July 2019

Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I July 2019
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Table of Contents
Awards & Honours ............................................................................................................................................ 3

Days & Events ................................................................................................................................................... 5
International Affairs .......................................................................................................................................... 6
Personalities in News ...................................................................................................................................... 13
Books & Authors ............................................................................................................................................. 14
Government Policies & Schemes ..................................................................................................................... 15
Science & Technology ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Committees & Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 19
Business & Economy ....................................................................................................................................... 67
Sports.............................................................................................................................................................. 68
Defence........................................................................................................................................................... 69
Polity .............................................................................................................................................................. 72
National Affairs ............................................................................................................................................... 75
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Awards &Honours • Nagaswaram player Vyasarpadi Kothandaraman and

vocalist Rajkumar Bharathi will get the TTK awards while
Awards and Honours Aarti N. Rao will get the Musicologist Award.
• DD News was awarded Champions of Empathy Award for NIIT bagged ASSOCHAM awards 2019
spreading awareness about hepatitis. Director General of
DD News, Mayank Agrawal received the Award from Lok • NIIT Limited has bagged the ASSOCHAM Education
Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Excellence Awards 2019 as the 'Best Innovative Brand' in
• International sand artist, Padmashri Sudarsan Pattnaik the Education sector.
won People's Choice Prize at Boston International Sand Art • It received the award for company's continuous effort to
Championship in the US. He was among the 15 top sand offer new-age Career Programs to address the changing
artists selected from across the world. workforce requirements.
• Over the last 38 years, NIIT has contributed extensively to
Meryl Streep to receive Award at TIFF 2019 the IT sector by impacting over 35 million learners in IT.
• Veteran star Meryl Streep will be honoured Tribute Actor 'Find the Incredible You' campaign won award
award at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.
• She will be the first-ever recipient of the award. • The 'Find the Incredible You' campaign of the Tourism
• Her next film 'The Laundromat', about the Panama Papers Ministry, has won the Pacific Asia Travel Association
scandal, is among the films that will be screened at the (PATA) Gold Award, 2019.
film festival. • The campaign focuses on digital and social media and the
promotion of niche tourism products of the country.
Nishagandhi Sangeetha Awards conferred • The campaign won the award under the 'Marketing -
• Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran presented Primary Government Destination' category.
the inaugural Nishagandhi Sangeetha Puraskaram to
musicians Parassala B. Ponnammal and T V.
Gopalakrishnan at the valedictory function of the five-day
music festival Nishagandhi Monsoon Ragas at Nishagandhi
Auditorium on 24 July 2019.
• Instituted by Kerala Tourism, the award carries ₹1.5 lakh in
cash, citation and memento.
6 firms honoured with CSR awards
• 3rd Edition of the CSR Journal Excellence Awards
honoured 6 firms for the best practices in Corporate Social
Responsibility.
• The theme of the event was ‘India First’.
• The 6 firms- Tata Power, Renew Power, Hindustan Zinc,
Aditya Birla Capital Ltd., YES Bank Ltd. and Mahindra &
Mahindra emerged as the winners of the awards.
Keshav, Prasun chosen for Mohun Bagan Ratna
• Two-time Olympic gold medallist Keshav Dutt and former
India Football Captain Prasun Banerjee will be conferred
the 'Mohun Bagan Ratna' on 29 July 2019.
• July 29 is celebrated as the 'Mohun Bagan Day' because on
this day in 1911, the Mariners became the first club to
defeat a British club, East Yorkshire Regiment, and lift the
IFA Shield.
S. Sowmya chosen for Sangita Kalanidhi Award
• S. Sowmya has been chosen for the Sangita Kalanidhi
award of the Music Academy.
Ustad Bismillah Yuva Puraskars announced
• She will preside over 93rd annual conference of the
Academy to be held between December 12, 2019, and • The Sangeet Natak Akademi has selected 32 artists of India
January 1, 2020. for Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2018.
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• In the field of music, there are 8 recipients of Yuva • His surgical career spans 24 years since he qualified to
Puraskar including Sameehan Kashalkar and Ruchira Kedar become a surgeon in 1995.
for Hindustani Vocal Music.
Shah Rukh Khan to receive honorary doctorate
• The award carries a purse money of Rs 25,000.
• The Yuva Puraskar will be presented at a special ceremony, • Shah Rukh Khan will receive an honorary doctorate degree
by the Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi. from Melbourne-based La Trobe University for his
contributions through Meer Foundation.
Smriti and Rohan received Arjuna Awards
• He will be visiting Australia to attend the 10th edition of
• Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) in August 2019 as
gave Arjuna Awards to Smriti Mandhana and Rohan its chief guest.
Bopanna on 16 July 2019. • La Trobe University is the first Australian university to
• Smriti Mandhana and Shri Rohan Bopanna were selected award Khan with an Honorary Degree.
for Arjuna Awards 2018 for their outstanding
Gandhi-Mandela Peace Medal 2019 announced
achievements in Cricket and Tennis respectively.
• They could not receive the Awards from President of India • The annual Gandhi-Mandela Peace Medal 2019 has been
during the Award Ceremony held on 25th September awarded to Thich Nhat Hanh.
2018. • Thich Nhat Hanh is a global spiritual leader, poet and
peace activist.
RM trophy for best command hospitals
• The first edition of Gandhi-Mandela Peace Initiative was
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh awarded Raksha Mantri held in New Delhi.
Trophy for the Best and Second Best Command Hospitals • The Initiative was organised by Believe Foundation in
of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for the year association Dr Raman Bhai Patel Foundation (RBF).
2018, on 16 July 2019.
Smith & Nephew's NAVIO honoured
• Command Hospital Air Force Bengaluru was adjudged Best
Command Hospital. • NAVIO has recently been felicitated at the prestigious 'The
• Command Hospital Central Command Lucknow was Economic Times Best Healthcare Brands 2019'.
adjudged the Second-Best Command Hospital. • NAVIO is a robotics-assisted surgery system from Smith &
Nephew, a Global medical technology provider.
Zakir Hussain selected for Sangeet Natak Fello
• This coveted and one of the most prestigious awards in
• Zakir Hussain and dancer Sonal Mansingh are among the India honors brands which have shown robust growth by
4 eminent personalities who have been selected for the high customer satisfaction in the healthcare sector.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships in the field of
Awards and Honours
performing arts.
• The two other personalities are dancer and choreographer • Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar’s directorial ‘Gully Boy’ has won
Jatin Goswami and Bharatnatyam exponent the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema Award at
K.Kalyanasundaram Pillai. the 23rd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in
• The awards will be conferred by President Ram Nath South Korea.
Kovind at a special investiture ceremony. • The amplified version of honey bees sound used by the
Northeast Frontier Railways to ward off elephants from
India bagged 6 awards at SAARC film festival
tracks, thereby preventing any mishap deaths has won
• Indian entries bagged 6 awards including the Best Feature Indian Railways' best innovation of the year award.
Film for the movie Nagarkirtan at the 9th SAARC Film
AIFF Awards announced
Festival held in Colombo.
• Kaushik Ganguly got the Best Director Award. • Indian men's football team captain Sunil Chhetri and
• Riddhi Sen won the best actor award for the movie while women's footballer Ashalata Devi bagged the top honours
Prabuddha Bannerjee bagged Best Original Score at the at the All India Football Federation's Awards.
film Festival. • Development Programme - Jammu & Kashmir Football
Association.
Raghu Ram conferred with Surgeons fellowship
• Best Referee - R. Venkatesh.
• Padma Shri awardee breast surgeon P Raghu Ram was • Best Assistant Referee - Joseph Tony.
conferred honorary fellowship of the Royal College of • Emerging Women’s Footballer 2018-19 - Dangmei Grace.
Surgeons of Thailand. • Emerging Men’s Footballer of the Year- Abdul Sahal.
• This is the highest recognition bestowed by the institute.
Genesis Foundation gets Award
• Raghu Ram is also the President-elect of the Association of
Surgeons of India.
