ANS : D

• In order to mitigate the increasing human- elephant conflict (HEC), Assam launched the ‘Gajah Kotha‘ campaign, engaging over 1,200 people to foster coexistence.
• The initiative targets HEC-affected villages in eastern Assam, and educates them about the elephants’ behaviour, ecology, and cultural connection to the region and the importance of their conservation.
• Aaranyak and the British Asian Trust, in partnership with the Assam Forest Department and with support from the Darwin Initiative, are implementing this initiative as part of their efforts for fostering coexistence.
• In Dibruagarh, the campaign was held at Konwabam, Panchukia Bongaon, Nahorjan Lebankula, Nagaghat Tantipather, Lebankula ME Schoolm and Kamargaon ME School.
• In Tinsukia, the campaign was conducted in Ujani Sadiya HS School and Padumphula.

ANS : C

• Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the ‘Griha Pravesh‘ ceremony for 3.06 lakh beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) during a ceremonial programme held in Guwahati.
• The Assam Panchayat and Rural Development department organized a mass Griha Pravesh ceremony for more than 3 lakh PMAY-C beneficiaries.
• The Assam Panchayat and Rural Development department has trained 4923 masons to meet local Mason demand for constructing PMAY-C houses.

ANS : C

• Relationships and sex education (RSE) will be compulsory in Irish schools, integrating LGBTQ+ identities and teaching about consent and healthy relationships.
• With an aim to make changes to social, personal, and health education (SPHE) for senior pupils, relationships and sex education (RSE) is to be compulsory in Irish schools, according to a report published by BBC. 
• The National Council For Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) said lessons under RSE will be taught in a way that LGBTQ+ identities, relationships, and families are fully integrated into teachings.
• Adults will be taught nurturing, respectful, caring, and healthy relationships under sexuality and relationship lessons.
• The topics include ‘how to identify abusive or violent relationships’ and ‘consent, intimacy, and mutual pleasure.

ANS : D

• Google Pay, the second largest Unified Payment Interface (UPI) platform in the country has officially added support for UPI Lite payment, which allows users to make small payments without using the pin.
• UPI lite technology allows users to make fast payments even during peak hours with a higher success rate when compared to the conventional UPI payment.
• Google Pay allows existing users to create a UPI lite wallet within the same app, which can be loaded up to Rs 2,000. It also enables users to make transactions worth up to Rs 200 without requiring a pin. Currently, there is a limitation, where, one can only load up to Rs 2,000 twice a day, hence, the spending limit on the
• Google Pay UPI lite is limited to Rs 4,000 per day.
• UPI lite payment was first announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) back in September 2022 and is currently compatible with over 15 major public sector and private banks.
  • Paytm, PhonePe, and BHIM were the first set of UPI payment apps to introduce UPI lite`payments.

ANS : B

• Jyothi Yarraji, became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the 100m hurdles event at the Asian Athletics Championship in Bangkok, Thailand.
• The Indian athlete clocked a time of 13.09s in the final to win the gold in a strong field of competitors, despite the challenging wet and slippery conditions caused by heavy rain.
• Japan’s Asuka Terada (13.13s) and Masumi Aoki (13.26s) finished second and third, respectively.
• With this victory in the continental competition, Yarraji has now qualified for the World Championships.
• Yarraji became the only Indian woman in history to clock a time below 13s in this event, as she beat her Japanese opponents in a photo finish. 

ANS : B

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been working towards creating an inclusive and equitable society for all its citizens.
• Over the past nine years, the Ministry has launched several schemes and initiatives aimed at empowering marginalized sections of society, including students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes through Scholarships, Elderly Citizens, Safai Karmcharis, and Transgender people. 
• The Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), introduced by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering senior citizens in India.
• This scheme recognizes the invaluable contribution made by the elderly to society and seeks to ensure their well-being and social inclusion.
• By recognizing the invaluable contributions of the elderly to society, the government aims to empower and uplift them, ensuring their active participation and inclusion in all aspects of life.
• The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, being the Nodal Department for welfare of senior citizens, is implementing various programs and schemes.
  • National Action Plan for Senior Citizen (NAPSrc) had been revamped, renamed as Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) and subsumed in April 2021.
• Under the umbrella Scheme, Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), an Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) provides financial assistance to eligible organization’s for running and maintenance of Senior Citizen Homes/ Continuous Care Homes to improve the quality of life of the senior citizens, especially indigent senior citizens by providing basic amenities, entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing.

ANS : A

• As part of India’s G20 presidency, G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies FCBD meeting began in Gandhinagar.
• The two-day meeting is being organised ahead of the third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBGs) meeting which is scheduled to take place at Gandhinagar in Gujarat during 17 and 18th July. 
• Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Dr. Shaktikanta Das, will jointly chair the FMCBG meeting.

ANS : A

• The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre will present ‘NMACC BACHPAN’, a special celebration designed for children between the ages of 2-14 years from July 20.
• ‘NMACC BACHPAN’ takes its inspiration from the learning and creativity of the growing up years, a release said, adding that the celebration is in line with NMACC founder Nita Ambani’s vision of promoting and preserving art and culture
• The 11-day event begins on July 20.
• Participants can take part in a wide range of captivating activities, such as live interactive science demonstrations, exciting jam sessions, dance-meets-circus acts, entertaining regional theatre, delightful dance recitals, interesting art, technology workshops and much more.

ANS : B

• India’s overall exports (Merchandise and Services combined) in June 2023 is estimated to be USD 60.09 Billion, exhibiting a negative growth of (-) 13.16 per cent over June 2022.
• Overall imports in June 2023 is estimated to be USD 68.98 Billion, exhibiting a negative growth of (-) 13.91 per cent over June 2022.
• Trade deficit improved by 28.26% during April to June 2023 to US$ 22.59 Billion from US$ 31.49 Billion in April to June 2022.
• Merchandise Trade Deficit also improves by 7.9% at USD 57.6 Billion April-June 2023 as compared to USD 62.6 Billion in April-June 2022.
• Electronic Goods export witnessed impressive growth of 45.4 % and 47.1% in June 2023 and April-June 2023 respectively over corresponding period last year.
• Iron Ore exports show significant increase of 1664.3% in June 2023 as compared to June 2022, and 35 % during April-June 2023 over April-June 2022.
• Agricultural exports register robust growth; Spices by 18.2% while exports of Fruits and Vegetables by 14.1% Oil Seeds by 25.1%, Oil Meals by 33.2% in April-June 2023 over April-June 2022.
• Drugs and pharma export registered 5.13% and 5.10% growth in both June 2023 and April to June 2023 respectively as compared to same period last year.
• Handicrafts excluding Hand Made Carpet export registered growth of 5.14% in June 2023 as compared to June 2022.

ANS : D

• DBS, a leading financial services group in Asia, has been named the World’s Best Bank for Corporate Responsibility in the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023.
• In the same awards, DBS was also recognised as Asia’s Best Bank for Wealth Management for a second consecutive year.
• The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are widely regarded as one of the most esteemed accolades in the global banking industry and are seen as an endorsement of excellence and best practices.

Additional Information

• DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets.
• Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia.
• The bank’s “AA-” and “Aa1” credit ratings are among the highest in the world.
• Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker.
• The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker.
• In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia” award by Global Finance for 14 consecutive years from 2009 to 2022.