Current affairs 01 August 2023

India’s tiger population estimated to 3,925 with annual growth rate of 6%.

• According to Minister of State for Environment, Ashwini Kumar, India’s tiger population is estimated to be 3,925 with an annual growth rate of 6.1%per annum.
• Analysis of data done by the Wildlife Institute of India, from both camera-trapped and non-camera-trapped tiger presence areas.
• India currently harbors almost 75 percent of the world’s wild tiger population.
• The largest population of tigers is found to be in Madhya Pradesh followed by Karnataka, Uttarakhand.

PM Narendra Modi launched Urea Gold in Rajasthan.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi would launch Urea Gold - a new variety of Urea that is coated with Sulphur in Rajasthan.
• The implementation of Sulphur Coated Urea will tackle sulphur deficiencies in the soil.
• This innovative fertiliser is more economical and efficient than neem-coated urea, improves nitrogen use efficiency in plants, reduces consumption of fertiliser.
• Neem-coated urea is a specialized form of urea fertilizer that has been coated with neem oil.

Shooter Aishwary clinches Gold medal at FISU World University Games 2023.

• At the FISU World University Games 2023 in China, shooter Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar won the Gold medal for India.
• Competing in men's 50-meter rifle three positions, he achieved the top podium with a total score of 461.7 points in the final. With this, India have now a gold, silver and bronze each in shooting.
• The Indian trio of Tomar, Sartaj Singh Tiwana and Surya Pratap Singh joined forces to secure Bronze in the men's 50 meter rifle 3 position team event.

Scotsman James Skea appointed as new IPCC chair in Nairobi.

• Professor Jim Skea, a UK national, has been appointed as the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the globally authoritative UN body on climate change science.
• He is exceptionally well-qualified to serve in this prestigious role and also contributed to the work of the IPCC for nearly thirty years.
• He was Co-Chair of the IPCC’s Working Group III on Climate Change Mitigation and co-led the IPCC’s seminal Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C.

Nisha Biswal becomes Deputy Chief Executive Officer of US finance agency.

• Nisha Biswal, an Indian-American policy expert, has been designated as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of a US finance agency.
• She has a career of over over 30 years of experience in US foreign policy and international development programs, within the White House.
• She holds the position of Senior Vice President for International Strategy and Global Initiatives at the US Chamber of Commerce and oversees the US-India Business Council and US-Bangladesh Business Council.