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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

Reserve Bank of India Implements Stricter Regulations for Cash Pay-Outs at Banks

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) tightened norms related to cash pay-out service at banks, making it mandatory for lenders to keep a record of recipients.

What is meant by Cash Pay-Out?

• Cash pay-out refers to arrangements for amounts being transferred out of bank accounts to beneficiaries not having a bank account.
• The new guidelines are an update to the RBI's October 2011 framework on 'Domestic Money Transfer'.
• These revised norms will come into effect from November 1, 2024.

Key Highlights :

• Cash Pay-In Service Requirements:Remitting banks and business correspondents (BCs) must register the remitter using a verified cell phone number and a self-certified ‘officially valid document (OVD)’.
• Transactions must be validated with an additional factor of authentication (AFA).
• Transaction Details:Remitter details should be included as part of the IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) / NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer) transaction message.
• Exclusions:The guidelines do not apply to card-to-card transfer transactions.

About RBI :

• Founded : 1 April 1935
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharas
• Governor : Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy Governor : Shri M. Rajeshwar Rao, Shri Swaminathan J, Shri T. Rabi Sankar, Dr. M.D. Patra

HDFC Bank Raises Fixed Deposit Rates by 20 Basis Points, Offering up to 7.9% Interest   

• HDFC Bank has increased fixed deposit interest rates by up to 20 basis points (bps) for amounts below Rs 3 crore.
• The new rates are effective from July 24, 2024.
• The highest interest rate offered by the bank is 7.40% for general citizens and 7.90% for senior citizens on a tenure of 4 years and 7 months to 55 months.

Tenor bucket and rates

Key Highlights :

Short-Term Rates:

• 3% interest rate for FDs maturing between 7 and 29 days.
• 3.50% interest rate for FDs maturing between 30 and 45 days.
• 4.50% interest rate for FDs maturing between 46 days and less than six months.

Medium-Term Rates:

• 5.75% interest rate for FDs maturing between six months and less than nine months.
• 6% interest rate for FDs maturing between nine months and less than one year.
• 6.60% interest rate for FDs maturing between one year and less than 15 months.
• 7.10% interest rate for FDs maturing between 15 months and less than 18 months.
• 7.25% interest rate for FDs maturing between 18 months and less than 21 months.
• 7% interest rate for FDs maturing between 21 months and less than 2 years and 11 months.
• Hiked Tenures:
• Interest rate hiked by 20 bps to 7.15% for FDs maturing between 2 years and 11 months to 35 months.
• Interest rate hiked by 20 bps to 7.40% for FDs maturing between 4 years and 7 months to 55 months.

HDFC Bank senior citizen FD rates

• The bank offers interest rates between 3.5% to 7.90% on tenures ranging from 7 days to 10 years for general citizens. The bank offers the highest interest rates of 7.90% on a tenure of 4 Years 7 Months - 55 months.

About HDFC Bank :

• Founded : 1st July 2023 (via the merger between HDFC-HDFC bank)
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Sashidhar Jagdishan
• Tagline : We Understand Your World

TerraPay and Swift Collaborate to Facilitate Smooth Global Account-to-Wallet Payments

• TerraPay, a global money movement company, has announced that financial institutions can now send money directly to over 2.1 billion mobile wallets worldwide using existing Swift connectivity.

Key Highlights :

• Enhanced Cross-Border Payments: The integration allows payments initiated over Swift to reach TerraPay's system with enhanced speed and efficiency.
• It ensures end-to-end transparency from account to wallet, leveraging Swift's transaction tracking capabilities.
• Swift Network: Swift connects over 11,500 financial institutions in more than 200 countries, facilitating global transactions.
• TerraPay's Network: TerraPay's network supports payments to more than 2.1 billion mobile wallets and 7.5 billion bank accounts globally.
• Recipients can receive funds in their preferred currency.
• Financial Inclusion and Accessibility: The expansion underscores TerraPay's commitment to improving financial inclusion and accessibility worldwide.
• Alignment with G20 Goals: This development aligns with the G20's objectives for faster, more transparent, accessible, and cost-effective cross-border transactions.

