Current Affairs for Competitive Exam by Gkseries –21 July 2022
Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 21 July 2022, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam – 21 July 2022
Tamil Nadu tops in Smart City Fund utilisation
Tamil Nadu tops the list of states so far as utilisation of funds under the government’s flagship Smart City Mission is concerned. While Tamil Nadu has spent over Rs 3932 crore out of the Rs 4333 crore released by the Centre, Uttar Pradesh is at second position with utilisation of Rs 2699 cr out of the Central share release of Rs 3142 crore. As on 8 July 2022, the Centre has released Rs 30,751.41 crore for 100 Smart Cities, out of which Rs 27,610.34 crore (90%) has been utilized.
Key points of the report:
Government data showed that states including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan have also spent major amounts on projects under the Smart City Mission.
While Karnataka recorded utilization of Rs 2420 crore from the Central release of Rs 2618 crore, Maharashtra showed over Rs 2453 crore utilization out of a total release of Rs 2454 crore by the Centre.
As on 8 July 2022, these Smart Cities have tendered out 7,822 projects worth Rs 1,90,660 crore; work orders have been issued in 7,649 projects worth Rs 1,80,996 crore; 4,085 projects worth Rs 66,912 crore have been completed. The period of implementation of SCM is upto June 2023 and all Smart Cities are expected to complete their projects within the stipulated time.
Telangana celebrates the traditional Hindu festival, Bonalu
Bonalu is a popular festival celebrated in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, dedicated to Goddess Mahakali.
During this festival, the different forms of Mahakali are worshipped, including Mysamma, Dokkalamma, Pedamma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Poleramma and Ankalamma.
The devotees offer cooked rice with milk and jaggery in an earthen or brass pot, decorated with neem leaves, turmeric and vermilion. Bonalu is celebrated in the month of Ashada (July-August).
RBI imposes restrictions on Mumbai-based Raigad Sahakari Bank
RBI has imposed restrictions on Mumbai-based cooperative bank, Raigad Sahakari Bank.
Reason: Worsening of financial situation of the lender.
The restrictions also include a withdrawal limit of Rs 15,000 per customer and it will remain in force for a period of six months. RBI has also imposed a penalty of Rs 6 lakhs on Shri Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Urban Co-operative Bank Limited for contravention of provisions related to ‘Frauds – Classification and Reporting’.
Former SC Judge Vineet Saran appointed as BCCI Ethics Officer
Former Supreme Court judge, Vineet Saran has been appointed as the BCCI’s ethics officer and ombudsman. He has succeeded Justice (Retd) D K Jain, whose term ended in June 2021.
He is a former Chief Justice of Odisha High Court, and also served as a judge in Karnataka and Allahabad High Court. He has been graduated from Allahabad University in 1976 and practised in the Allahabad High Court from 1980 till 2002.
BCCI President: Sourav Ganguly; Secretary: Jay Shah
Govt declares ‘zero coupon zero principal instruments’ as securities
The government has declared “zero coupon zero principal instruments” as securities.
Zero coupon zero principal instrument: An instrument issued by a Not for Profit Organisation, will be registered with the social stock exchange segment of a recognised stock exchange. These will be governed by rules made by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
Social Stock Exchange: To serve private and non-profit sector providers by channelling greater capital to them.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port becomes first 100% landlord major port of India
Jawaharlal Nehru Port has become first 100% Landlord Major Port of India, all berths is being operated on public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Aim: Improve the utilization in crane and berth productivity of the terminal and reduce transit time, and logistics cost.
With this the total handling of JNPT has increased to 1.8 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) from the present capacity of 1.5 million TEUs.
Minister of Ports and Shipping: Sarbananda Sonowal
Australian tennis player, Lleyton Hewitt inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame
Former world number one, Lleyton Hewitt was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, as part of the 2021 class.
He is the 34th player from Australia to be inducted. He has won the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon titles among 30 career ATP triumphs and was a part of two Davis Cup championship teams in 1999 and 2003. Hewitt won his last ATP title at Newport in 2014. He remained the No 1 player in the world and spent 80 weeks top-ranked.
Henley Passport Index 2022: India ranks 87th
The Henley Passport Index has recently released the list of the World’s Most Powerful Passports for the year 2022. Japan has the world’s most powerful passport, followed by Singapore and South Korea, as per Henley Passport Index 2022. The holder of Japanese passport will get visa-free access to 193 countries. India has slipped from 85th place to the 87th with visa-free access to 60 countries.
Key points of the Index:
India’s neighbouring country Pakistan reportedly has the fourth worst passport in the world, according to Henley Index. The Japanese passport provides hassle-free entry to 193 countries, while Singapore and South Korea both provide entry to 192 countries.
Among other countries from Asia, India, along with Mauritius and Tajikistan, has been ranked 87th, with its passport providing access to 67 countries. China ties with Bolivia for the 69th spot, with each of their passports allowing access to 80 destinations.
As for Bangladesh, it occupies the 104th position – five spots higher than Pakistan. Pakistan has the fourth worst passport in the world after Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
World’s most powerful passports 2022: Top 10 countries
- Japan
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Germany
- Spain
- Finland
- Italy
- Luxemburg
- Austria
- Denmark
Sri Lanka: Ranil Wickremesinghe elected as 9th President
Ranil Wickremesinghe, 73, has been elected the 9th President of Sri Lanka. He was voted to the country’s top job not by the people but by members of Parliament to finish the remainder of the term of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. His elevation is not likely to end the ongoing political crisis in Sri Lanka and may be expected to further enrage protestors who forced Rajapaksa out of office. The 73-year-old Wickremesinghe will serve the remaining term of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which ends in 2024.
Why does this happen?
Wickremesinghe will replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled the country and resigned after public anger over the country’s worst economic crisis exploded on the streets 10 days ago. Indeed, the bulk of Wickremesinghe’s support came from the Rajapaksas’ Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party which witnessed a split within its ranks, but not enough to dent Wickremesinghe’s candidature.
He defeated Dullas Alahapperuma, a rebel leader of the SLPP who was backed by the Opposition. Wickremesinghe, who has previously lost two Presidential elections and even his MP seat, will be the 8th Executive President of Sri Lanka.
Morgan Stanley cuts India’s FY24 GDP growth to 6.4%
Morgan Stanley has reduced its FY23 real GDP expansion estimate for India by 0.40% to 7.2% on slower global growth.
It has also estimated that the GDP growth for the FY24 will slow down to 6.4%, this is lower by 0.30% as compared to the earlier estimate. The RBI has estimated that the GDP of India will stand at 7.2% for FY 23. The World Bank has also suggested that the GDP growth forecast for India to 7.5% in FY23.
Gautam Adani becomes world’s fourth richest rank on Forbes list
As per the Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List, Chief of Adani Group, Gautam Adani has become the world’s 4th richest person (net worth: $115.5 billion).
Adani’s wealth has been surged by $2.9 billion due to sharp run-up in Adani Group stocks. He has surpassed Microsoft cofounder, Bill Gates, who has announced to donate $20 billion of his wealth to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Mukesh Ambani was placed at 10th on the Forbes list (net worth: $87.7 billion).
Harshada clinches gold at Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship
Harshada Garud has clinched the gold with an aggregate of 157kg (69kg+88kg), in the women’s 45kg gold at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Soumya Dalvi has bagged the bronze in the 45kg category of the youth event. In the men’s 49 kg youth event, L Dhanush has won the bronze with an 85 kg effort.
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports: Anurag Thakur
Sports Authority of India HQ: Delhi