Home Daily Current Affairs Jul 15, 2021

Jul 15, 2021: Current affairs for UPSC/State PSC

This section contains daily current affairs taken from all major news papers and magazines like - The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, Live Mint, RSTV etc.

These current affairs are written in a easy to remember format and are useful for competitive exams like - UPSC Civil Services, UPPSC, BPSC, MPPPSC, State PSCs and other competitive examinations.

BHIM - UPI Launched in Bhutan

Bhutan is the first country to adopt UPI standards for its Quick Response (QR) code, and the first country in our immediate neighbourhood to accept mobile based payments through the BHIM App.

It is also the second country after Singapore to have BHIM-UPI acceptance at merchant locations.

Bhutan will also become the only country to both issue and accept RuPay cards as well as accept BHIM-UPI.

International Relations

International cooperation and convention centre, 'Rudraksh'

PM Modi will inaugurate an international cooperation and convention centre, 'Rudraksh', in Varanasi (UP) that will offer a glimpse of the cultural richness of the ancient city of Kashi.

As many as 108 Rudraksha have been installed at this convention centre and its roof is shaped like a Shiva Linga.

Its construction began in 2018 and it was completed in April 2021 before it was handed over to Varanasi Smart City Limited on May 31, 2021.

It will be an environment-friendly building, fit for level 3 of Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA).

The convention centre is built by financial assistance from Japan and is decorated keeping both the Japanese and Indian cultures in mind.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded around Rs 186 crore, the cost of the project.

Besides, a Japanese company Fujita Corporation was given the contract to construct the convention centre.

Gov. Schemes

Indian Navy's Operation Sankalp

The Indian Navy's Operation Sankalp has provided safe passage to an average 16 Indian-flagged merchant vessels in the Gulf region everyday.

Operation Sankalp was started in June 2019 after there were explosions on board two oil tanker ships in the Gulf of Oman amid increased tensions between Iran and the U.S.

An Indian Navy ship with an integral helicopter embarked has been continuously deployed in the north-west Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf from June 2019.

It instil confidence in Indian maritime community and provide assistance to Indian-flagged merchant vessels.

Defence

National Ayush Mission

The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the National Ayush Mission as a "Centrally-sponsored scheme" for another five years till 2026.

Under the scheme, old and traditional medicinal systems would be promoted, and Ayush wellness centres, medical colleges, hospitals and dispensaries set up and upgraded.

The Cabinet also approved a change of nomenclature and mandate of the North Eastern Institute of Folk Medicine (NEIFM) as the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Folk Medicine Research (NEIAFMR).

Gov. Schemes

Right to repair movement

US President Joe Biden signed an executive order calling on the Federal Trade Commission to curb restrictions imposed by manufacturers that limit consumers' ability to repair their gadgets on their own terms.

The UK, too, introduced right-to-repair rules that should make it much easier to buy and repair daily-use gadgets such as TVs and washing machines.

The goal of the movement is to get companies to make spare parts, tools and information on how to repair devices available to customers and repair shops to increase the lifespan of products and to keep them from ending up in landfills.

Social Issues