Important Current Affairs 26th July 2021

INTERNATIONAL

UK reported new cases of ‘Norovirus’ infection

•The United Kingdom is now reporting an outbreak of norovirus. Public Health England (PHE) recently issued a warning regarding Norovirus. England has recorded 154 cases of norovirus in the country. An increase in norovirus cases in educational settings has been reported. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), norovirus is very contagious that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. People suffering from norovirus disease can shed billions of virus particles. And to make people sick only a few of them is required.

•Person can contract this virus by coming in direct contact with an infected person. This virus can also be contracted by consuming contaminated water and food and also touching contaminated surfaces with one’s hands and then putting them in the mouth unwashed.

Sweden joined International Solar Alliance(ISA)

•Sweden has ratified the framework agreement for the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and is now a member of the global platform, which is an initiative of India aimed at promoting renewable energy and sustainable development. Sweden hopes to bring its expertise and its experience in renewable energy and clean energy technologies to discussions in the ISA to contribute to meeting the challenges related to climate change.

•In April 2018, Prime Minister Modi visited Stockholm during which both sides agreed to further deepen innovation partnership for a sustainable future. The ISA has been conceived as an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform to increase the availability of solar energy technologies to enhance energy security and sustainable development.

NATIONAL

Home Minister Amit Shah launched Various schemes in Assam

•Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of Tamulpur Medical College and Hospital and distributed cheque of 1 lakh rupees each to the next of the kin of 100 selected C-19 victims under the State Government’s ‘Prarthana Achoni’ at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra.

•Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, State Health Minister Keshab Mahanta and Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Chief Promod Boro were present on this occasion.

•Speaking at the event of Assam Government’s Healthcare and Welfare Schemes launch, Mr Shah said that Central Government is committed to fullfil all the promises made at Bodo Accord within a very short period.

Rudreswara Temple of Telangana inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage List

•The Kakatiya Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Mulugu district, near Warangal in Telangana has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, during the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO. With this latest induction, there are 39th World Heritage Sites located in India.

•The Rudreswara temple was constructed in 1213 AD during the reign of the Kakatiya Empire.

•The iconic 13th-century temple is also known as Ramappa temple, named after its architect, Ramappa

•The Rudreswara temple was the only nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage site tag for the year 2019 by the Indian government.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Shiv Nadar, founder of HCL resign as MD

•Shiv Nadar, the founder of HCL Technologies Ltd, and its chief strategy officer has tendered his resignation as managing director, as well as a director, on completing 76 years of age. Nadar will, however, continue to guide the company in the capacity of chairman emeritus and strategic adviser to the board for five years. Vijayakumar, president and chief executive officer, has been appointed as the managing director for five years.

•The Noida-based IT services company posted a net profit of ₹3,214 crores for the June quarter, up nearly 10% annually. It is slightly below consensus Bloomberg estimates of ₹3,255.5 crores.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Kargil Vijay Diwas 2021 :26th  July

•Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 since the year 1999, to mark India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil conflict. This year nation is celebrating the 22 years of victory in the Kargil war. It was in 1999 that a high altitude mountain war broke out along the peaks of Kargil near the Line of Control, the de-facto border that divides Kashmir between the two nations.

•The Kargil War was fought between May-July of 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC) in which India got the victory.

•The Kargil war was fought for more than 60 days, ended on 26 July.

•The operation was launched by the Indian Army twice in Indian history. The first Operation Vijay was launched in 1961 that led to the capture of Goa, Anjediva islands and Daman and Diu.

•The operation White Sea was also launched during the Kargil war, 1999. During the operation, the Indian Air Force jointly acted with Indian Army to flush out regular and irregular troops of the Pakistani army.

World Drowning Prevention Day 2021: 25th July

•World Drowning Prevention Day, declared through the April 2021 UN General Assembly Resolution “Global drowning prevention”, is held annually on 25 July.

•This global advocacy event serves as an opportunity to highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities and to offer life-saving solutions to prevent it.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Book ‘An Ordinary Life: Portrait of an Indian Generation’ by Former election commissioner Ashok Lavasa

•Former election commissioner Ashok Lavasa has come out with a book titled “An Ordinary Life: Portrait of an Indian Generation.”

•In this book, Ashok Lavasa narrates about his father, Udai Singh, and his own experience on how his father’s principles served as a moral compass in his life, and can in ours too. Ashok Lavasa resigned as election commissioner in 2020 to become vice-president of the Asian Development Bank.