About TerraPay :

• Founded : 2014
• Headquarters : London
• Co-Founder and CEO: Ambar Sur

Paytm Teams Up with Axis Bank to Provide POS Solutions and EDC Devices to Merchants

• One 97 Communications (OCL), the parent company of fintech firm Paytm, has partnered with Axis Bank to provide point-of-sale (PoS) solutions and Electronic Data Capture (EDC) devices to Axis Bank and its merchant network.

Key Highlights :

• Background Context:This partnership follows Paytm's shift of its nodal account to Axis Bank to facilitate merchant payments amid regulatory scrutiny by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Expansion and Portfolio Enhancement:The collaboration allows Paytm to broaden its reach by accessing a larger merchant base through Axis Bank.
• It also strengthens Axis Bank’s merchant acquiring portfolio by enhancing transaction efficiency.
• Features of Paytm’s EDC Devices:
• Inventory management
• Invoice generation
• Promotions and discounts
• Sales tracking and reporting
• Customer relationship management (CRM)
• Benefits of PoS Solutions:The PoS solutions will provide merchants with seamless payment processing capabilities and improved business management tools.

About Paytm :

• Founded : August 2010
• Headquarters : Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Founder & CEO : Vijay Shekhar Sharma

About Axis Bank :

• Established : 3 December 1993
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
• Tagline : Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Integrated tech platform for insolvency by 2025-end

• The government of India is set to launch an "Integrated Technology Platform" under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) by the end of 2025.
• This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and outcomes of the insolvency resolution process.

Key Details:

1. Launch Timeline:
   • Phased Implementation: The tech portal will be launched in phases, with full operational capability expected by the end of 2025.
   • Value-Added Services: Additional services will be incorporated into the portal at a later stage.
2. Purpose and Objectives:
   • Improving Outcomes: The portal aims to improve outcomes under the IBC by ensuring consistency, transparency, timely processing, and better oversight for all stakeholders.
   • Seamless Information Flow: The platform will provide a seamless flow of information to all stakeholders, expediting the resolution process and preventing value erosion of assets.
3. Current Challenges and Statistics:
   • Delays in CIRP: According to IBBI analysis, the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) is currently taking an average of 679 days to conclude, significantly longer than the standard timeline of 330 days.
   • Impact on Recovery Rates:
     • Within 330 Days: Recovery rate stands at 49.2%.
     • 330-599 Days: Recovery rate reduces to 36%.
     • Beyond 600 Days: Recovery rate drops further to 26.1%.

IndiaAI Mission: IT Ministry to Procure 300-500 GPUs to Enhance Domestic AI Capabilities

• The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (IT Ministry) is preparing to release a tender to procure between 300 to 500 graphics processing units (GPUs) as part of the Indian Mission.
• This initiative aims to bolster domestic computing capacity for developing and testing artificial intelligence (AI) systems in India.
• The tender is expected to be released soon, following the ministry's first budgetary allocation for the mission.

Key Details:

1. Budget Allocation:
   • In the Union Budget 2024, the IndiaAI Mission received an allocation of Rs 551.75 crore for the fiscal year 2024-25.
2. IndiaAI Mission:
   • Total Funding: The mission has been allocated a total of Rs 10,372 crore.
   • Objective: To establish a computing capacity exceeding 10,000 GPUs and develop foundational AI models with over 100 billion parameters. These models will be trained on datasets covering major Indian languages and will focus on priority sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and governance.
3. Infrastructure and Accessibility:
   • Support for Start-ups: The mission aims to create an AI infrastructure that start-ups can access to develop AI systems, thus fostering innovation and growth in the domestic AI ecosystem.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Nepal, India, and Bangladesh to Sign Tripartite Power Trading Agreement on July 28    

• Nepal is set to sign a tripartite power trading deal to export 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh via India.
• This will be the first time in history that the Himalayan nation will sell electricity to a third country other than India.
• The Power Sales Agreement will be signed by officials from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and the NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN) of India at a function here on July 28,2024.

