• GODI India has become the first Indian company to receive the prestigious Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for its 21700 cylindrical NMC811 lithium-ion cells with their homegrown technology.
• GE Healthcare, a leading global medical technology, diagnostics, and digital solutions innovator, announced the launch of its 5G Innovation Lab in India, the first for GE Healthcare across the
• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has collaborated with Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) to co-create a Master’s in Management Studies (MMS) program in Digital Payments for its
• Malayalam actor and filmmaker Pratap Pothen passed away at the age of 70 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.