GK and Current Affairs Updates

Festival of Rath Yatra or Car Festival Puri commences on the 06th July, and Return Car Festival or' Bahuda Jatra' falls on 14th July this year. 
•    Rathyatra Also known as Chariot Festival or Car festival, this is one of the most awaited Hindu festivals of the state as well as the country. 
•    The celebration of this day starts much earlier that comprises the construction and decoration of the Raths or Chariot by numerous devotees & volunteers. 
•    The three chariots that are the highlights of the entire Yatra are pulled by strings. 
•    The chariot of Lord Jagannath which is 45.6 feet high, high comprises 18 wheels and is referred as Nandighosa. Balabhadra’s chariot is made 45 feet high with 16 wheels is called Taladhvaja. 
•    The chariot of Subhadra known as Devadalana has 14 wheels and is 44.6 feet high. All these chariots are decorated with various designs and colors by the artists of Puri that showcases their enthusiasm for the Yatra.
•    The famous festival that is celebrated usually in the month of June or July commences when the chariots of Lord Jagannath accompanied by his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra are brought out on to the Main Street of Puri known as Bada Danda. 
•    The Chariots are then taken to the Shri Gundicha Temple to their aunt’s house where the deities enjoy a nine days stay and are served with sweet pancakes.

Assam Agriculture minister Atul Bora announced the state government’s 100-day plan for the agriculture, urban development and veterinary sectors. 
•    Soil health cards to farmers, setting up of a cold storage system, e-tendering of seed distribution and urban infrastructure development are some of the measures to be introduced under the plan.
•    Bora said that the state government envisages uplifting the condition of the farmers, so that the younger generation is attracted towards farming spontaneously. 
•    As per the plan, the state government will provide genuine farmers with identity cards and 30,000 farmers will provided with soil heath cards within 100 days with a target to distribute the same to 22 lakh farmers.
•    As part of infrastructure development, a cold storage would be set up in Jorhat whereas a demonstration-cum-excellence centre would be set up in Bamunigaon.
•    Giving special emphasis on addressing seed-related grievances of farmers, e-tendering of contracts will be implemented and 20,000 quintal seeds will be distributed as part of the seed village scheme. 
•    As part of urban development initiatives in the state, a commercial complex will be set up at North Lakhimpur, a truck terminus at Tinsukia and storm water drainage system will be developed at Barpeta Road and Simaluguri.
•    In the veterinary sector, the government plans to commercialize four of the 22 poultry farms under public private partnership mode in Sonitpur, Nalbari, Jorhat and Kamrup, while pig rearing projects will be instituted in Majuli, Bokakhat, Jonai and Dhemaji.

Punjab Government has launched Rapid Rural Police Response System (RRPRS) to ensure prompt and effective police response in 12,000 villages across the state. 
•    The system was launched Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and  Sukhbir Singh Badal. 
•    Besides, he also flagged off 400 new motorcycles and 220 new Bolero jeeps under the new system. 
•    The RRPRS has been launched by Punjab police to ensure prompt and effective police response in villages to counter any crime or law and order situation in just 20 minutes. 
•    Under this system, any resident from rural area of state would only have to make a call on police helpline “100” for any kind of assistance from the police force. 
•    The new system would be available for 24×7 hours to respond to all kinds of emergencies or ‘call-for-help’ from the citizens of the State. 
•    For this purpose, a special control room equipped with computer-aided dispatch software had also been set up.

India’s first commercial dispute resolution centre and commercial court was inaugurated on 2 July 2016 at Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
•    The centre and court were inaugurated by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr. Raman and Justice Madan B. Lokur of the Supreme Court of India.
•    The court also consists of arbitration centre and a mediation centre.
•    Some facilities available for litigants through the new system includes video-conferencing, E-Court, E-Library, E-Filing and E-Summons.
•    These ultra-modern facilities available at the court will facilitate the investors in their commercial dealings.
•    The Court will help in improving the judicial system.
•    Chhattisgarh is a state in central India. It is the 10th largest state in India, with an area of 135,194 km (52,199 sq mi). 
•    With a population of 25.5 million, Chhattisgarh is the 17th most-populated state of the nation. 
•    It is a source of electricity and steel for India, accounting for 15% of the total steel produced in the country.
•    Chhattisgarh is one of the fastest-developing states in India.