About the Agreement :

• Under the agreement, the NEA will export 40 MW of hydroelectricity to Bangladesh via India from June 15 to November 15 every year.
• As per the agreement, Nepal will get a tariff of USD 0.064 per unit for selling electricity to Bangladesh.
• Nepal will transmit the energy to India through the 400KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border transmission line. India will then transmit the equivalent to Bangladesh.
• The delivery point will be a 400kV substation at Muzaffarpur in India, and Bangladesh will pay the transmission charge for using the Indian transmission infrastructure.
• Nepal will receive around Rs 330 million through the sale of electricity.
• Last month, a meeting of the ‘Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase’ of Bangladesh approved a proposal to import 40 MW of electricity from Nepal.

Previous Agreements :

• In January,2024 Nepal signed a long-term agreement for the export of 10,000 MW of power to India, and jointly inaugurated three cross-border transmission lines during the two-day visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the Himalayan nation.

Future Plans :

• Nepal has prepared an energy development strategy intending to produce 28,000 MWs of electricity in the next 12 years; of that, a target has been set to export 15,000 MWs to different countries including India.

About Nepal :

• President : Ram Chandra Poudel
• Prime Minister : KP Sharma Oli
• Capital : Kathmandu
• Currency : Nepalese rupee

About Bangladesh :

• President : Mohammed Shahabuddin
• Prime Minister : Sheikh Hasina
• Capital : Dhaka
• Currency : Taka

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Aizawl in Mizoram Set to Become 4th Northeastern State Capital with Rail Link by 2025

• Mizoram's Aizawl would be the 4th capital city in the northeast region to come under railway connectivity by July 2025 as the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is laying the new Broad Gauge (BG) track up to Sairang, near Aizawl.
• Assam's main city of Guwahati (adjoining capital Dispur), Tripura's capital Agartala, and Arunachal Pradesh's Naharlagun (adjacent to capital city Itanagar) are already connected with the railway network.
• The new Broad Gauge line is being laid in the Bairabi (near Assam's Hailakandi District) - Sairang (52 km) section in Mizoram's Aizawl District.
• The Rs 8,213.72 crore Bairabi-Sairang railway project would be commissioned in July 2025.
• The 52 km new line between Bairabi and Sairang is divided into 4 sections -- Bairabi–Hortoki, Hortoki–Kawnpui, Kawnpui–Mualkhang, and Mualkhang–Sairang.
• Bairabi to Sairang was approved by the Union government in 2008-2009 at an initial cost of INR - 2,384.34 crore as a national project.
• Work on the project commenced in 2015 and the revised timeline for its completion is November 2023.
• The total length of tunnels in this project is 12,853 metres out of which 12,807 metres of tunnelling works have already been completed.
• The project will have a total 55 major bridges and 89 minor bridges, out of which work for 47 major bridges and 87 minor bridges has been completed so far.

About Mizoram :

• Governor : Kambhampati Hari Babu
• Chief Minister : Lalduhoma
• Capital : Aizawl

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Hindustan Zinc Launches EcoZen: Asia's First Low-Carbon 'Green' Zinc Brand

• Hindustan Zinc, the world's second-largest integrated zinc producer, has launched a new low-carbon zinc brand called EcoZen.
• This innovative product is primarily used for galvanising steel to prevent corrosion, with applications in sectors such as steel, infrastructure, automotive, renewable energy, electronics, high-tech manufacturing, energy storage, defence, and electric mobility.

Key Points:

1. Low Carbon Footprint: EcoZen is Asia's first low-carbon 'green' zinc, with a carbon footprint that is 75% lower than the global average. It emits less than one tonne of carbon equivalent per tonne of zinc produced.
2. Sustainability: The brand is manufactured using renewable energy and has been certified by a global sustainability consulting firm through a life cycle assessment.
3. Environmental Impact: Using EcoZen for galvanizing one tonne of steel can prevent approximately 400 kg of carbon emissions across the value chain.
4. Net Zero Goal: Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc and Non-Executive Director of Vedanta Group, highlighted that the launch of EcoZen marks a significant step in Hindustan Zinc's journey to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.

