Indian shooter Saurabh Chaudhary sets junior world record at ISSF Junior World Cup in Germany

  • Sixteen-year-old Indian shooter Saurabh Chaudhary set a new world record on the way to winning a gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany.
  • Saurabh shot a total of 243.7 in the 10m air pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) tournament.
  • He achieved the record and gold after 24 shots 4.1 points clear of Korean shooter Lim Hojin (239.6), who won the silver medal. Chinese Wang Zhehao walked away with the bronze medal with a total score of 218.7.
  • Saurabh earned the 8th gold medal for India at the prestigious meet.
  • The previous junior world record was 242.5 by Chinese shooter Wang Zhehao, which was set at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney earlier this year.

Govt approves draft Act to replace UGC with Higher Education Commission of India

  • The Ministry of HRD has prepared a bill to set up the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) and repeal the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act.
  • The focus of the HECI will be on improving academic standards and the quality of higher education.
  • Educationists, stakeholders and members of the general public will be able to furnish comments and suggestions on the draft bill by July 7th, 2018 till 5 p.m.
  • The HECI Act, 2018 is expected to be introduced in Parliament in the upcoming monsoon session.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Germany on cooperation in Civil Aviation

  • Among its many approvals, the Union Cabinet has approved MoU between India and Germany on cooperation in the field of Civil Aviation.
  • The agreement will lead to promotion of safe, effective and efficient development of air transport between India and Germany.
  • According to the government, the agreement has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
  • In addition to safety, the agreement will also share knowledge on heliports and helicopter emergency medical services, Regulations and Policy, the environment, and training and skills development.

Agreement signed between India and Denmark on Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation

  • The Union Cabinet was apprised of the agreement between India and Denmark on cooperation in the fields of Science, Technology and Innovation. 
  • Through the agreement, both nations will leverage complementary strengths spurred by a significant convergence of mutual interests in science, technology and innovation.
  • Renewable energy, water, material science, affordable healthcare, synthetic biology, functional food and blue economy were identified as potential areas for immediate collaboration.

India increases GEF grants to $15m from $12m

  • India will increase the money it pays to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the next four years to $15 million, from the $12 million currently.
  • India has decided to increase its commitments to the GEF’s new four-year investment cycle, known as GEF-7.
  • India is among the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change.
  • India is both a donor and a recipient of grants from the GEF, which an international partnership of 183 countries.

France’s EDF, GE ink deal to build 6 nuclear reactors in Jaitapur

  • French state-run power utility EDF and America’s General Electric (GE) have signed an agreement with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) to build 6 nuclear reactors in Jaitapur, Maharashtra.
  • The power plant will have a cumulative capacity of 9,900 megawatts.
  • The EPR type nuclear reactor is a third generation pressurised water reactor (PWR).
  • EDF will supply EPR technology and will be responsible for building and coordinating industrial partners for the project.      

Govt approves 2 more strategic oil reserves in Odisha, Karnataka

  • The government has decided to set up two more underground crude oil storages in Odisha and Karnataka.
  • They will help India increase its emergency stockpile cover by 12 days, extending it to 22 days of cover.
  • The Cabinet has approved setting up of 4 million metric tonnes (MMT) storage at Chandikhole in Odisha and 2.5 MMT storage at Padur in Karnataka.
  • The existing underground rock caverns can store up to 5.33 MT of crude oil. they are located at Visakhapatnam (1.33 MMT), Mangalore (1.5 MMT) and Padur (2.5 MMT).

Govt proposes to set up 3,000 Van Dhan Kendras involving 30,000 SHGs

  • The Government proposes to set up 3000 Van Dhan Kendras involving 30,000 SHGs across the country under the Van Dhan Scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
  • PM Narendra Modi said that Van Dhan, Jandhan and Goverdhan Schemes had the potential to change the tribal-rural economic system.
  • The Van Dhan Mission is an initiative for generating livelihood for tribals by harnessing non-timber forest produces.
  • The true wealth of forest (i.e. Van Dhan) reportedly has an estimated value of Rs.2 Lakh Crore per year.

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