Logistics Agreement with Russia – India

India is about to sign a bilateral agreement with Russia, and the agreement with the United Kingdom has entered the final stage.

Highlights:

The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement is probably to be signed through India in next 2 months

This agreement is an administrative arrangements facilitating access to military amenities for exchange of fuel and provisions on mutual agreement

This cooperation simplifies logistical aid and will increase operational turnaround of the military when working away from India.

And, India has signed similar logistics agreements with all Quad countries, Singapore, France, and South Korea starting with LEMOA with the US in 2016.

Mu Variant of CoronaVirus – WHO

The World Health Organization has categorized some other SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.621 as a variant of interest (VOI) and labelled as Mu.

The variant used to be first recognized in Colombia in January, 2021.

The global prevalence of Mu mutations in sequenced cases has declined and is currently less than 0.1%. However, the prevalence rates in Colombia (39%) and Ecuador (13%) have been increasing.

Larger outbreaks have been mentioned from nations in South America and Europe. Cases have additionally been reported in the UK, US and Hong Kong.

Classes of SARS-CoV-2 variants – Variant of Interest, Variant of Concern.

Pani Maah Launched in Ladakh

Affairs:Pani Maah Campaign was launched in Ladakh to create awareness about clean water.

Highlights:

Pani Maah, or water month, has been launched in Ladakh to inform villagers about the significance of clean water.

The Ladakh authorities have also introduced a reward of Rs 2.5 million for the first block in every district that achieves the fame of Har Ghar Jal.

The Pani Maah campaign will run at block and panchayat tiers in two phases.

The campaign will adopt a three-pronged strategy focussing on quality testing, planning and strategising water supply, and seamless functioning of Pani Sabha in villages.

The Pani Maah campaign is anticipated to expedite the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in the union territory.

Monitoring of Groundwater

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) periodically monitors groundwater levels for the duration of the Country on a regional scale by monitoring wells.

Highlights:

Central Ground Water Board, a subordinate office of the Ministry of Resources“>Water Resources, Government of India, is the National Apex Agency entrusted with supplying scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, and augmentation legislation of floor water resources of the country.

The board was set up in the year 1970 by renaming the Exploratory Tube Wells Organization below the Ministry of Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture. And in 1972, It was merged with the GroundWater Wing of the Geological Survey of India.
Its vision is the sustainable improvement and administration of the countrys groundwater resources.

First Port to Launch e-cars – VOC Port

VOC Port becomes the first major port in India to launch e-cars.

Highlights:

VOC Port is previously regarded as Tuticorin Port. The V. O. Chidambaranar Port was declared an essential port in 1974.

It is the 2nd largest port in Nadu and the 3rd greatest container terminal in India.

It is an artificial port.

It has offerings to the USA, China, Europe, Sri Lanka and the Mediterranean countries.

Javelin Throw Day be on 7th August

The authorities of the Athletics Federation of India has decided to observe javelin throw day on 7th August each year in honour of the Olympic gold medalist of the Tokyo Olympics Neeraj Chopra.

Neeraj Chopra bagged the gold medal in mens 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 Indias medal drought in athletics at the Olympics.

This is Indias first-ever gold medal in athletics in the history of the Olympics. AFIs bid to name August 7 as Javelin Throw Day is an attempt to attract more youth to the sport.

The Fifth Country to Sign ISA Framework Germany

Germany grew to become the fifth united states to signal the Framework Agreement after its amendments 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 once restrained to 121 countries, which were in part or placed inside the tropics.

At Rs 97,000, Gujarat ranks ninth in deposits per capita

Gujarat is among the top 10 states in India in deposits per capita, according to data from theReserve Bank Of India.

The states deposits per capita is Rs 97,000, ninth highest among the major states of India as of March 31, 2023. While the per capita deposits of several smaller states and Union territories are higher, among the major states, Gujarat stands ninth.

Gujarat is behind Delhi (Rs 3.94 lakh), Goa (Rs 3.92 lakh), Haryana (Rs 1.64 lakh),Punjab(Rs 1.51 lakh), Karnataka (Rs 1.26 lakh), Uttarakhand (Rs 1.24 lakh), Maharashtra (Rs 1.24 lakh) andKerala(Rs 1.02 lakh) on this parameter.

According to the latest report from the Gujarat state-level bankers committee (SLBC), aggregate deposits at banks in the state including scheduled , cooperative and small finance banks, stood at Rs 10.76 lakh crore.

The state is also aggressively opening Jan Dhan accounts under the Financial Inclusion scheme.

India to set up IIT in Tanzania

The Centre announced plans to set up its first campus of the prestigious IIT outside India in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The foreign campus will be set by the IIT Madras and programmes for the campus will be launched in October this year keeping in mind the parameters of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which focuses on internationalisation and recommends high-performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries.

This PARTNERSHIP will bring the top-ranked educational expertise of IITM to a prime destination in Africa and serve the imperative current needs of the region.

The setting up of the IIT Campus is expected to enhance Indias reputation globally and its diplomatic relationships and expand the international footprint of IIT Madras.

UAE to give $15 mn aid to rebuild occupied West Bank camp

The United Arab Emirates pledged to give USD 15 million to help rebuild the Jenin refugee camp after the most intense Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank in nearly two decades.

The funding promise comes after the two-day offensive destroyed the camps narrow roads and alleyways.

The operation, meant to crack down on Palestinian militants after a series of recent attacks on Israelis, sent thousands of people fleeing their homes.

Twelve Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed in the fighting.

The UAEs state-run WAM news agency reported that the would be granted to UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees, to rebuild damaged homes and businesses and for the agencys Services.

UNRWA has struggled recently to raise the funding it needs to keep its day-to-day operations helping millions of people across the Middle East. Israels fierce incursion this week saw bulldozers tearing through streets to clear a path for the hundreds of soldiers deployed. Israel withdrew its troops on Wednesday, revealing a scene of destruction.