LOHUM Announces ₹2,000 Crore Investment for New Battery Materials Plant in Tamil Nadu

• LOHUM will invest ₹2,000 crore over the next six years to build a new plant in Krishnagiri, western Tamil Nadu.
• The plant will focus on producing cathode active material (CAM) for battery manufacturing.
• The 20 GWh plant is set to begin production within eighteen months.
• The initial phase includes a ₹400 crore investment over the first two years.

1. Capacity and Output:
   • The plant will process 20,000 tons of batteries annually.
   • It will recycle and produce cobalt, nickel, and lithium, each at a capacity of 1,000 tons.
   • The pilot line for CAM production will start with a capacity of 750 MWh, scaling up to 20 GWh.
   • Expected initial production is 5 to 10 GWh of material for gigafactories.
2. Clientele and Market:
   • LOHUM aims to supply its products to major battery manufacturers such as Ola, Exide, TVS, and Amara Raja.
3. Incentives and Support:
   • The project benefits from production-linked incentives and capital expenditure subsidies provided by the Tamil Nadu government.
4. Sustainability Focus:
   • LOHUM is committed to sustainable battery solutions through recycling, repurposing, and low-carbon refining.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

C-DOT Collaborates with IIT Roorkee and IIT Mandi for the Development of 'Cell-Free' 6G Access Points

• The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a premier Telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi) for the development of ‘Cell-Free’ 6G Access Points.
• This initiative is supported by the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme.

Key Highlights:

1. Purpose and Goals:
   • Technology Development: The collaboration aims to develop 'Cell-Free' Massive MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) technology to enable the upcoming 6G radio access networks.
   • Standardization and Commercialization: The project will contribute to 6G standardization, drive commercialization, generate intellectual property rights (IPRs), and develop a skilled workforce to support the emerging 6G landscape.
2. Funding and Support:
   • TTDF Scheme: The agreement is part of the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme, designed to provide funding support to domestic companies, Indian startups, academia, and R&D institutions involved in telecommunication technology development.
3. Innovative Approach:
   • Cell-Free Massive MIMO: Unlike traditional cellular topologies where each cell is serviced by a single base station, 'Cell-Free' Massive MIMO deploys several access points (APs) across a vast region to serve multiple user devices simultaneously.
   • Enhanced Connectivity: This approach ensures ubiquitous connectivity, eliminates dead zones, enhances signal strength, and significantly boosts data speeds, offering an exceptional user experience even in densely populated areas.
4. Significance:
   • Digital Divide: The project aims to enable affordable broadband and mobile services, playing a significant role in bridging the digital divide across India.
5. Key Figures:
   • Signatories and Attendees: The agreement was signed during a ceremony attended by Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, Dr. Abhay Kumar Sah, Principal Investigator from IIT Roorkee, Dr. Adarsh Patel, Co-investigator from IIT Mandi, and Dr. Pankaj Kumar Dalela, Director of C-DOT.

Philippines and Singapore Sign Defence Pact to Enhance Military Cooperation

• The Philippines and Singapore are set to sign a Defence Cooperation Agreement.
• The agreement aims to broaden military engagement between the two nations.
• The pact includes provisions for joint military exercises.
• Focus areas include preparedness for humanitarian emergencies and other contingencies.

1. Signatories:
   • Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro will sign the agreement.
   • His counterpart in Singapore will also be a signatory.
2. Context and Background:
   • The signing comes amid heightened territorial tensions between China and the Philippines.
   • Disputes have been particularly intense at two shoals in the South China Sea.
3. Strategic Alliances:
   • Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration, the Philippines is strengthening security ties with Asian and Western countries.
   • The country has also expanded the US military presence at several Philippine bases under a 2014 defense pact.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Defence Research & Development Organisation Completes Successful Flight Test of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defense System

• The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a flight test of the Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence System.
• The Target Missile was launched from LC-IV Dhamra at 1620 hrs mimicking adversary Ballistic Missile, which was detected by weapon system radars deployed on land and sea and activated the Air Defence (AD) Interceptor system.
• The Phase-II AD Endo-atmospheric missile was launched from LC-III at ITR, Chandipurat 1624 hrs.

