National
'Meghdoot' Mobile App
⇒ Meghdoot, a simple and easy to use mobile application which provides crop advisories to the farmers based on the weather information. It is a joint initiative of India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
It will help the farmers to take weather-sensitive decisions like sowing of crops, pesticide and fertilizer application, irrigation scheduling and vaccination of animals.
Green Sohra Afforestation Campaign at Sohra
⇒ The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, on the second day of his Meghalaya visit, launched the Green Sohra Afforestation Campaign at Sohra (Cherrapunji) 25 July 2021. Shri Amit Shah also inaugurated the Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme. Union Home Minister also gave the slogan “Evergreen Northeast”, underlining the importance of afforestation and tree plantation.
This afforestation campaign will be run by the Meghalaya Government with the help of Assam Rifles. This will greatly benefit eco-tourism and will also boost tourism in the state.
All the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) planted trees across the country as part of the tree plantation drive launched at the initiative of Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. More than 16 lakh and 31 thousand saplings were planted under this campaign.
Union Minister Shri Amit Shah in his address said:
As part of the Prime Minister’s ambitious project Jal Jeevan Mission, the Ministry of DoNER and the Government of Meghalaya, under the North-East Special Infrastructure Scheme, the Greater Sohra Water Project costing Rs. 25 crore, will provide pure drinking water through taps to every household.
Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu virtually released Two Telugu Books
⇒ The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu virtually released two Telugu books written by former Andhra Pradesh MLA, Shri N. P. Venkateswara Chowdary on ancient Hindu temples in Cambodia and Vietnam, on 26 July 2021.
The titles of these two books are ‘Cambodia—Hindu Devaalayala Punya Bhumi’ and Neti Vietnam- Naati Haindava Samskrithi’.
During the event, the Vice President said that the temples in Cambodia and Vietnam showcase the rich legacy and spread of Indian civilization’.
India's 39th World Heritage Site
⇒ India’s nomination of Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, Mulugu district, near Warangal in the state of Telangana has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Rudreswara Temple (Ramappa Temple) is the 39th World Heritage Site of India.
The decision was taken at the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO on 25 July, 2021.
Read More About India’s 39th World Heritage Site
International
2021 Toronto International Film Festival Tribute Awards
⇒ The Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve and documentary filmmaker, writer, singer and activist Alanis Obomsawin are the first two individuals to be honored at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival 2021.
At the 2021 TIFF Tribute Awards, Villeneuve will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award, while Obomsawin will be honored with the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media.
The TIFF Tribute Awards honor the film industry’s contributors and achievements, recognize leading industry members, actors, directorial expertise, new talent and below-the-line artist and creators.
Toronto International Film Festival 2021 is scheduled to take place from 09 September to 18 September, 2021.
Sports
Differently Abled Sportsman of the Year at Indian Sports Honour for 2019
⇒ World No. 1 para shuttler Pramod Bhagat was on 24 July 2021 named Differently Abled Sportsman of the Year at Indian Sports Honour for 2019.
This year, Bhagat won two gold medals and a bronze at the Dubai Para Badminton Tournament.
Indian Sports Honours are awards given annually by the RPSG Group in association with the Virat Kohli Foundation to outstanding sports personalities of India. The awards were founded in 2017.
Death
Kerala's oldest learner Bhageerathi Amma
⇒ Kerala’s oldest learner Bhageerathi Amma, who passed the literacy examination at the age of 105 died on Thursday night, 22 July 2021. She was 107 years old.
She became the oldest student by clearing the fourth standard equivalency examination conducted by the state-run Kerala State Literacy Mission (KSLM) in 2019.
Hailing from Prakkulam in Kollam district, Amma was a recipient of the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar by the Central government for her exceptional contribution towards women’s empowerment.