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• Genesis Foundation, a Gurgaon based Non-Profit • The day is named after the successful Operation Vijay in
Organization won the CSR Implementation Partner award 1999, when India regained the control of the high outposts
in the leadership category at the 3rd edition of CSR Health which had been stealthily taken over by Pakistan.
Impact Awards. • The celebrations of 20th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas
• It works towards the treatment of underprivileged children began in Delhi on 14 July 2019.
suffering from congenital heart disorders.
National Broadcasting Day: 23 July
• The CSR Health Impact Awards is constituted to inspire
organizations to drive a nationwide CSR-based health • National Broadcasting Day is observed every year on 23
movement July.
• On this day in 1927, the first-ever radio broadcast in the
NALCO to get President's award
country went on the air from the Bombay Station under a
• Odisha-based Navaratna Company NALCO has been private company, the Indian Broadcasting Company.
selected for President's award for utilisation of Corporate • On 8th of June, 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service
Social Responsibility (CSR) fund in social development. became All India Radio.
• It started a scheme Aliali Jhia in 2015 to adopt and • Since 1927, radio has been an important part in people's
promote the poor and talented girls for education. life in India.
• Under this scheme, 416 girls from BPL families of 66
World Brain Day: 22 July
villages in Anugul and Koraput districts have been adopted
by Company. • World Brain Day is observed on July 22 every year.
• The day aims at promoting interest of neurology.
Previously, World Brain Day has covered topics like
Days & Events dementia, epilepsy and stroke, in cooperation with other
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons societies.
• World Brain Day 2019 theme is Migraine: The Painful
• UN observes 30 July every year as World Day Against Truth.
Trafficking.
• This year, the focus is on migraine, which is known to be
• In 2013, the General Assembly designated July 30 as the one of world's most common brain diseases.
World Day against Trafficking in Persons to raise
awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking Important Days
and for the promotion and protection of their rights.
• The Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated every
• The tagline for 2019 is: Human Trafficking: call your year on July 18.
government to action.
• Nelson Mandela is remembered as an anti-apartheid
World Hepatitis Day: 28 July revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist.
• International Justice Day is observed on 17 July.
• WHO observes 28 July every year as World Hepatitis Day
• World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) was observed on 15 July
to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis.
2019.
• It is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr Baruch
Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus (HBV) and International Chess Day: 20 July
developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
• The ‘International Chess Day’ is observed every year on
• The theme for 2019 is 'Invest in eliminating hepatitis'. 20 July.
• Pakistan is the host country this year. • It’s a special day for India as Chess is one of the precious
Global Tiger Day: 29 July gifts of India to the world.
• Just two days ago, Indian chess got its 64th Grandmaster
• Global Tiger Day is celebrated across the world on 29 July.
Prithu Gupta, a very symbolic day as the chess board is
• This day is observed every year to create awareness about made up of 64 squares.
tiger conservation and protection of natural habitat of
• The origin of chess is found in ‘Chaturanga’ – a strategy
tigers.
game played in India in the medieval era.
• Due to concerted efforts under Project Tiger, at present
India has the distinction of having the maximum number 14 July: National day of France
of tigers in the world.
• The French prepared to mark their national day on 14 July,
• From 1706 in 2010, tiger population has increased to 2226 known as July 14th in France and Bastille Day abroad.
in 2014.
• European Union leaders joined the French president for
20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas the world's oldest military parade.
• The 20th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was celebrated
on 26 July 2019.
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• This year celebrates the 230th anniversary of the storming • British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed Indian
of the Bastille prison in Paris, a turning point in the French origin Priti Patel as the country Home Secretary.
revolution that set the stage for the birth of the Republic. • The Prime Minister named former Home Secretary Sajid
Javid to take over from Philip Hammond as the Finance
World Population Day: 11 July
Secretary or Chancellor.
• The United Nations observes 11 July every year as World • Brexit hardliner Dominic Raab was named as the country's
Population Day. Foreign Secretary.
• This year’s World Population Day calls for global attention
Facebook slapped with 5 bn US dollar fine
to the unfinished business of the 1994 International
Conference on Population and Development. • US regulators formalized a record 5 billion US Dollar fine
• United Nations Headquarters - New York, USA on Facebook for violation of users' privacy in the
• Founded - 24 October 1945. Cambridge Analytica data scandal involving 87 million
• Secretary General - Antonio Guterres. users.
• The penalty was the largest ever imposed on any company
for violating consumers' privacy and one of the largest
International Affairs penalties ever assessed by the US government for any
Pakistan opens historic Hindu temple in Punjab violation.
• Pakistan has opened a 1,000 year old Hindu temple in Bangladesh: Scientists developed a new method
Sialkot for worship for the first time since partition on the • Scientists in Bangladesh have developed a method to
demand of the local Hindu community. convert Jute fibre into low-cost bio-degradable cellulose
• The Shawala Teja Singh temple, located in city’s congested sheets named 'Sonali'.
Dharwad locality, some 100 km from Lahore, is more than • It can be used as a wrapping material and carrying bag.
1,000 years old, according to the book ‘History of Sialkot’ • The Eco-friendly jute poly bags made up of Sonali can be
by the late Rashid Niaz. used in garments and food packaging work and they are
• PM - Imran Khan. not harmful for human health.
• President - Arif Alvi. • Its commercial production is likely to start by 2019 end.
China’s Tiangong 2 was Destroyed by China Boris Johnson took over as Britain PM
• On 19 July 2019, China’s Tiangong-2 space laboratory • The new leader of Conservative party Boris Johnson
successfully entered Earth’s atmosphere under controlled took over as Prime Minister of Britain on 24 July 2019.
conditions and burned up above the South Pacific Ocean. • Mr Johnson is scheduled to meet the Queen at
• Tiangong-2 was launched into orbit on 15 September Buckingham Palace where he will be invited to form a new
2016. government.
• In total, the station spent over 1,000 days in orbit, • He also announced senior cabinet posts, including
exceeding its proposed 2-year lifespan considerably, and chancellor of the exchequer and home secretary.
orbited Earth 16,209 times.
NASA prepared to send 1st woman on moon
Underwater museum of military vehicle unveiled
• The world marked the 50th anniversary of the first Moon
• Jordan has unveiled its first underwater military museum landing recently.
off the coast of Aqaba. • The US space agency has doubled down on its next giant
• The vehicles, including tanks, troop carriers and a leap with the Artemis programme that would take the first
helicopter, imitating a battle formation, have been woman and the next man to the lunar surface.
stationed at a coral reef in the Red Sea. • Artemis is named after the twin sister of Apollo who is also
• Aqaba is the lone port city of Jordan and is a popular the Goddess of the Moon and the hunt.
destination for divers.
50th anniversary of Apollo 11
Iran test fires ballistic missile
• The 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing was
• Iran has test-launched a medium-range ballistic missile celebrated on 20 July 2019.
inside its borders. • On this day, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz
• The missile, a Shahab-3, is a liquid-fuelled, medium-range Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon.
ballistic weapon capable of carrying a nuclear weapon. • Their lunar module, named Eagle, touched down on 20th
• It is derived from a North Korean missile called the July, 1969.
Nodong-A and can fly up to 2000 kilometres. • Ex-fighter pilot Collins remained in lunar orbit, where he
Priti Patel: Britain's Home Secretary was in touch with ground control.
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Miscellaneous • Present Administrator of NASA - James Frederick

Bridenstine.
• Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash
• Headquarters - Washington, D.C.
Javadekar inaugurated the 10th Jagran Film festival at Siri
Fort Auditorium in New Delhi. Over 5 bn dollar penalty imposed on Pakistan
• In yet another European Union move against a US tech
• An international arbitration court has imposed a penalty of
giant, the bloc's antitrust chief on 18 July 2019 fined
over 5 billion dollars on Pakistan for unlawful denial of a
chipmaker Qualcomm $271 million, accusing it of
mining lease to a company for the Reko Diq project in
'predatory pricing' to drive a competitor out of the market.