Key Highlights :

• Trial Objectives and System Validation:The flight test met all trial objectives and validated a network-centric warfare weapon system including Long Range Sensors, a low latency communication system, the Mission Control Centre (MCC), and Advanced Interceptor missiles.
• Capability Demonstration:The test demonstrated India’s indigenous capability to defend against ballistic missiles of up to 5000 km range.
• Monitoring and Performance:The missile’s performance was monitored using flight data captured by Electro-Optical Systems, Radar, and Telemetry Stations deployed by ITR, Chandipur, including onboard ships.
• Missile System Specifications:The Phase-II AD Endo-atmospheric missile is a two-stage solid-propelled, ground-launched system designed to neutralize various enemy ballistic missile threats in the endo to low exo-atmospheric regions.
• Indigenous Technologies:The missile system incorporates several state-of-the-art indigenous technologies developed by various DRDO laboratories.

About DRDO :

• Established : 1958
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chairman : Sameer V. Kamat

National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Curiosity Rover Discovers Astonishing Yellow Sulphur Crystals on Mars

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Curiosity rover has stumbled upon an extraordinary find on Mars: pure sulphur crystals.
• The discovery occurred when the 1-ton rover accidentally cracked open a rock, revealing yellowish-green sulphur crystals that had never been seen before on the red planet.
• Location and Context:The discovery occurred when Curiosity cracked open a rock on Mars.
• The finding was made in the Gediz Vallis channel, a prominent geological feature on Mount Sharp.
• Gediz Vallis Channel:Gediz Vallis is believed to have been shaped around 3 billion years ago.
• It was formed by the combined effects of flowing water and debris.
• Mission and Exploration:Curiosity has been investigating this area as part of its mission to explore Mars' geology and history.
• The rover has been focused on Mount Sharp, located within Gale Crater, since its landing on August 5, 2012.
• Curiosity's Objectives:The rover has been studying the layers of Mount Sharp to understand Mars' historical environmental conditions.
• The discovery of the sulfur crystals adds to the knowledge of Mars' geological and chemical composition.

About NASA :

• Established : July 29, 1958
• Headquarters : Washington, D.C, United States of America
• Administrator : Bill Nelson

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Iconic Chess Players Confirmed for Global Chess League Season Two

• Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Giri join former world champions Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand, along with stars like Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Ian Nepomniachtchi as “icon players” in the second season.
• The second season will run from October 3 to 12 at Friends House, London.

1. Team Line-ups:
   • Hikaru Nakamura will represent the new team American Gambits.
   • Anish Giri will debut with PBG Alaskan Knights.
   • Magnus Carlsen continues with Alpine SG Pipers.
   • Viswanathan Anand returns with Ganges Grandmasters.
   • Maxime Vachier-Lagrave will again compete for the Mumba Masters.
   • Ian Nepomniachtchi will be the icon player for Triveni Continental Kings.
2. League Format:
   • The league features a minimum of three marquee matches daily with Icon players leading their teams.
   • Six teams will compete, each consisting of six players: one Icon player, two superstar male players, two superstar female players, and one prodigy player.

India Finishes Sixth and Seventh at World Junior Squash Championships in Houston

• At the World Junior Squash Championships held in Houston, USA, India finished sixth in the men’s category and seventh in the women’s category.

Key Highlights:

1. Men's Section:

• India finished sixth after a 1-2 loss to England in the match for fifth position.
• Match Results:
  • Shaurya Bawa won against Yusuf Sheikh (3-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7).
  • Yuvraj Wadhwani lost to Bailey Malik (11-5, 9-11, 8-11, 14-16).
  • Ayaan Vazilalli lost to Dylan Roberts (11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 7-11).

1. Women's Section:

• India secured seventh place with a 2-1 victory over New Zealand in the clash for seventh.
• Match Results:
  • Shameena Riaz lost to Ella Lash (7-11, 12-10, 13-11, 4-11, 4-11).
  • Nirupama Dubey won against Anabel Gemmell (9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9).
  • Unnati Tripathi won against Ella Hill (11-4, 11-3, 11-6).

