Golden Birdwing butterfly named as India’s largest butterfly

1.Indian Coast Guard & Indonesia Coast Guard sign MoU to boost maritime relations

In a significant step towards bolstering the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Indonesia, a MoU has been signed between the Indian Coast Guard and Indonesia Coast Guard. This will enhance collaborative and cooperative engagements in the domains of maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue and marine pollution response.This is likely to entail exchange of information towards combating transnational maritime crimes, facilitation of coordinated search and rescue operations at sea and conduct of capacity and capability building activities.

2.India ranks 34th in Global Real Estate Transparency Index 2020 by JLL

India’s real estate industry has registered one of the largest improvements globally and regionally in Jones Lang LaSalle’s (JLL) biennial Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI).India ranked 34th in the 2020 edition and made a significant improvement in ranking as in the 2014 edition, India was ranked at 39th place globally.United Kingdom (overall score: 1.31) has been ranked at the first place in GRETI 2020 ranking.

3.World Bank, India sign $400 million loan agreement for Ganga rejuvenation programme

The World Bank and Indian government signed a $400 million loan agreement to enhance support for the ‘Namami Gange’ programme that seeks to rejuvenate the Ganga river.The $400 million operation comprises a loan of $381 million and a proposed Guarantee of up to $19 million.The Second National Ganga River Basin Project will help stem pollution in the iconic river and strengthen the management of the river basin which is home to more than 500 million people.

4.Golden Birdwing butterfly named as India’s largest butterfly

A Himalayan butterfly named Golden Birdwing is India’s largest, a record an unknown specimen had held for 88 years.With a wingspan of 194 mm, the female of the species is marginally larger than the Southern Birdwing (190 mm) that Brigadier William Harry Evans, a British military officer, had recorded in 1932.But the male Golden Birdwing (Troides aeacus) is much smaller at 106 mm.The female Golden Birdwing with 194 mm wingspan was recorded at Uttarakhand’s  Pithoragarh district’s Didihat town, while the male Golden Birdwing with 106 mm wingspan was recorded at the Wankhar Butterfly Museum (in Shillong).

5.Indian Railways to transform itself as ‘Net Zero’ Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030

Indian Railways is taking decisive steps to transform itself as a ‘Net Zero’ Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030.It is endeavouring to be self reliant for its energy needs by utilising its vacant land for renewable energy projects.Railways is committed to utilize solar energy for meeting its traction power requirements and become a complete ‘Green mode of transformation.The Railways Ministry has decided to install solar power plants on its vacant unused lands on mega scale.

6.Darbar Move offices formally opens in summer capital of J&K UT at Srinagar

In Jammu and Kashmir,  the Darbar Move Offices formally opened in the summer capital of the Union Territory at Srinagar.The Darbar Move was supposed to open at Srinagar in the beginning of May month but due to the unprecedented circumstances following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic situation.However, the civil Secretariat shall continue to remain functional both at Jammu and Srinagar and the move employees shall work on “as is where is” basis.From May to October, governmental offices are housed in the summer capital of J&K, Srinagar, and the other six months in its winter capital, Jammu.Durbar Move acts as a bridge between two diverse cultures of the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region.

7.Ola partners with PhonePe to enhance its digital payments experience

Ola, Indian mobility platform and one of the world’s largest ride-hailing companies, has entered into a strategic partnership with PhonePe, India’s leading  payments platform.With this integration, Ola users can now enjoy a seamless and superlative payment experience on the Ola app.Millions of Ola’s customers across the country can now pay for their ride using PhonePe.This feature is currently rolled out on Android and will soon be available on iOS.

8.Karur Vysya Bank partners with Star Health Insurance

The Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) has entered into a tie-up with Star Health and Allied Insurance to provide health insurance products to its customers.By the agreement, all the health insurance products of Star Health & Allied Insurance will be made available through all 780 branches of the Tamil Nadu-based bank.This agreement helps the bank to provide cost-effective insurance products and quick settlement of claims for its customers.

9.Foreign and Indian coaches will now have a four-year contract

Foreign and Indian coaches for training Indian Athletes will now have a four-year contract in alignment with the Olympic cycle.Speaking about the decision, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said that by ensuring the right coaching for the country’s elite athletes, India’s chances in all major international tournaments, including the Olympics will be improved.The contract of all foreign coaches have been extended till 30th September of next year, in light of Tokyo Olympics-2020 being postponed till next year.

10.G Akash becomes India’s 66th chess Grandmaster

Tamil Nadu’s G Akash became the country’s 66th chess Grandmaster while his statemate M Pranesh and Goa’s Ameya Audi earned International Master titles.Akash’s GM title was confirmed at the second council meet of International Chess Federation (FIDE) for the year 2020 held recently.Having won the national title in 2012 and earned the IM title subsequently, Akash took a break to pursue an engineering degree in 2014.He made a comeback in 2018 and worked hard to earn his coveted GM title.