2011.
G7 Finance Ministers agree plan for taxing • The Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) had filed claims for
international arbitration before the World Bank's ICSID in
• G7 Finance Ministers meeting in France agreed a plan for
2012.
taxing digital companies such as Facebook and Google that
will set a minimum level of taxation for them. • The project stopped in November 2011, when the
Balochistan government rejected its application.
• G7 looks forward to further progress in the context of the
G20 and a global agreement on the outlines of the Russia launches space telescope
architecture by January 2020.
• Russia launched a space telescope, Spektr-RG, from the
• Ministers fully supported a two-pillar solution to be
cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on 13 July 2019.
adopted by 2020.
• The Spektr-RG, developed with Germany, is a space
Ebola outbreak: Global health emergency observatory intended to replace the Spektr-R, known as
the 'Russian Hubble'.
• The deadly Ebola outbreak in Congo is now an
• Spektr-R was launched in 2011 to observe black holes,
international health emergency, the World Health
Organization announced on 17 July 2019 after the virus neutron stars and magnetic fields.
spread this week to a city of two million people. Tropical Storm Barry hits Louisiana in US
• More than 1,600 people have died since August in the
second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history. • In the United States, Tropical Storm Barry began hitting
Louisiana with wind and rain, building towards hurricane
• This is the fifth such declaration in history.
strength.
US banned Myanmar Army Chief • It is the first hurricane of the season.
• The US has banned visits by Myanmar's Army Chief and 3 • The centre of the storm was about 5 miles northeast of
other top officers due to their role in the ethnic Intracoastal City.
cleansing of the Rohingya minority. • It has weakened from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical
• The US is the first government to publicly take action with storm.
respect to the most senior leadership of the Burmese France passes GAFA Tax
military.
• France became the first major economy to impose a tax on
• Also sanctioned were Deputy Commander-in-Chief Soe
digital companies.
Win, Brigadier-General Than Oo and Brigadier General
Aung Aung. • The tax is known as the GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook
and Amazon).
Cycle rally in South Africa • The law will levy a 3% tax on total annual revenues of the
• Indian diplomats in South Africa participated in a cycle largest tech firms providing services to French consumers.
rally to promote greater awareness of Mahatma Gandhi's • GAFA targets digital companies with global sales of more
ideals of non-violence and satyagraha. than 750 million euros and sales in France of at least 25
• This was done to celebrate his 150th birth anniversary. million euros.
• Conceived by Indian Consul-General in Johannesburg Dr K J Government banned 'Sikhs for Justice' group
Srinivasa, the event was co-hosted by the Gandhi Walk
Committee. • Union cabinet banned the US Based Pro-Khalistani group
Sikhs for Justice for alleged anti-national activities.
U.S. celebrates 50 years of Apollo 11 mission • It propelled the Sikh Referendum 2020 as part of its
• U.S. celebrates the Apollo 11 mission’s 50th year separatist agenda.
anniversary. • SFJ openly supported the cause of Khalistan, a Sikh
• In the celebrations, new statues of Astronaut Neil separatist movement.
Armstrong were unveiled and an education centre was • It challenged the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
dedicated to him in Ohio, US. India.
Russia successfully launched Soyuz-2.1
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• Russia successfully launched Soyuz-2.1 a carrier rocket ticket in a bid to lessen the impact of air travel on the
with a hydrometeorological satellite and 32 small climate.
satellites.
Guidelines on self-care interventions launched
• The satellite will provide images of clouds, the surface of
the Earth, ice and snow covers in the visible, infrared and • The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched its
microwave ranges. first guidelines on self-care interventions for health.
• The ride-share mission lifted off from the Vostochny • The guidelines focus on sexual and reproductive health
Cosmodrome in eastern Russia. and rights.
• The guidelines have been launched in response to an
Sri Lanka eliminates measles
estimate that by 2035 the world will face a shortage of
• Sri Lanka has become fifth country in the World Health nearly 13 million healthcare workers.
Organisation (WHO) Southeast Asia region to eliminate
Iraq Babylon: World Heritage Site by UNESCO
measles.
• The other countries in the region which have achieved this • UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has voted to list the
feat are Bhutan, Maldives, DPR Korea and Timor-Leste. sprawling Mesopotamian metropolis of Babylon as a
• Measles is a highly infectious illness caused by the rubeola World Heritage Site.
virus. • Iraq had been trying since 1983 to have the site - a massive
• WHO estimate that 2.6 million people who have not had 10sq-km complex of which just 18% has been excavated
the vaccine die of measles every year. thus far - recognised by UNESCO.
• The city was the centre of the ancient Babylonian empire
more than 4,000 years ago.
Niqab banned in Tunisian Government offices
• Tunisia's Premier banned the Niqab, Muslim face covering
for women in government offices, citing security concerns
after attacks in the country.
• Prime Minister Youssef Chahed banned access to public
administrations and institutions to anyone with the face
covered for security reasons.
• On June 27 double suicide bombing in Tunis left 2 dead
and 7 wounded.
World's largest burn surgery instit. started
• The world's largest burn and plastic surgery institute in
Dhaka started functioning from 4 July 2019.
• About 6 lakh people suffer burn injuries in Bangladesh
every year who will benefit from the institute.
• Named Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery
Institute, the 500-bed hospital with 50 ICU and 12
operation theatres will provide advanced treatment to
burn patients in Bangladesh.
Bahrain & UK first to pilot new AI guidelines
• Bahrain has announced it will pilot new guidelines for the
procurement of Artificial Intelligence in the public sector.
• It partnered with the UK government to help design the
guidelines and assesses them in real-world conditions.
France to impose green tax on plane tickets
• It is produced by the World Economic Forum (WEF) Centre
• France will impose green tax up to €18 on plane tickets for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
from 2020. • By this Bahrain and UK became first in the world to do so.
• The move aims to fund less-polluting transportation
Vladimir Putin signed a bill
projects.
• A similar tax was introduced in Sweden in April 2018, • Vladimir Putin has signed a bill suspending Russia's
which imposed an added charge of up to €40 on every participation in a pivotal nuclear arms pact with the United
States.
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• The Russian president’s decree formalises his country’s • Representatives of 50 law enforcement agencies of the
departure from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear International Security Alliance took part in the first joint
Forces (INF) Treaty. security exercise in Abu Dhabi which began on 30 June
• Russia has denied any violations and accused the US of 2019.
breaking the accord. • The International Security Alliance is an international
working group to confront organised, transnational and
Rath Yatra celebrated in Bangladesh
extremist crimes.
• In Bangladesh, the starting of Rath Yatra was celebrated at • It comprises 9 countries including the UAE, Bahrain,
a number of places on 4 July 2019. France, Singapore, and Morocco.
• In Dhaka ISKCON and other religious bodies celebrated the
Pakistan opens historic Hindu temple in Punjab
Rath Yatra with several programmes in the city.
• The centuries old Rath Yatra started from the Madhav • Pakistan has opened a 1,000 year old Hindu temple in
Temple at Dhamrai in Bangladesh with devotees singing Sialkot for worship for the first time since partition on the
Kirtans in the praise of Lord Jagannath. demand of the local Hindu community.
• The Shawala Teja Singh temple, located in city’s congested
4000 yr old pyramid opened for public in Egypt
Dhaarowal locality, some 100 km from Lahore, is more
• Egypt's 4,000-year-old Lahun pyramid has opened its than 1,000 years old, according to the book ‘History of
doors to the public for the first time, displaying a network Sialkot’ by the late Rashid Niaz.
of passageways and an ancient burial chamber. • PM - Imran Khan.
• A small team of archaeologists from the Egyptian ministry • President - Arif Alvi.
of antiquities spent around a year clearing out the burial
China’s Tiangong 2 was Destroyed by China
chamber inside the pyramid.
