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On 10th April 2022, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Nadabet Seema Darshan Project along the India-Pakistan border in the Banaskantha district of Gujarat. The project, which is being developed on the pattern of Wagah Border, will include an exhibition hall and a parade ground with an amphitheatre for 5,000 people. People can watch the border where the Gujarat’s seacoast meets the landmass. The project seeks to show how the BSF jawans protect the border round-the-clock. The project will encourage local economic activity in the Rann region, alongside visit to adjoining flamingo and wild ass sanctuaries.

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The play script “Hello Farmaish”, which is being shortlisted for The Hindu Playwright Award 2018, is written by Sneh Sapru. The play script is a satire that describes as a drama with bold streaks of magic realism. The winner of The Hindu Playwright Award will be announced on August 9, 2018 on the eve of the opening of the 14th edition of The Hindu Theatre Fest in Chennai on August 10. The award, instituted in 2008, carries a prize of Rs 2 lakh for the best original, unpublished and unperformed play script in English.

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India has become the 69th shareholder of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This move will enable Indian companies to undertake joint investments in regions in which the EBRD operates. Here, India takes a shareholding in the EBRD but it will not be a recipient of EBRD financing. London-headquartered EBRD is a multilateral development bank set up in 1991 after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It aims to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in emerging Europe and invests in 38 emerging economies. The EBRD is also working closely with leading Indian organisations, such as FICCI, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), and the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

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The Government of India (GoI) has invited US President Donald Trump to be chief guest at the 2019 Republic Day Parade. The US is yet to officially accept India’s invite, which offered in April 2018. The invitation has been extended against the backdrop of tensions over tariffs, with the Trump administration pressurizing India to reduce oil imports from Iran. In addition, the abrupt postponement of the heavily anticipated 2+2 dialogue dealt a significant blow to the Indian government. However, the US claimed that the delay would not affect ties, and the summit has been scheduled to take place in September 2018.

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The Odisha Government has constituted Heritage Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to preserve the history and culture of Odisha. The Heritage Cabinet will maintain coordination between the institutions and departments working to preserve and spread Odia language, culture and literature. It will also prepare policies, and prepare and approve short-term and long-term plans. In short, the aim of the Heritage Cabinet is to spread and preserve history and culture of Odisha and enrich Odia language further. The Cabinet comprises eight members, including the Chief Minister. While the Chief Secretary will be Secretary of Heritage Cabinet, secretary in the department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture will be its convenor. The secretaries of all the departments concerned will be special invitees.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day tour of eastern Uttar Pradesh, dedicated the 171 km long Bansagar Canal Project to the nation in Mirzapur on July 15, 2018. The project, which is a joint venture of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, has been constructed at the cost of about Rs 3400 crore. This project will provide a big boost to irrigation in the Mirzapur and Allahabad districts of Uttar Pradesh and about two Lakhs farmers will be benefited. Apart from dedicating the Bansagar Canal Project, PM Modi dedicated a bridge over River Ganga at Balughat in Chunar, which will facilitate connectivity between Mirzapur and Varanasi. PM also laid the Foundation Stone of the Mirzapur Medical College. Beside this, Mr Modi will also lay the Foundation of two bridges on local river Belan. The construction of both the bridges is much awaited demands of villagers of Halia block of the district for better transportation particularly in rainy season.

Notes:
Kalpesh Yagnik (55), the veteran journalist and Dainik Bhaskar Group, has passed away in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on July 14, 2018. Born on 21st June 1963, Yagnik was associated with the Bhaskar Group since 1998. He was both an excellent writer and editor who wrote on social issues.Tim

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Paudhagiri campaign has been launched by Haryana CM M L Khattar for increasing the green cover in the state. Under this campaign, 22 lakh students from class 6 to 12 of all government and private schools in Haryana will plant a sapling each during three months of monsoon — July, August and September.

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The World Customs Organization is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. It was founded in 1952 and its main work is in areas covering the international conventions and standards related to customs, trade, IPR protection etc.

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UK has topped an annual global ranking of nations’ soft power. The 2018 ‘Soft Power 30’ index is published by UK-based strategic communications consultancy firm Portland and the University of Southern California Center on Public Diplomacy. This index has listed 30 countries in which France gets second place, Germany third and United States fourth. India does not feature in this list.