Daily Current Affairs 23 July 2021 – Gkseries

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 23 July 2021, 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.

Daily Current Affairs 23 July 2021

75th Independence Day of National Gallery of Modern Art

National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) will be renovated and reorganised as a part of the commemoration of the 75th Independence Day next year.

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) is the premier art gallery which aims to acquire and preserve works of modern art from 1850s onward.

It is run and administered as a subordinate office to the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Its collection includes works by artists such as Thomas Daniell, Raja Ravi Verma, Abanindranath Tagore, Rabindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher-Gil as well as foreign artists.

The main museum in New Delhi was established in 1954 by the Government of India, with subsequent branches at Mumbai and Bangalore.

The H5N1 avian influenza and its fatality

Recently an 11-year-old boy died of H5N1 avian influenza in Delhi. This is the first recorded death due to the bird flu in India this year.

Bird flu or avian influenza is a disease caused by avian influenza Type A viruses found naturally in wild birds worldwide.

The virus can infect domestic poultry including chickens, ducks, turkeys and there have been reports of H5N1 infection among pigs, cats, and even tigers in Thailand zoos.

Avian Influenza type A viruses are classified based on two proteins on their surfaces – Hemagglutinin(HA) and Neuraminidase(NA).

There are about 18 HA subtypes and 11 NA subtypes. Several combinations of these two proteins are possible e.g., H5N1, H7N2, H9N6, H17N10, etc.

There have been reports of avian and swine influenza infections in humans including A(H1N1), A(H1N2), A(H5N1), A(H7N9), etc. The first report of human H5N1 infection was in 1997.

The most common route of virus transmission is direct contact — when a person comes in close contact with infected birds, either dead or alive.

The mythology of ancient Greece Pegasus

The NSO Group described the company’s flagship creation as the “Trojan horse” that could be sent “flying through the air to devices”, when most people first heard of the spyware Pegasus. Before this, Pegasus had always been the constellation.

Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology.

It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and is one of the 88 constellations recognised today.

With an apparent magnitude varying between 2.37 and 2.45, the brightest star in Pegasus is the orange supergiant Epsilon Pegasi, also known as Enif, which marks the horse’s muzzle.

DRDO test flight indigenous Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) recently successfully flight tested indigenously developed low weight, fire and forget Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).

The missile is incorporated with state-of-the-art Miniaturized Infrared Imaging Seeker along with advanced avionics.

The man-portable missile is launched using a tripod is designed for a maximum range of 2.5 km with a launch weight of less than 15 Kg.

Control Flight Tests have been successfully carried out and Guided Flight Tests (with IIR Seeker) are planned.

The DRDO also successfully flight tested the New Generation Akash Missile (Akash-NG), a surface to air missile, from Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the coast of Odisha.

The mission marked a major boost for the Narendra Modi government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign and would strengthen the Indian Army.

UNESCO’s ‘Historic Urban Landscape’ project for Gwalior

Gwalior and Orchha cities of Madhya Pradesh have been selected by UNESCO under ‘Historic Urban Landscape Project’, which was started in the year 2011, for the inclusive and well-planned development of fast-growing historical cities while preserving the culture and heritage.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan virtually launched UNESCO’s ‘Historic Urban Landscape’ project for Gwalior and Orchha cities of the state through video conferencing.

Six cities of South Asia, including Ajmer and Varanasi in India are already involved in this project.  Orchha and Gwalior have been included as the 7th and 8th cities.

The cities will be jointly developed by UNESCO, Government of India and Madhya Pradesh by focusing on their historical and cultural improvement.

This project will help MP tourism get a new dimension. Additional employment opportunities will also be created along with the development of tourism.

Liverpool stripped of World Heritage status

Liverpool has been stripped of its World Heritage status after a UN committee found developments threatened the value of the city’s waterfront.

The decision was made following a secret ballot by the UNESCO Committee at a meeting in China.

UNESCO had previously warned that the developments, including the new Everton FC stadium, had resulted in a “serious deterioration” of the historic site.

The city was awarded the much-coveted title in 2004 in recognition of its historical and architectural impact, joining places including the Taj Mahal, Egypt’s Pyramids and Canterbury Cathedral.

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. Liverpool is on the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. Its growth as a major port was paralleled by the expansion of the city throughout the Industrial Revolution.

Indian army and Pakistani army hold flag meeting

India and Pakistan Armies held a Flag meeting and exchanged sweets at Kaman Aman Setu, Uri & Tithwal Crossing on Kishanganga River in Tangdhar area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Kaman aman setu is located at Uri in North Kashmir.  Kaman Aman Setu – Friendship Bridge between India and Pakistan, is also the last point of the India-Pak border in the Uri district.

The event has been held when both the Armies have been strictly following the Ceasefire Agreement on the Line of Control (LoC).

Global output of COVID-19 vaccines

The five member states of WTO alone will account for three-quarters of the entire global output of COVID-19 vaccines this year.

The production remains highly centralised as about 75 per cent of this year’s vaccines appear set to come from five WTO members – India, Germany, US, France and China.

WTO DG said, 1.1 billion COVID vaccine doses were administered worldwide in June this year.