• A variety of artefacts were excavated including amulets, • On 19 July 2019, China’s Tiangong-2 space laboratory
scarabs, shells, and chains. successfully entered Earth’s atmosphere under controlled
conditions and burned up above the South Pacific Ocean.
Baloch Liberation Army designated terror group
• Tiangong-2 was launched into orbit on 15 September
• The US has designated the Balochistan Liberation Army 2016.
(BLA) as a terrorist organisation. • In total, the station spent over 1,000 days in orbit,
• BLA is an armed separatist group that targets security exceeding its proposed 2-year lifespan considerably, and
forces and civilians, mainly in ethnic Baloch areas of orbited Earth 16,209 times.
Pakistan.
• The department has also made it a crime for anyone in the
US to assist the BLA terrorists and freezing any US assets • Jordan has unveiled its first underwater military museum
they may have. off the coast of Aqaba.
• The vehicles, including tanks, troop carriers and a
Iran announces breach of nuclear deal
helicopter, imitating a battle formation, have been
• Iran exceeds its stockpile of uranium in a breach of the stationed at a coral reef in the Red Sea.
2015 nuclear deal. • Aqaba is the lone port city of Jordan and is a popular
• Trump warns Iran while UN asks Iran to respect the terms destination for divers.
of nuclear agreement.
• Iran enriched its uranium stockpile passing the 300-
kilogram limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal with world • Iran has test-launched a medium-range ballistic missile
powers. inside its borders.
• The missile, a Shahab-3, is a liquid-fuelled, medium-range
First battery-powered cruise ship sails
ballistic weapon capable of carrying a nuclear weapon.
• The world’s first cruise ship propelled partially by battery • It is derived from a North Korean missile called the
power sailed out from northern Norway on its maiden Nodong-A and can fly up to 2000 kilometres.
voyage.
Priti Patel: Britain's Home Secretary
• The hybrid expedition cruise ship, the Roald Amundsen,
can take 500 passengers and is designed to sail in harsh • British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed Indian
climate waters. origin Priti Patel as the country Home Secretary.
• It is named after the Norwegian explorer who navigated • The Prime Minister named former Home Secretary Sajid
the Northwest Passage in 1903-1906 and was first to reach Javid to take over from Philip Hammond as the Finance
the South Pole in 1911. Secretary or Chancellor.
Abu Dhabi hosted first ISALEX19 exercise
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• Brexit hardliner Dominic Raab was named as the country's • In yet another European Union move against a US tech
Foreign Secretary. giant, the bloc's antitrust chief on 18 July 2019 fined
chipmaker Qualcomm $271 million, accusing it of
Facebook slapped with 5 bn US dollar fine
• US regulators formalized a record 5 billion US Dollar fine
G7 Finance Ministers agree plan for taxing
on Facebook for violation of users' privacy in the
Cambridge Analytica data scandal involving 87 million • G7 Finance Ministers meeting in France agreed a plan for
users. taxing digital companies such as Facebook and Google that
• The penalty was the largest ever imposed on any company will set a minimum level of taxation for them.
for violating consumers' privacy and one of the largest • G7 looks forward to further progress in the context of the
penalties ever assessed by the US government for any G20 and a global agreement on the outlines of the
violation. architecture by January 2020.
Bangladesh: Scientists developed a new method
adopted by 2020.
• Scientists in Bangladesh have developed a method to
Ebola outbreak: Global health emergency
convert Jute fibre into low-cost bio-degradable cellulose
sheets named 'Sonali'. • The deadly Ebola outbreak in Congo is now an
• It can be used as a wrapping material and carrying bag. international health emergency, the World Health
• The Eco-friendly jute poly bags made up of Sonali can be Organization announced on 17 July 2019 after the virus
used in garments and food packaging work and they are spread this week to a city of two million people.
not harmful for human health. • More than 1,600 people have died since August in the
• Its commercial production is likely to start by 2019 end. second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history.
• This is the fifth such declaration in history.
Boris Johnson took over as Britain PM
US banned Myanmar Army Chief
• The new leader of Conservative party Boris Johnson
took over as Prime Minister of Britain on 24 July 2019. • The US has banned visits by Myanmar's Army Chief and 3
• Mr Johnson is scheduled to meet the Queen at other top officers due to their role in the ethnic
Buckingham Palace where he will be invited to form a new cleansing of the Rohingya minority.
government. • The US is the first government to publicly take action with
• He also announced senior cabinet posts, including respect to the most senior leadership of the Burmese
chancellor of the exchequer and home secretary. military.
• Also sanctioned were Deputy Commander-in-Chief Soe
Win, Brigadier-General Than Oo and Brigadier General
• The world marked the 50th anniversary of the first Moon Aung Aung.
landing recently.
Cycle rally in South Africa
• The US space agency has doubled down on its next giant
leap with the Artemis programme that would take the first • Indian diplomats in South Africa participated in a cycle
woman and the next man to the lunar surface. rally to promote greater awareness of Mahatma Gandhi's
• Artemis is named after the twin sister of Apollo who is also ideals of non-violence and satyagraha.
the Goddess of the Moon and the hunt. • This was done to celebrate his 150th birth anniversary.
• Conceived by Indian Consul-General in Johannesburg Dr K J
Srinivasa, the event was co-hosted by the Gandhi Walk
• The 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing was Committee.
celebrated on 20 July 2019.
U.S. celebrates 50 years of Apollo 11 mission
• On this day, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz
Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon. • U.S. celebrates the Apollo 11 mission’s 50th year
• Their lunar module, named Eagle, touched down on 20th anniversary.
July, 1969. • In the celebrations, new statues of Astronaut Neil
• Ex-fighter pilot Collins remained in lunar orbit, where he Armstrong were unveiled and an education centre was
was in touch with ground control. dedicated to him in Ohio, US.
• Present Administrator of NASA - James Frederick
Miscellaneous
Bridenstine.
• Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash • Headquarters - Washington, D.C.
Over 5 bn dollar penalty imposed on Pakistan
Fort Auditorium in New Delhi.
10 | P a g e
• An international arbitration court has imposed a penalty of • The satellite will provide images of clouds, the surface of
over 5 billion dollars on Pakistan for unlawful denial of a the Earth, ice and snow covers in the visible, infrared and
mining lease to a company for the Reko Diq project in microwave ranges.
2011. • The ride-share mission lifted off from the Vostochny
• The Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) had filed claims for Cosmodrome in eastern Russia.
international arbitration before the World Bank's ICSID in
Sri Lanka eliminates measles
2012.
• The project stopped in November 2011, when the • Sri Lanka has become fifth country in the World Health
Balochistan government rejected its application. Organisation (WHO) Southeast Asia region to eliminate
measles.
Russia launches space telescope
• The other countries in the region which have achieved this
• Russia launched a space telescope, Spektr-RG, from the feat are Bhutan, Maldives, DPR Korea and Timor-Leste.
cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on 13 July 2019. • Measles is a highly infectious illness caused by the rubeola
• The Spektr-RG, developed with Germany, is a space virus.
observatory intended to replace the Spektr-R, known as • WHO estimate that 2.6 million people who have not had
the 'Russian Hubble'. the vaccine die of measles every year.
• Spektr-R was launched in 2011 to observe black holes,
neutron stars and magnetic fields.
• France will impose green tax up to €18 on plane tickets
Tropical Storm Barry hits Louisiana in US
from 2020.
• In the United States, Tropical Storm Barry began hitting • The move aims to fund less-polluting transportation
Louisiana with wind and rain, building towards hurricane projects.
strength. • A similar tax was introduced in Sweden in April 2018,
• It is the first hurricane of the season. which imposed an added charge of up to €40 on every
• The centre of the storm was about 5 miles northeast of ticket in a bid to lessen the impact of air travel on the
Intracoastal City. climate.
• It has weakened from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical
Guidelines on self-care interventions launched
storm.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched its
France passes GAFA Tax
first guidelines on self-care interventions for health.
