::NATIONAL::

HRD ministry announces guidelines for online classes

• The Human Resource and Development Ministry has announced guidelines for online classes operationalised by schools amid the COVID pandemic. Union Minister Ramesh PokhriyalNishank virtually released the PRAGYATA guidelines on digital education in New Delhi, today. The guidelines recommend a cap on the screen time for students.
• The HRD Ministry has suggested that the online classes for pre-primary students should not be for more than 30 minutes a day. For Classes 1st to 8th , it has suggested that not more than two online sessions of upto 45 minutes each should be conducted in a day. 
• The guidelines have been issued keeping in mind the overall development of the students with an aim to cut down undue screen time. For the senior students, from class 9th to 12th, the Ministry has suggested to limit the online classes to a maximum of four sessions of upto 45 minutes each.
• He said, PRAGYATA guidelines have been developed from the perspective of learners, with a focus on online, digital education for students who are presently at home due to lockdown. 
• The Minister highlighted that the guidelines will be relevant and useful for a diverse set of stakeholders including school heads, teachers, parents, teacher educators and students. The guidelines stress upon the use of alternative academic calendar of NCERT, for both, learners having access to digital devices and learners having limited or no access.

PM emphasizes role of skilling and re-skilling during COVID pandemic

• Prime Minister NarendraModi has exhorted the youth to skill, reskill and upskill in order to remain relevant in the rapidly changing business environment and market conditions. He was addressing a virtual conclave on World Youth Skills Day organised by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship today. 
• Mr Modi said, skill is timeless, it keeps getting better with time and it makes people different from others. He said, skills are not only a means to livelihood but also a reason to feel lively and energetic in our daily routine.
• Mr Modi said, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has started mapping the opportunities being created around the world, so that the youth of the country can get accurate information about the needs of other countries also.
• He emphasized that the skills of migrant workers would also help in changing the local economy. He suggested that the Indian youth with a long maritime tradition can contribute as expert sailors to merchant navies across the world due to the growing demand in this sector.
• The Prime Minister stated that the Skill India Mission launched five years back on the same day has led to creation of a vast infrastructure for skilling, reskilling and upskilling and enhancing opportunities to access employment both locally and globally.

::ECONOMY::

PSB’s to purchase NBFC bonds under PCGS scheme 

• Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman has said that the Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme, PCGS was revamped under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package to support the liability side of Non Banking Financial Companies, NBFCs.
• It provides a 20 per cent portfolio guarantee to Public Sector Banks for the purchase of Bonds or Commercial Papers rated AA and below which are issued by NBFCs.
• In a tweet, Ms Sitharaman said, as of 10th July, under the extended PCGS, Public Sector Banks have approved the purchase Bonds or Commercial Papers issued by 67 NBFCs amounting to 14 thousand 6 hundred 67 crore rupees.
• Of these 6 thousand 8 hundred 45 crore rupees is for Bonds or Commercial Papers rated below AA, providing liquidity support to NBFCs with lower rated Bonds or Commercial Papers.

Government to work upon mapping of land banks for industries

• The government is working on creating a genuine single window clearance mechanism and mapping the entire land bank available for the industry and industrial development.
• Addressing industry representatives of electronics and software exports, Commerce and Industry Minister PiyushGoyal today said, the government is looking at ways to promote manufacturing of electronic products like LED televisions and CCTVs.
• He said, the government is very keen to have a semiconductor fabrication plant in India. Mr Goyal said, to capture IT services exports data, the ministry is thinking of creating a framework by which it can capture that data. 

::INTERNATIONAL::

Iran and China set to finalise 25-year strategic deal

• Iran and China are close to finalising a 25-year Strategic Partnership which will include Chinese involvement in Chabahar’s duty-free zone, an oil refinery nearby, and possibly a larger role in Chabahar port as well.
• According to leaked versions of the 18-page “Comprehensive Plan for Cooperation between Iran and China”, being finalised by officials in Tehran and Beijing, the cooperation will extend from investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and upgrading energy and transport facilities, to refurbishing ports, refineries and other installations.
• The proposed tie-up comes even as Iran decided last week to go ahead on its own with the construction of a railway line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, in Afghanistan for which anMoU had been signed with the PSU Indian Railways Construction Ltd (IRCON) four years ago.
• Maldives to reopen international border for travel
• Maldives is reopening its borders for international travel today with health and safety protocols in place, to protect tourists and residents from COVID. 
• President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih visited the international airport in Male to check on the operations last evening. He was briefed on the measures in place to screen passengers as well as on their testing capacity, and protocols in place to ensure social distancing and good hygiene.
• There are currently 470 active cases with total recoveries at 2,302 while 14 people have died. Among the infected are 1711 foreign nationals mostly from Bangladesh while over 150 Indian nationals are also included who were living in the neighbouring country for jobs and business etc.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Scientists develop low cost capacitor from industrial waste cotton

• The scientists from the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and new materials (ARCI) have developed low cost, environment friendly super capacitor from industrial waste cotton. The capacitor can be used as energy harvester storage device.
• The scientists have used natural seawater as the aqueous electrolyte. This has reduced the cost of super capacitors greatly.
• Also, the sea-water based super capacitor shows good durability with 99% of capacitance retention and 99% of Coloumbic Efficiency.
• The four main components of super capacitors are electrolyte, electrode, separator and current collector. The fabrication cost of the super capacitor mainly determined by electrolyte and electrodes. 
• The super capacitor developed by ARCI scientists use sea water as electrolyte. Thus it has gained its significance.

::SPORTS::

BCCI appoints Hemang Amin as interim CEO

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may have appointed Hemang Amin as the interim chief executive officer (CEO) after relieving Rahul Johri of his duties last week, but the Indian Premier League (IPL) chief operating officer may soon emerge as a serious candidate for the CEO’s position.
• Late on Monday evening, BCCI secretary Jay Shah circulated a note to State associations, informing them about Amin’s new role and Johri’s exit. According to BCCI insiders, the “timing” of the announcement hints at Amin being in contention for the CEO’s role.
   

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