Current Context: Recently, Six children have died in Gujarat’s Aaravalli district due to the  Chandipura virus.

ABOUT CHANDIPUR VIRUS

• Chandipura virus is an RNA virus belonging to the Rhabdoviridae family, which also includes the rabies virus.
• The virus primarily affects children and has been associated with outbreaks of acute encephalitis in India.
• Transmission : through the bite of infected sandflies (genus Phlebotomus).
• Symptoms : Fever, vomiting, loose motion and headache.
• Treatment : There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine.
• It was first identified in Maharashtra in 1965.

Celebrated on July 20 every year

• This day marks the founding of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on July 20, 1924, in Paris, France.
• Aim : to honours the ancient chess game and its global impact.
• This day promotes chess as a tool for education, the development of logical thinking, and cultural exchange.
• Recognised by UNESCO in 1966.

Observed annually on 20 July

• To honour the anniversary of the first landing of humans on the Moon in 1969 by the Apollo 11 mission.
• Aim : to raise public awareness about sustainable Moon exploration and utilisation.
• Theme : “Illuminating the Shadows.
• International Moon Day (IMD) was declared on 9 December 2021 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

Current Context : Recently, the World Bank Group (WBG) guarantee platform was opened for business.

• The platform, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), brings together products and experts from the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and MIGA for simplicity, efficiency, and speed.
• Aim : to boost WBG annual guarantee issuance to $20 billion by 2030.
• Initiated in 2024.
• The platform will provide three types of coverages:
  • Credit guarantees for loans to the public or private sector.
  • Trade finance guarantees for trade finance projects involving public entities.
  • Political risk insurance against non-commercial risks for private sector projects or public-private partnerships.

Current Context : Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a ‘Maharatna’ and a Fortune Global 500 Company, has announced its partnership with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as the official principal partner for four years, starting from Paris Olympics ’24 through Los Angeles Olympics ’28.

• BPCL will launch a series of campaigns designed to support and uplift the Indian contingent heading to Paris.
• Aim : to inspire the nation, galvanize support for our athletes, and celebrate their relentless pursuit of excellence on the global stage.

ABOUT INDIAN OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION (IOA)

• IOA is a responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Olympic Games, Asian Games and other international athletic meets and for managing the Indian teams at these events.
• Established in 1927 as a Non-Profit Organisation under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• It is an autonomous body.
• Ministry : Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Current President : PT Usha

Current Context : Rajasthan will be the first state in India to create a ten-year action plan specifically designed to improve road safety.

ABOUT SCHEME :

• Targeting a 50% drop in traffic accidents by
• It will raise public awareness and promote compliance with the road safety rules.
• The World Bank will assist in developing the plan and policy.
• The plan will be implemented in three stages (2025-2027, 2027-2030, 2030-2033), focusing on speed limits, safe distances, traffic signals, road barriers, pedestrian safety, seatbelts, helmets, and vehicle insurance.
• The first phase (2025-2027) will emphasise setting and enforcing speed limits, maintaining safe distances between vehicles, and improving traffic signal systems.
• The second phase (2027-2030) will focus on enhancing road infrastructure with barriers and ensuring pedestrian safety.
• The final phase (2030-2033) will promote the use of seatbelts and helmets and ensure comprehensive vehicle insurance coverage.

Current Context : Ministry of Education launched Three Initiatives to Promote Multilingualism in Education.

These initiatives are aligned with New Education Policy, 2020.

ABOUT PROJECT: 

• Aim : to enhance the learning and usage of mother tongues and regional languages in higher education.
• Three Initiatives: Asmita (Augmenting Study Materials in Indian languages through Translation and Academic writing) , Bahubhasha Shabdkosh, and Real-time Translation Architecture.
• ASMITA is a collaborative effort between the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, aims to produce 22,000 books in 22 scheduled languages within five years.
• Bahubhasha Shabdkosh, a joint project of the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) and Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, plans to create a comprehensive multilingual dictionary repository.
• Real-time Translation Architecture, developed by the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) and Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, aims to develop a framework for enhancing real-time translation in Bharatiya Bhasha.

Current Context : Recently, Central Education Ministry has stopped funds to the three states under Centre’s flagship Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)— a school education programme.

• These three states – Delhi, Punjab & Bengal refused to participate in PM-SHRI.

ABOUT PRIME MINISTER’S SCHOOLS FOR RISING INDIA (PM SHRI) SCHEME

• It is an ambitious scheme of the Modi government to impart high-quality education to students and equip them with 21st-century skills, in order to make them ‘future-ready’.
• It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• Launched on September 7, 2022.
• Objective : to establish over 14,500 PM SHRI Schools, overseen by the Central Government, State/UT Governments, local bodies, as well as Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS).

Current Context : Recently, Raksha Rajya Mantri launched GRSE Accelerated Innovation  Nurturing Scheme (GAINS 2024) of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata.

ABOUT SCHEME :

• GAINS’ is a national scheme to encourage and enable MSMEs and Start-Ups to develop innovative solutions that GRSE may incorporate for further technological advancement.
• Aim : to address shipyard-related issues and promote technology development through the country’s start-ups.
• It supports Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Start-Ups to create innovative solutions for technological advancement, aligning with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Start-up India’ policies of the Government of India.
• Goal : to utilise the wide network of MSMEs and Start-Ups to tackle current and future challenges in the ship design and construction industry.

Current Context : Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has re-designated its chairman Siddhartha Mohanty as managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO).

ABOUT LIC

• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is an Indian multinational Central Public sector life insurance company.
• Established on 1 September 1956, when the Parliament of India passed the Life Insurance of India Act.
• Headquarter : Mumbai.