• France became the first major economy to impose a tax on • The guidelines focus on sexual and reproductive health
digital companies. and rights.
• The tax is known as the GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook • The guidelines have been launched in response to an
and Amazon). estimate that by 2035 the world will face a shortage of
• The law will levy a 3% tax on total annual revenues of the nearly 13 million healthcare workers.
largest tech firms providing services to French consumers.
Iraq Babylon: World Heritage Site by UNESCO
• GAFA targets digital companies with global sales of more
than 750 million euros and sales in France of at least 25 • UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has voted to list the
million euros. sprawling Mesopotamian metropolis of Babylon as a
World Heritage Site.
Government banned 'Sikhs for Justice' group
• Iraq had been trying since 1983 to have the site - a massive
• Union cabinet banned the US Based Pro-Khalistani group 10sq-km complex of which just 18% has been excavated
Sikhs for Justice for alleged anti-national activities. thus far - recognised by UNESCO.
• It propelled the Sikh Referendum 2020 as part of its • The city was the centre of the ancient Babylonian empire
separatist agenda. more than 4,000 years ago.
• SFJ openly supported the cause of Khalistan, a Sikh Niqab banned in Tunisian Government offices
separatist movement.
• It challenged the sovereignty and territorial integrity of • Tunisia's Premier banned the Niqab, Muslim face covering
India. for women in government offices, citing security concerns
after attacks in the country.
• Prime Minister Youssef Chahed banned access to public
• Russia successfully launched Soyuz-2.1 a carrier rocket administrations and institutions to anyone with the face
with a hydrometeorological satellite and 32 small covered for security reasons.
satellites. • On June 27 double suicide bombing in Tunis left 2 dead
and 7 wounded.
11 | P a g e
World's largest burn surgery instit. started • The department has also made it a crime for anyone in the
US to assist the BLA terrorists and freezing any US assets
• The world's largest burn and plastic surgery institute in
they may have.
Dhaka started functioning from 4 July 2019.
• About 6 lakh people suffer burn injuries in Bangladesh Iran announces breach of nuclear deal
every year who will benefit from the institute.
• Iran exceeds its stockpile of uranium in a breach of the
• Named Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery
2015 nuclear deal.
Institute, the 500-bed hospital with 50 ICU and 12
• Trump warns Iran while UN asks Iran to respect the terms
operation theatres will provide advanced treatment to
of nuclear agreement.
burn patients in Bangladesh.
• Iran enriched its uranium stockpile passing the 300-
Bahrain & UK first to pilot new AI guidelines kilogram limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal with world
powers.
• Bahrain has announced it will pilot new guidelines for the
procurement of Artificial Intelligence in the public sector.
• It partnered with the UK government to help design the
guidelines and assesses them in real-world conditions.
• It is produced by the World Economic Forum (WEF) Centre
for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
• By this Bahrain and UK became first in the world to do so.
Vladimir Putin signed a bill
• Vladimir Putin has signed a bill suspending Russia's
participation in a pivotal nuclear arms pact with the United
States.
• The Russian president’s decree formalises his country’s
departure from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear
Forces (INF) Treaty.
• Russia has denied any violations and accused the US of
breaking the accord.
Rath Yatra celebrated in Bangladesh
• In Bangladesh, the starting of Rath Yatra was celebrated at
a number of places on 4 July 2019.
• In Dhaka ISKCON and other religious bodies celebrated the
Rath Yatra with several programmes in the city.
• The centuries old Rath Yatra started from the Madhav
Temple at Dhamrai in Bangladesh with devotees singing
Kirtans in the praise of Lord Jagannath.
4000 yr old pyramid opened for public in Egypt
• Egypt's 4,000-year-old Lahun pyramid has opened its
doors to the public for the first time, displaying a network First battery-powered cruise ship sails
of passageways and an ancient burial chamber.
• The world’s first cruise ship propelled partially by battery
• A small team of archaeologists from the Egyptian ministry power sailed out from northern Norway on its maiden
of antiquities spent around a year clearing out the burial voyage.
chamber inside the pyramid.
• The hybrid expedition cruise ship, the Roald Amundsen,
• A variety of artefacts were excavated including amulets, can take 500 passengers and is designed to sail in harsh
scarabs, shells, and chains. climate waters.
Baloch Liberation Army designated terror group • It is named after the Norwegian explorer who navigated
the Northwest Passage in 1903-1906 and was first to reach
• The US has designated the Balochistan Liberation Army the South Pole in 1911.
(BLA) as a terrorist organisation.
• BLA is an armed separatist group that targets security Abu Dhabi hosted first ISALEX19 exercise
forces and civilians, mainly in ethnic Baloch areas of • Representatives of 50 law enforcement agencies of the
Pakistan. International Security Alliance took part in the first joint
12 | P a g e
security exercise in Abu Dhabi which began on 30 June • Kalraj Mishra replaced Acharya Devvrat, who has been
2019. shifted to Gujarat.
• The International Security Alliance is an international • Kalraj Mishra is an Indian politician and he is also the
working group to confront organised, transnational and former Cabinet Minister of Micro, Small and Medium
extremist crimes. Enterprises in the BJP-led NDA government of Prime
• It comprises 9 countries including the UAE, Bahrain, Minister Narendra Modi.
France, Singapore, and Morocco.
Boris Johnson took over as Britain PM
• The new leader of Conservative party Boris Johnson
Personalities in News took over as Prime Minister of Britain on 24 July 2019.
Tarun Chaudhri: 1st pilot to skydive jump • Mr Johnson is scheduled to meet the Queen at
Buckingham Palace where he will be invited to form a new
• Wing commander Tarun Chaudhri became the first pilot of government.
Indian Armed Forces (IAF ) to do a wingsuit jump. • He also announced senior cabinet posts, including
• The jump was accomplished by Chaudhri from a Mi-17 chancellor of the exchequer and home secretary.
helicopter from an altitude of 8500 feet.
• This is the first flying wingsuit jump demonstration at an Sanjivani Yadav handed 2-year suspension
organised gathering. • India's runner Sanjivani Yadav has been handed a 2-year
• The jump was undertaken during the Kargil Diwas suspension by the IAAF's Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for a
celebrations at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 21-22 July doping violation.
2019. • She won the 10,000m bronze at the 2019 Asian
Person in News Championships and 5000m bronze in the 2017 edition.
• She admitted to her first violation resulting in
• Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar disqualification all past results since June 29, 2018.
announced his resignation after the House adopted the
confidence motion moved by Chief Minister B S Army Chief Bipin Rawat visited Dras sector
Yediyurappa and passed the Appropriation Bill. • Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, visited Dras
• Anandiben Patel took oath as the Governor of Uttar sector on 19 July 2019.
Pradesh. The Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, • During the visit, he was briefed by the General Officer
Govind Mathur, administered her the oath of Office and Commanding, 'Fire & Fury' Corps on the prevailing
Secrecy at Raj Bhawan in Lucknow. situation and operational preparedness in the Sector.
People in news • He also interacted with soldiers deployed on the Line of
Control (LC).
• IPS officer VK Johri has been appointed as the next
• He was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding-
Director General of Border Security Force. He is presently
in-Chief, Northern Command.
serving as the Special Secretary in RAW, under the Cabinet
Secretariat. PT Usha nominated for IAAF veteran pin
• Vidisha Baliyan, from Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, was • Former Olympic track and field athlete P T Usha has been
crowned Miss Deaf World 2019. The pageant was held in
nominated for the International Association of Athletics
Mbombela, South Africa. Vidisha became the first Indian
Federations Veteran Pin for her ‘long and meritorious
to bag the title.
service to the cause of World Athletics’.
Dr Samir Rawat invited to Psychology congress • She will receive the pin during the opening ceremony of
the 52nd IAAF Congress in Doha.
• Lieutenant Colonel Dr Samir Rawat invited as an eminent
• Usha is often called the 'queen of track and field'.
keynote speaker at the 32nd International Congress of
Psychology 2020 (ICP) in Prague. Sachin: 6th Indian in ICC Hall of Fame
• ICP is the most prestigious and biggest international event
• International Cricket Council has inducted Sachin
in the psychological world.