The World Trade Organization is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade between nations.

The World Trade Organization is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade between nations.

The WTO has 164 members and 25 observer governments. Liberia became the 163rd member on 14 July 2016, and Afghanistan became the 164th member on 29 July 2016. In addition to states, the European Union, and each EU country in its own right, is a member.

NIDHI4COVID 2.0 initiative and devised rapid response

NIDHI4COVID 2.0 initiative has been devised as a rapid response to support startup driven solutions, which would be helpful in tackling the current challenging COVID-19 situation in the country.

Inducted as a special drive of the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST) & govt of India, NIDHI4COVID2.0 aims at introducing indigenous solutions and innovative products which would aid the nation in to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic effectively.

Under the NIDHI4COVID programme, Startups whose technologies/products are of huge importance in the war against COVID would be considered for Seed Support through DST supported network of Technology Business Incubators.

KIIT- Technology Business Incubator, a Centre of Excellence supported by DST, has been selected as the Implementing Agency of NIDHI4COVID 2.0 initiative.

In this, KIIT-TBI will work closely together with DST to support promising startups with upto 50 lakhs funding assistance under the program.

Cabinet gave nod for setting up of Central University of Ladakh

The Union Cabinet has approved gave nod for setting up of Central University and establishment of an integrated multi-purpose infrastructure development corporation for Ladakh.

The university in Ladakh will provide world-class education facilities to the youth of Ladakh.

According to the 2001 census, the overall literacy rate in Leh District is 62% (72% for males and 50% for females), and in Kargil District 58% (74% for males and 41% for females).

University of Ladakh and Eliezer Joldan Memorial College, a government degree college, enables students to pursue higher education without having to leave Ladakh.

In December 2019, the union minister of state for home affairs Mr G Kishan Reddy, in a written response has stated in Parliament that the Government of India has approved to establish a Medical College and National Research Institute for Sowa-Rigpa in the district of Leh.

National Broadcasting Day 2021

National Broadcasting Day is celebrated on 23 July each year to celebrate the radio, which has been an important part of people’s life in India, both as an easy medium of entertainment along with the news.

British Government took over radio broadcasting in 1930 and started the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS).

The government took over the broadcasting facilities on April 1, 1930, on an experimental basis for two years.

IBC was a private entity and was granted permission by the British Government to operate two radio stations in Kolkata (then Calcutta) and Mumbai (then Bombay).

 All India Radio is accessible to almost the entire population of the country and nearly over 99 per cent of the total area.

World Brain Day 2021

World Brain Day is celebrated on 22 July each year by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) to raise awareness around multiple sclerosis (MS).

Multiple sclerosis is a potentially disabling disease that affects the brain and the spine. World Brain Day advocates early diagnosis of this condition that can help improve the quality of life of the patient.

On World Brain Day 2021 the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) and the MS International Federation plans to share vital information about the signs, symptoms and treatment of MS.

The theme for the year 2021 is ‘Stop Multiple Sclerosis.’ According to WFN, MS affects more than 2.8 million people of all ages, worldwide.

Co-founder of National Institute of Design Gira Sarabhai Passed Away

Co-founder of the renowned National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad, Gira Sarabhai passed away recently.

The pioneer of design education in the nation has played a vital part in establishing several other institutions and also made remarkable contributions in the field of art and architecture.

Sarabhai was the daughter of industrialist Ambalal Sarabhai & sister of Dr Vikram Sarabhai. She also established the Calico Museum of Textiles.

She was trained at the famous Taliesin West Studio in Arizona with noted architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright.

US carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan

The United States of America recently carried out airstrikes across Afghanistan in the last several days as part of an effort to support the Afghan security forces fighting Taliban insurgents.

On 2020, the U.S. signed a deal (at Qatar’s capital-Doha) with the Taliban that could pave the way towards a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan over the next 14 months and represent a step towards ending the 18-year-war in Afghanistan.

On 11 September 2001, terrorist attacks in America killed nearly 3,000 people. Osama Bin Laden, the head of Islamist terror group al-Qaeda, was quickly identified as the man responsible.

The Taliban, radical Islamists who ran Afghanistan at that time, protected Bin Laden, refused to hand him over. So, a month after 9/11, the US launched airstrikes against Afghanistan.

The US was joined by an international coalition and the Taliban were quickly removed from power. However, they turned into an insurgent force and continued deadly attacks, destabilising subsequent Afghan governments.

RBI working on phased introduction of digital currency

The Reserve Bank of India is working on phased introduction of its own digital currency and is mulling pilot projects in wholesale and retail segments in the near future.

Several countries have implemented specific purpose Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in the wholesale and retail segments.

A CBDC is a legal tender issued by a central bank in a digital form. It is the same as a fiat currency and is exchangeable one-to-one with the fiat currency.

The finance ministry, in 2017, had set up a high level inter-ministerial committee to examine the policy and legal framework for regulation of virtual / crypto currencies. It had recommended the introduction of CBDCs as a digital form of fiat money in India.

The RBI has also been exploring the pros and cons of introduction of CBDCs since quite some time.