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Renowned British Blues Pioneer, John Mayall Passed Away

• John Mayall, the British blues pioneer whose 1960s music collective the Bluesbreakers helped usher in a fertile period of rock and brought guitarists like Eric Clapton to prominence, passed away at the age of 90.

About John Mayall :

• Mayall was born on 29 November 1933 in Macclesfield in Cheshire.
• He was an English blues and rock musician, songwriter and producer.
• He teamed up with a series of young guitarists including Clapton, Peter Green, later of Fleetwood Mac, and Mick Taylor who helped form the Rolling Stones.
• Major Works:Debut Album: "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" (1966) featured covers of Robert Johnson, Otis Rush, and Ray Charles.
• Other Albums: Recorded landmark albums such as "Crusade," "A Hard Road," "Blues From Laurel Canyon," and many more up to "The Sun Is Shining Down" in 2022.

Awards & Honors :

• Mayall was awarded an OBE, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, in 2005.
• He has often been referred to as the "godfather of the British blues", and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the musical influence category in 2024.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

Kargil Vijay Diwas 2024: July 26

• Kargil Vijay Diwas 2024 is observed on July 26 every year in memory of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Kargil War.
• Kargil Vijay Diwas 2024 celebrates the victory of the Indian Armed Forces over Pakistan during the Kargil War, which took place between May and July 1999 
• The Kargil War was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The conflict originated when around 5,000 Pakistani troops and militants infiltrated Indian territory to dominate the region to claim Siachen Glacier.
• It is believed to have been planned by the then Pakistan Army chief General Pervez Musharraf without the knowledge of then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and occupied strategic positions in the high-altitude areas along the Line of Control (LOC), which serves as the de facto border between India and Pakistan in the region.
• The main aim of Pakistan is to draw international attention to the disagreement so that pressure can be generated on the Indian Army to take away its army from the Siachen Glacier region and force India to negotiate for the Kashmir dispute.

Daily CA One-Liner: July 26

• The government of India is set to launch an "Integrated Technology Platform" under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) by the end of 2025
• The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (IT Ministry) is preparing to release a tender to procure between 300 to 500 graphics processing units (GPUs) as part of the Indian Mission
• Hindustan Zinc, the world's second-largest integrated zinc producer, has launched a new low-carbon zinc brand called EcoZen.
• LOHUM will invest ₹2,000 crore over the next six years to build a new plant in Krishnagiri, western Tamil Nadu.
• The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a premier Telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi) for the development of ‘Cell-Free’ 6G Access Points.
• The Philippines and Singapore are set to sign a Defence Cooperation Agreement
• Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Giri join former world champions Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand, along with stars like Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Ian Nepomniachtchi as “icon players” in the second season.
• At the World Junior Squash Championships held in Houston, USA, India finished sixth in the men’s category and seventh in the women’s category
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) tightened norms related to cash pay-out service at banks, making it mandatory for lenders to keep a record of recipients.
• HDFC Bank has increased fixed deposit interest rates by up to 20 basis points (bps) for amounts below Rs 3 crore.
• TerraPay, a global money movement company, has announced that financial institutions can now send money directly to over 2.1 billion mobile wallets worldwide using existing Swift connectivity.
• One 97 Communications (OCL), the parent company of fintech firm Paytm, has partnered with Axis Bank to provide point-of-sale (PoS) solutions and Electronic Data Capture (EDC) devices to Axis Bank and its merchant network.
• Nepal is set to sign a tripartite power trading deal to export 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh via India.
• Mizoram's Aizawl would be the 4th capital city in the northeast region to come under railway connectivity by July 2025 as the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is laying the new Broad Gauge (BG) track up to Sairang, near Aizawl.
• The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a flight test of the Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence System.
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Curiosity rover has stumbled upon an extraordinary find on Mars: pure sulphur crystals.
• John Mayall, the British blues pioneer whose 1960s music collective the Bluesbreakers helped usher in a fertile period of rock and brought guitarists like Eric Clapton to prominence, passed away at the age of 90.
• Kargil Vijay Diwas 2024 is observed on July 26 every year in memory of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Kargil War