Tendulkar, Allan Donald and Cathryn Fitzpatrick into the
• Dr Samir Rawat is a combat veteran and an ardent
ICC’s Hall of Fame.
contributor in military psychology space and travels all
• Other Indians on the list are Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil
over the military world.
Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid.
Kalraj Mishra: New Governor of Himachal P. • Sachin Tendulkar has 34,357 runs across formats and is the
only batsman to have 100 internationals hundreds under
• Former Union Minister Kalraj Mishra took oath as the new
his belt.
Governor of Himachal Pradesh in Shimla.
Bernard Arnault: World's 2nd richest person
13 | P a g e
• Bill Gates has never ranked lower than No. 2 in the seven- Azim Premji to receive excellence awards
year history of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
• The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) said
• But he dropped to No. 3 behind France’s Bernard Arnault.
that Mastercard CEO and President Ajay Banga and Wipro
LVMH, Arnault’s luxury-goods maker, advanced to a record
Chairman Azim Premji will receive the 2019 Global
in Paris and pushed his net worth to $107.6 billion.
Excellence Awards at its Second Annual Leadership
• Arnault has added $39 billion to his fortune in 2019 alone. Summit in Washington on 11 July 2019.
Warburg Pincus co-CEO resigned • Jared Kushner, senior adviser to the President of the
United States, will present awards during the summit.
• Joseph Landy is stepping aside from his role of co-chief
executive of Warburg Pincus, after two decades of Rahul Gandhi resigned as President of Congress
managing one of the most renowned private equity firms.
• Rahul Gandhi officially resigned as Congress President on 3
• Warburg Pincus has invested more than $77 billion in July 2019.
more than 870 companies in over 40 countries around the
• In his resignation letter, Mr Gandhi said, he is responsible
world.
for his Congress' defeat in Lok Sabha elections.
• Charles Kaye, co-chief executive and Landy's partner, will
• The party's working committee should meet immediately
take over as the sole CEO of the PE firm.
to decide on his successor.
Christine resigned as MD of IMF • Accountability is critical for the future growth of Congress
and therefore, he resigned as party president.
• International Monetary Fund, IMF MD Christine Lagarde
has resigned ahead of a decision on her nomination to Algeria Parliament President resigned
become head of the European Central Bank, ECB.
• President of the Algerian parliament Moad Bouchareb
• If the European Council approves her nomination, she will
resigned after prolonged demands for his removal by
become the central bank's first-ever female leader,
protesters.
responsible for the Euro and the monetary policy of the
• Terbech Abderazak, a member of parliament, would take
eurozone.
over the job temporarily.
• She has been heading the IMF since 2011.
• Bouchareb is a former head of the National Liberation
Appointments and Resignations Front (FLN) party, which has ruled Algeria since
independence from France in 1962.
• BJP has appointed BL Santosh as its general secretary. He
is presently the party's joint general secretary. Aparna scaled North America's Highest Peak
• Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has resigned from
• Aparna Kumar created history by becoming the first civil
Punjab Cabinet. He sent his resignation to Congress Chief
servant and IPS officer to achieve the incredible and rare
Rahul Gandhi on 10th June 2019.
feat of completing ‘7 Summits’ challenge'.
• Gujarat Governor O.P. Kohli was accorded a farewell at a
• Kumar hoisted India's tricolour on Mount Denali in Alaska,
ceremony in Gandhinagar on completing his tenure.
USA.
Delhi girl bags ICJ internship programme • Aparna Kumar is an ITBP Dehra Dun Frontier DIG.
• She is also the first woman IPS officer to reach the South
• Isha Kanth is one of the two persons in the world to have
Pole on January 13.
bagged an internship programme at the International
•
Court of Justice based in Hague.
• She has earlier worked in rural Bihar spreading awareness Books & Authors
on the right to education and women empowerment
among children belonging to the marginalised sections. VP Venkaiah Naidu released book
• The ICJ is the principal judiciary organ of the United • Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released titled 'New-Age
Nations. Technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0' book written by
Isha Kanth bags ICJ internship programme Rajya Sabha Member, Narendra Jadhav on 25 July 2019.
• This book examines and elaborates on various dimensions
• Indian girl, Isha Kanth is one of the two persons in the of the so-called Industrial Revolution 4.0.
world to have bagged an internship programme at the • Narendra Jadhav is an Indian economist, educationist,
International Court of Justice. public policy expert, professor and writer in English,
• She has earlier worked in rural Bihar spreading awareness Marathi and Hindi.
among children belonging to the marginalised sections. PM Modi released book on Chandra Shekhar
• Headquarters: The Hague (Netherlands). • PM Modi released book on Chandra Shekhar.
• President: Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf (Somalia).
14 | P a g e
• The book titled 'Chandra Shekhar- The Last Icon of • PMAY is an initiative in which affordable housing will be
Ideological Politics’ is written by Deputy Chairman in the provided to the urban poor with a target of building 20
Rajya Sabha, Harivansh and Ravi Dutt Bajpai. million affordable houses by 31 March 2022.
• PM informed that a museum is being built at the Teen
New India-UK schme to fund students from UK
Murti Bhavan complex in New Delhi on Prime Ministers of
India. • A new India-UK bilateral pilot scheme has been launched
to support Britain's universities to collaborate with Indian
Venkaiah Naidu released 'Vivekadeepini' book
partners to send UK students to India to study.
• Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu released a • The “UKEIRI Mobility Programme: Study in India”, an
book titled Vivekadeepini. initiative of Universities UK International (UUKI) and British
• It was initially written by Adi Shankaracharya who is one of Council India, opened on 23 July 2019.
India’s greatest spiritual and literary geniuses. • It aims to generate up to 200 opportunities for
• Vivekadeepini is a summary of Prashnottara Ratnamalika undergraduate UK students.
written by Adi Shankaracharya.
8 Air Routes Made Functional Under UDAN Scheme
• It contains universal truths and are the starting point for
reflection. • Eight routes under regional connectivity scheme UDAN
have become functional.
• According to Civil Aviation Ministry, by this the total
Government Policies & Schemes number of operational routes have become 194.
PMLVMD Yojana notified by Labour Ministry • The ministry had launched the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam
Nagrik) scheme on October 21, 2016 to stimulate regional
• Santosh Kumar Gangwar-led labour ministry has notified air connectivity and make air travel affordable to the
the pension scheme for retailers and traders benefitting masses.
over three crore self-employed workers in the country on
22 July 2019. PMKSNY: 7 cr 32 lakh families received install
• The scheme, which is an extension of the PM Shram Yogi • Over 7 crore 32 lakh farmer families across the country
Maan-Dhan Yojana, will make all beneficiaries eligible for a have received the first and second instalments of Rs. 2000
monthly pension of Rs 3000 after the age of 60 at a each under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
minuscule monthly contribution. Yojana.
Government approves national permit scheme • UP with over 2 crores 20 lakh farmer families topped the
list followed by Andhra Pradesh with 72 lakh and
• The government of India has approved the national permit Maharastra 50 lakh farmers.
scheme for inter-state travel for bus operators. • PM-KISAN envisages covering approximately 14 crore 50
• The move is likely to increase the state revenue by 3-4% as lakh beneficiaries.
the money will be directly credited to the states in a
proportionate manner. Indian Cyber Crime Centre launched by MHA
• The government will also provide the online facility of • Ministry of Home Affairs has rolled out a scheme ‘Indian
obtaining a permit for the electric vehicles including buses, Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)’ for the period
car taxis, autos and bike taxis. 2018-2020, to combat cybercrime in the country, in a
Lok Sabha passes Companies (Amendment) Bill coordinated and effective manner.
• The scheme has seven components.
