- SpaceX successfully launched its Dragon Cargo capsule filled with supplies for astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Dragon Cargo capsule was launched using SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- Key Facts:
- SpaceX: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation – Private company engaged in space transportation.
- Founded by Elon Musk – also founder of Tesla Motors, Paypal.
- Spacecraft: Dragon
- Launch Vehicle: Falcon 1 & Falcon 9 – reusable
- Difference between Spacecraft & Launch vehicle: Spacecraft: A controller craft which has place for people and drives the whole thing. Launch Vehicle: Engine of the system. It has fuels, which burns and provides thrust for system. In our language, Spacecraft is truck ka driver wala cabin jahan se driver sab control karta hain and launch vehicle is truck ka chassis including engine and fuel tank jo truck ko chalne ki energy deta hain.
- 18th July – Nelson Mandela day
- 2016 Theme: “Take Action, Inspire Change”
- Turkish musician Kudsi Erguner has been appointed as the UNESCO Artist for Peace by the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova.
- National Squash Championship:
- Winners: Dipika Pallikal Karthik(Women) and Saurav Ghosal(Men)
- 2nd: Joshna Chinappa(W) & Harinderpal Singh Sandhu (M)
- Need to remember: these 4 are associated with Squash.
- The Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) has become the first Indian company to issue rupee-denominated bonds “masala bonds” on London Stock Exchange (LSE).
- Masala bonds: First we understand what is Bond?
- Bond: In simple terms it is a piece of paper for borrowing money from market. Now, like any money-lending deal, it has interest rate, which it will pay and the period of principal payment.
- Now Masala Bonds: They refer to a rupee-denominated bond through which Indian entities can raise money from foreign markets in rupee, and not in foreign currency.
- What does it mean, if a Indian company goes to foreign market(say London) and asks for money, if company is famous & good, people will be willing to lend money.
- Lets say, it takes money(1,00,000 Pounds), but as people gave money in pounds and to use in India it is converted to rupees (1 pound = 80 Rupees). Hence loan = 80,00,000 Rupees.
- But after few days, 1 Pound = 100 rupees. Hence, Indian Company loan automatically becomes 100* 1,00,000 = 100,00,000. That is, it increases by 20,00,000. So company in loss.
- To prevent such condition, RBI allows Masala Bonds – Now Indian Company in London borrows not in Pounds but directly in Indian Rupees. And so it is immune from any rate change.
- Railways Ministry launched 1 MW Solar Power project at Amritsar.
- Uttar Pradesh government has signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Netherlands to set up a skill development center to help farmers
- Amaravati: A.P. invites proposals through Swiss Challenge method
- Swiss Challenge Method: 1st a company has done research and submitted the proposal for Amravati project. Now, government has opened this project for challenge from other companies. Now, when other companies submit proposal and government likes one of it, the 1st company will be given chance to match this proposal. If 1st company matches the bid, it shall be given to 1st company otherwise to 2nd company who originally came up with the idea.
- Treasures of Versailles to go on display in Australia
- Treaty of Versailles, 1919, France: Peace treaty at end of WWI, signed on 28th June 1919.
- Ended WWI between Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire) & Allied Powers (France, Britain, Russia, Italy)
- 1,23,000 Venezuelans cross Colombia border for food
- Venezuela:
- Location: Northern Coast of South America
- Has Orinoco river delta.
- World’s largest Oil Reserves.
- Now, Oil prices have fallen, so country exports value declined. Hence, food etc — high inflation.
[themencode-fb-page-widget page=”https://www.facebook.com/Rajras-1835370626603310″ width=”250″ height=”50″ hide_cover=”true” show_faces=”false” show_posts=”false”]
Rajras – a site dedicated to preparation of Rajasthan Administrative Services and Indian Administrative Services. Rajras provides free knowledge/information related to RAS/IAS syllabus, study material & current affairs.