The first meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency commenced on 4 July 2016 in Visakhapatnam. The meeting will be concluded on 5 July 2016.
The two-day meeting will be attended by all 5 members of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries.

India assumed the BRICS chair for 2016 and will accordingly shape and steer the BRICS agenda.
•    The BRICS countries will make presentations on measures taken by them in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency.
•    India will showcase its efforts in energy saving, energy efficiency.
•    India, in particular, will showcase the LED street lighting programme and Performance Achievement & Trade (PAT) programme for Industrial energy efficiency.
•    The Working Group on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency will deliberate on a Work Plan on development of cooperation in energy saving and energy efficiency within BRICS.
•    During the meeting, a Joint Statement will be agreed upon. The statement will be a guiding tool for the BRICS Working Group on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency.
•    The BRICS energy Ministers signed a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding in Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency during the meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Energy held on 20 November 2015 in Moscow.
•    By signing the Memorandum, they agreed to pursue their energy cooperation through joint research and technology projects, technology transfer, and conferences and so on.
•    The Ministers also decided to create a Working Group on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency to coordinate their cooperation.

State Bank of India has signed an agreement worth 4,200 crore rupees with the World Bank to support its grid connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (GRPV) programme. 
•    The programme also aims at improving the investment climate for solar PV, and increase the ease of doing rooftop business. 
•    It will also support development of the overall solar rooftop PV market. 
•    Under GRPV programme, at least 400 MW solar capacity will be created across the country. 
•    This agreement will help SBI to finance grid connected rooftop solar photovoltaic projects at very competitive rates. 
•    The investment climate for solar PV projects will be improved through technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of key institutions. 
•    The eligible beneficiaries under the programme would be developers, aggregators and end-users. 
•    Mainly they will set up solar projects on commercial, industrial and institutional rooftops.

The 2016 BRICS Youth Summit held in Guwahati, Assam concluded on 3 July 2016. The theme of the 2nd youth summit that started on 1 July 2016 was“Youth as bridge for Intra-BRICS Exchanges”.
The three day summit saw participation of officials and youth of the delegation from BRICS nations, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
•    Create and strengthen apprenticeship programmes in the existing BRICS institutions
•    Document and disseminate success stories among the BRICS nations
•    Facilitate transfer of skills between mentors and mentees among the BRICS nations 
•    Ensure access to decent jobs for youth across the BRICS nations
•    Promote and replicate the Know About Business (KAB) entrepreneurship programme within the BRICS nations
•    Provide  training  to  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  (SMEs)  on  business  development services, business plans and website development
•    Create  and  promote  regular  expositions  of  young  people  and  youth  entrepreneurs  to facilitate exchange of best practices, new technologies and seek financial support
•    Social inclusion is a cross-cutting concern within the BRICS nations. Initiatives must, therefore, prioritise marginalised and vulnerable young people to ensure access to education, healthcare, including reproductive health and social protection services.
•    Initiate capacity building programmes for professionals who work with young people in the BRICS nations.
•    Create a BRICS Social Science Youth Research Network.
•    Facilitate cross-learning to access opportunities for leadership development. 
•    Accredit and recognise youth volunteer programmes for acceptance across the BRICS nations.
•    Establish online platforms to highlight best practices, opportunities and recognise good work. 
•    Design and facilitate volunteer exchange programmes with a unified set of standards.
•    Provide volunteers with opportunities to have mutually enriching learning experiences including internships with official institutions.
•    Develop capacities of professionals managing volunteer programmes.
•    In order to create and systematise a road map for youth exchange programmes between the BRICS nations, promote model of BRICS Summer School in respective countries and offer opportunities for youth to participate.
•    Coordinate existing and create new opportunities for youth participation in governance and decision making.
•    Facilitate the capacities and participation of youth in public policy, programme formulation and monitoring & evaluation. 
•    Advocate for incorporation of lessons on public policy, governance and civic engagement in school curricula.
•    Explore the possibility of creating a BRICS Youth Council (BYC) with a minimum of two thirds representation of youth. 
•    Appeal to the New Development Bank to provide financial support for youth initiatives as proposed by the BRICS nations.
•    Design and facilitate exchange programmes in the four thematic areas.
•    Establish the BRICS Youth Secretariat initially in virtual form, consisting of one government official and one youth representative from each nation to ensure the realisation of youth initiatives agreed upon at the BRICS Youth Summits.
•    Create an online platform to share best practices and opportunities.
•    Report on the progress made at the next BRICS Youth Sum.
•    The 1st BRICS Youth Summit was held in Kazan, Russia in 2015.

Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth on 3 July 2016 clinched the Canada Open Grand Prix Badminton Men’s Singles title at Calgary.
Praneeth defeated Lee Hyun II of Korea 21-12, 21-10.
On the other hand, men's doubles pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy also grabbed Men’s doubles title at the tournament.
Top seed doubles pair Attri and Reddy defeated Adrian Liu and Toby Ng 21-8 21-14 in a lop-sided final. The pair of Attri and Reddy is the first Indian men's doubles pair to qualify for the Rio Olympics.
•    Sai Praneeth Bhamidipati is a badminton player hailing from Hyderabad, Telangana.
•    He is currently ranked 33rd in the Badminton World Federation.
•    His highest ranking has been 31st as on 23 July 2015.
•    The Canada Open in badminton is an international open held in Canada since 1957.
•    In 1957, the Canadian Badminton Federation decided to open the Canadian National Championships and they were combined with the Canadian Open until 1961.
•    In 1962, they were divided and held as separate tournaments.
•    Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia was the winner of 2015 Canada Open Men’s singles title.
•    China’s Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen won the men's doubles title at the 2015 Canada Open.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on 2 July 2016 approved a change to the DRS (Decision Review System) playing condition relating to the LBW “Umpire’s Call”. The decision will allow changes to the decision review system which will make it easier to overturn not-out LBW decisions.
The decision was taken at ICC’s annual conference in Edinburgh.
As per the amendment, the size of the zone inside which half the ball needs to hit any part of the stumps for a not out decision.  Currently, half of the ball would need to be hitting a zone between the centre of leg and off stumps.
•    The Umpire Decision Review System is a technology-based system used in the sport of cricket. It was introduced in an attempt to eliminate incorrect umpiring decisions.
•    The system was first tested in an India v Sri Lanka match in 2008 and was officially launched by the ICC on 24 November 2009 during the first Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at the University Oval in Dunedin.
•    It was first used in One Day Internationals in January 2011, during England's tour of Australia.
•    ICC agreed to support the inclusion of a women’s cricket event in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban, South Africa. For this purpose, it has decided to work closely with the Commonwealth Games Federation in order to ensure cricket’s inclusion on the program and to determine the specific tournament structure and qualification process that will be applied.
•    It decided to arrange a trial to better understand whether the third umpire could use instant replays to call No balls more accurately. Under this, the third umpire will judge No balls being delivered and communicate this to the on-field umpire.
•    The ICC reiterated its position that the wearing of helmets in international cricket should not be mandatory, but that if a player decides to wear a batting helmet, then it must comply with the new British Standard (BS) - BS7928:2013.

Indian footballer Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the first week of July 2016 became the first Indian to play in Europa League.
•    Sandhu was named in Norwegian club Stabaek FC's squad for their Europa League qualifying match against Welsh Premier League side Connah's Quay Nomads FC.
•    Gurpreet Singh Sandhu plays as a goalkeeper for Norwegian Tippeligaen club Stabæk and the India national team.
•    He is the first ever Indian to play a competitive match for the first team of a top-division European club.
•    He is the fifth Indian to play professionally in Europe after Mohammed Salim, Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri and Subrata Pal.
•    He made his debut for the India U19s against the Iraq U19s in the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship qualification on 5 November 2009.
•    He was then called up to the senior Indian team squad of 23 for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He made his debut against Turkmenistan in a 1–1 draw.