• The Lok Sabha passed The Companies (Amendment) Bill • The Central Government has launched the Cybercrime
2019 which seeks to amend the Companies Act 2013. Reporting Portal to enable citizens to report online
• It aims to tighten Corporate Social Responsibility content pertaining to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
compliance, transfer certain responsibilities to National
Company Law Tribunal and categorise certain offences as 'Happiness Utsav' begins in Delhi schools
civil offences. • On 16 July 2019, the Delhi government launched the
• Under the Bill, any unspent annual CSR funds must be 'Happiness Utsav' across all 1,031 schools of the
transferred to the funds under Schedule 7 of the Act. directorate to celebrate the success of the ‘happiness
PMAY approved construction of 1.4 lakh houses curriculum’.
• The first 50 minutes of each school day will be dedicated
• The Centre approved construction of nearly 1.4 lakh more to the festival with all students of the Delhi government
houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), schools taking part in it.
taking the number of houses to be built under the scheme • The festival will conclude on 31 July 2019.
to over 85 lakh.
• A total of 492 projects will cost ₹6,642 crore. Bihar: More than 52,000 placements done
15 | P a g e
• In Bihar, under Prime Minister Kaushal Vikas Yojna • The Rural Development Department is implementing the
(PMKVY) more than 52,000 placements have been done project as per the Socio-Economic Census of 2011.
during last 3 years after the training of youths. • The centre is giving 60% of the fund while the State
• Under the short term courses and training, 1.66 lakh Government is bearing the rest of the expenditure for
youths got registered out of which 1.37 lakh trained since implementation of the project.
2016 in the state.
First train under Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra
• Unemployed youths are getting their skills honed at
several institutions. • Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal flagged off the first
train under the Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra scheme from
Union HRD Minister launched Paramarsh scheme
the Safdarjung railway station on 12 July 2019.
• The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Dr. • Under the scheme, fully funded by the Delhi government,
Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched ‘Paramarsh’ – a the train will ferry 1,000 senior citizens on the Delhi-
University Grants Commission (UGC) scheme on 18 July Amritsar-Wagah Border-Anandpur Sahib tour circuit.
2019. • The scheme covers five routes of religious importance.
• It will mentor National Accreditation and Assessment
RPF launched “Operation Thirst”
Council (NAAC) Accreditation Aspirant Institutions.
• The scheme will target 1000 Higher Education Institutions • To curb the menace of unauthorized PDW (PACKAGED
for mentoring with a specific focus on quality. DRINKING WATER) in Railway premises, an all India drive
named 'Operation Thirst' was launched.
Internet Saathi to empower rural women
• In the drive all the Zonal Principal Chief Security
• Google India's 'Internet Saathi' programme is aimed Commissioners (PCSC) were asked to crackdown these
at empowering rural women on how to use the Internet. unauthorised activities.
• It has now added two more states -- Punjab and Odisha. • During the drive, 1371 persons were arrested for selling of
• With this, the programme has now reached 2.6 lakh packaged drinking water of unauthorised brands.
villages in 20 states.
Cabinet approves Transgender Persons Bill 2019
• These women, in turn, impart training to other women in
their community and neighbouring villages. • The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to introduce
• It was launched as a pilot project in 2015. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019.
• The Bill provides a mechanism for their social, economic
30 lakh people enrolled under PM-SYM scheme
and educational empowerment.
• Total 30,85,205 persons have been enrolled under • The Bill will benefit a large number of transgender
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Scheme, PM-SYM, persons, mitigate the stigma, discrimination and abuse
till 10 July 2019. against this marginalized section and bring them into the
• The government had launched the PM-SYM a voluntary mainstream of society.
and contributory pension scheme for the benefit of
'Code on Occupational Safety' approved
unorganized workers in February 2019.
• The scheme assures the minimum monthly pension of • The Cabinet has approved for introduction of the Code on
three thousand rupees to the beneficiaries after attaining Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill,
the age of 60 years. 2019 in the Parliament.
• The decision will enhance the coverage of the safety,
Meghalaya: First state to have water policy
health and working conditions provisions manifold as
• The Meghalaya became the first state to approve a draft compared to the present scenario.
water policy to address water issues, conservation, and • The New Code has been drafted after amalgamation of the
protection of water sources in the state. relevant provisions of the 13 Central Labour acts.
• As per the policy, committees will be formed at the village 'Banning of Unregulated Deposit Bill' passed
level and the issue of groundwater will also be catered
through this policy. • The Cabinet has approved the banning of Unregulated
• It will also monitor the quality of the water to check if it Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019.
has a high content of iron or if acidic. • It will replace the banning of Unregulated Deposit
Schemes Ordinance, 2019.
WB Govt decides to construct 8.3 Lakh houses
• The Bill will help tackle the menace of illicit deposit taking
• The West Bengal Government will construct 8 lakh 30 activities in the country.
thousand houses under Bangla Abas Yojana for the people • Illicit deposits, at present are exploiting regulatory gaps to
belonging to economically weaker sections. dupe poor and gullible people of their hard-earned
savings.
16 | P a g e
Odisha implemented Witness Protection Scheme AYUSH, MeitY signs MoU

• The Odisha government implemented the Centre’s • The Ministries of AYUSH and Electronics and Information
Witness Protection Scheme 2018. Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding in
• By this Odisha became the first State to implement the New Delhi.
Scheme. • It is to collaborate on the digitization of the AYUSH sector.
• On December 5 2018, Supreme Court has directed all • The Electronics and Information Technology Ministry has
States and Union Territories to endorse the scheme. agreed to give technical support to the AYUSH Ministry for
• The Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 shall be the 'law' planning and development of AYUSH GRID Project.
under Article 141 and 142 of the Constitution, till the • Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha is the Secretary of AYUSH.
enactment of suitable legislation.
Centre constitutes chief ministers’ panel
One-time settlement scheme launched
• Centre has constituted a high powered committee of Chief
• On 1 July 2019, the Uttarakhand government launched a Ministers of several states for the transformation of Indian
one-time settlement scheme for those who have taken a Agriculture.
loan of up to Rs 60 lakh from co-operative banks. • Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis will be the convenor
• The scheme has been launched to recover co-operative of the committee.
banks' Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) worth Rs 391.50 • Union Agriculture, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj
crore which has piled up over the last 25 years. Minister will also be a member of the committee.
• The 100-day scheme will last until 7 October 2019. • Besides, NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand has been
named the Member Secretary.
UGC approves new initiative STRIDE
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved a
new initiative - Scheme for Trans-disciplinary Research for
India’s Developing Economy (STRIDE).
• It is to boost research culture in the country.
• STRIDE will provide support to research projects that are
socially relevant, locally need-based, nationally important
and globally significant.
Campaign to eradicate AES launched in UP
• In UP, a large scale campaign to eradicate deadly Acute
Encephalitis Syndrome and Japanese Encephalitis disease
was launched on 1 July 2019.
• Under this state-wide campaign teams will go door to door
in every village of the 75 districts of the state to create
awareness about the communicable diseases as well as JE
and AES.
• Districts sensitive for the vector-borne diseases have been
marked.
Jal Shakti Abhiyaan launched
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched across the country from 1
July 2019 to accelerate water harvesting and conservation
measures.
• The scheme is aimed at making water conservation and
promotion of irrigation efficiency through asset creation
'Jan Choupal' programme inaugurated and communication campaigns.
• Over 250 officers have been appointed as in-charge of
• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated water-stressed districts in the country.
'Jan Choupal' program in Raipur on 3 July 2019.
• Under this new 'Jan Choupal' program, public meetings One Nation One Card scheme to be implemented
will be held once every week. • The Government will implement One nation-one ration
• The people can discuss their issues in the 'Jan Choupal' and card scheme in the whole country by 30th June 2020.
get it resolved.
17 | P a g e
• This was announced by the Union Minister of Consumer • The orbit has been increased by 9354 kilometres at the
Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan. farthest point from the earth, as compared to its initial ion
• The Food & PD department will also be implementing a during the launch.
new Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme for Fortification of • On 14th August 2019, it is planned to nudge the spacecraft
Rice and its Distribution under Public Distribution System. away from its earth-centric orbit to begin its trans-lunar
trajectory.
