World Paper Bag Day 2023

• Every year on July 12^th, people around the world come together to celebrate World Paper Bag Day, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of using paper bags instead of plastic.
• This observance serves as a gentle reminder to prioritize environmentally friendly choices in our daily routines and encourages individuals and businesses to embrace more sustainable alternatives.

Bangladesh, India Launches Trade Transactions in Rupees

• Bangladesh and India have taken a significant step forward in their bilateral trade by introducing transactions in rupees.
• The objective is to lessen their dependence on the US dollar, while simultaneously bolstering regional currency and trade.
• This trade agreement represents a noteworthy achievement for Bangladesh, as it signifies a shift away from the US dollar for conducting trade settlements with a foreign nation.

The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023

• The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 seeks to amend the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 by exempting specific forest lands from legal protection.
• This includes land designated as a forest under the Indian Forest Act of 1927 or land identified as a forest in official records after the 1980 Act went into effect.
• The Act does not apply to land that was converted to non-forest use before December 12, 1996.

India Won the 34^th International Biology Olympiad

• India won the most medals at the 34^th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2023, which was held in Al Ain, UAE, from 3 to 11 July 2023, with every student receiving a gold medal.
• This is the first time India has won all three gold medals at IBO.
• It's also the first time India has won the most medals at the Olympics.

India's G20 Presidency Sets a Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Display of Lambani Items’

• The Ministry of Culture set a Guinness World Record for the 'Largest Display of Lambani Items' as part of the G20's 3^rd Culture Working Group Meeting in Hampi, as part of its 'Culture Unites All' campaign.
• The exhibition, dedicated to showcasing Lambani embroidery patches, was inaugurated by Shri Prahlad Joshi, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Coal and Mines, at the Yeduru Basavanna complex in Hampi.
• The theme for the exhibit is ‘Culture Unites All’. This display is titled ‘Threads of Unity’ and celebrates the aesthetic expressions and design vocabulary of Lambani embroidery.

NABARD Foundation Day 2023

• On July 12, 2023, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) commemorated its 42^nd Foundation Day with a range of activities held nationwide. Among the events that took place was a webinar centred around the theme of "NABARD: 42 Years of Rural Transformation."
• This webinar provided an opportunity to reflect on the organization's significant contributions to rural development over the past four decades.