Science & Technology 50th anniversary of Apollo 11
3rd orbit-raising manoeuvre of Chandrayaan 2 • The 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing was
celebrated on 20 July 2019.
• ISRO was successful in completing the third earthbound • On this day, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz
orbit raising manoeuvres of Chandrayaan-2 satellite. Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon.
• The satellite is 3 steps closer to the moon. • Their lunar module, named Eagle, touched down on 20th
• Chandrayaan-2 comprising of the orbiter, the lander July, 1969.
Vikram and rover Pragyan was launched by GSLV Mark III • Ex-fighter pilot Collins remained in lunar orbit, where he
launch vehicle from Sriharikota on July 22. was in touch with ground control.
• The fourth orbit-raising manoeuvre will take place on 2
August 2019. Chandrayaan-2 launched at 2:43pm
IIT Hyderabad developed solar cells • India’s expedition to the moon was launched on 22 July
2019.
• Scientists at IIT Hyderabad have developed low-cost, • Chandrayaan-2 was launched by using the heavy-lift
environment-friendly solar cells by employing a dye used launch vehicle GSLV-Mark-Three.
to make kumkum or vermilion in India. • The rocket carrying the prestigious probe will be ignited at
• The dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) is based on New 2.43 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at
Fuchsin (NF) dye with aqueous electrolyte and platinum- Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
free counter electrodes. • Originally Chandrayaan-2 was planned to be launched on
• However, there were many drawbacks impeding the the 15th July 2019.
organic photovoltaic technology as organics are less
robust. Chandrayaan-2 to be launched on July 22
ISRO will launch Aditya L-1 solar mission • The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch the
Chandrayaan-2 on July 22, 2019.
• After the successful launch of Chandrayaan-2, the ISRO
• Chandrayaan-2 is India's second Moon mission and aims to
now looks to launch its solar mission called the Aditya L-1
land a rover on the lunar surface.
by 2020.
• The mission was scheduled to be launched at 2:51 am on
• The Aditya L-1 solar program will be studying the Sun’s July 15, 2019, but had to be called off after ISRO scientists
corona which is basically the outer layers. detected some glitches at the last moment.
• The mission will also try to understand and predict climate
change on Earth. U.S. celebrates 50 years of Apollo 11 mission
• The Aditya L-1 satellite will be inserted in a halo orbit • U.S. celebrates the Apollo 11 mission’s 50th year
about 1.5 million km from Earth. anniversary.
IIT Kharagpur develops app for elderly people • In the celebrations, new statues of Astronaut Neil
Armstrong were unveiled and an education centre was
• In a move to help geriatric care, students of IIT Kharagpur dedicated to him in Ohio, US.
have built an app which will inform the caregiver when the • Present Administrator of NASA - James Frederick
elderly person falls down with the exact location. Bridenstine.
• ‘CARE4U’ the android-based app will connect the caregiver • Headquarters - Washington, D.C.
to the elderly person.
• CARE4U can also detect emotions and whenever the Chandrayaan-2 launch called off
elderly opens the app, the phone takes his picture and a • ISRO has called off the launch of India's second mission to
mood index is calculated. Moon - Chandrayaan-2 onboard GSLV MkIII-M1 due to a
Earth-bound orbit of Chandrayaan-2 raised technical snag.
• The countdown for the launch scheduled was stopped 56
• The earth-bound orbit of Chandrayaan-2 has further been minutes and 24 seconds before lift-off following the
raised, in preparation of its journey to the South Pole of announcement from the Mission Control Centre.
the moon.
18 | P a g e
• It was supposed to explore the lunar south pole, 11 years • NASA carried out a successful test of a 'launch-abort
after ISRO's successful 1st mission - Chandrayaan-1. system' for the Orion capsule designed to take U.S.
astronauts to the Moon.
Japan lands spacecraft on distant asteroid
• It aimed to test in almost real-life conditions the
• Japanese scientists have successfully landed an unmanned evacuation of astronauts from the capsule in the event of
spacecraft, Hayabusa 2, on the distant asteroid Ryugu for an explosion or rocket booster failure.
the second time as part of an ongoing mission to help • In the test, an unmanned Orion capsule was launched by a
explore the origins of the solar system. mini-rocket.
• The spacecraft first arrived at the asteroid in June 2018 to
TESS discovered its smallest exoplanet
carry out experiments.
• Hayabusa 2 will depart Ryugu in December 2019 and • TESS’ (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) most recent
return to Earth by the end of 2020. discoveries include a 3-planet system that orbits a star
located 35 light-years from Earth.
Indian scientists develop 'black gold'
• One of the planets, L 98-59b, is between the sizes of Earth
• Scientists at the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of and Mars – effectively making it the smallest exoplanet
Fundamental Research (TIFR) developed a new material discovered by TESS to date.
called 'Black Gold'. • The discovery also highlights the sophistication of TESS
• Scientists used gold nanoparticles and by rearranging size and doubles the number of small exoplanets.
and gaps between them developed a new material.
• It has unique properties such as the capacity to absorb
light and carbon dioxide. Committee & Recommendation
• It could also act as a catalyst and could convert carbon Nepali, Santhali to be included in fellowships
dioxide into methane.
• Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has announced to
Mysterious Black Hole Disc discovered include Nepali and Santhali languages in the Sub-Field of
• Using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have Literature for award of Senior or Junior Fellowships to
discovered a disc very close to a starving black hole. Outstanding Artistes.
• The unexpected thin disc of material was found encircling • The Ministry administers a scheme namely Award of
a supermassive black hole at the heart of the spiral galaxy Senior or Junior Fellowships to Outstanding Artistes in the
NGC 3147, located 130 million light-years away. Fields of Culture.
• A black hole is a region of space time exhibiting • The fellowships are awarded for undertaking research
gravitational acceleration so strong that nothing can oriented projects.
escape from it. Pakistan opens historic Hindu temple in Punjab
World’s First Interactive Browser Launched • Pakistan has opened a 1,000 year old Hindu temple in
• Popshot, the world’s first ever interactive browser built for Sialkot for worship for the first time since partition on the
smartphones, launches in India. demand of the local Hindu community.
• Popshot is a smart app that changes the way people • The Shawala Teja Singh temple, located in city’s congested
explore, share, and save the web through a first-of-its-kind Dhaarowal locality, some 100 km from Lahore, is more
interactive screenshot feature. than 1,000 years old, according to the book ‘History of
• This promises to redefine the users’ digital capabilities in Sialkot’ by the late Rashid Niaz.
exploring, bookmarking and sharing content by making it • PM - Imran Khan.
more visual, organized and direct. • President - Arif Alvi.
Vertical steep dive version of Brahmos tested Miscellaneous News
• India has successfully tested the vertical steep dive version • India has signed a deal worth around Rs 1,500 crore to
of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile that changes the acquire R-27 air-to-air missiles from Russia to be equipped
dynamics of conventional war fare. on the Su-30MKI combat aircraft. The R-27 missile is a
• The CEO of Bramhos Aerospace Dr. Sudhir Mishra said that medium-to-long-range air-to-air missile for MiG and
the 'Made in India' Brahmos Aerospace is also ready with a Sukhoi series of fighter jets.
longer 500 km range version of the Brahmos missile. • Infosys launched its state-of-the-art Cyber Defence Center
• It can be fired from Sukhoi 30 fighter jets. in Bucharest, Romania. CEO and MD of Infosys - Salil
Parekh.
NASA tests launch-abort system
Computer that can predict India's pollution
19 | P a g e
• With the 'smog season' in just a few months away, US and senior leader Ambika Krishna was heading the APFDC
Chinese scientists have developed a novel computer chairman post.
model that can help accurately predict air pollution levels • Senior BJP leader Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri is all set to
in the region a season in advance. become the new Speaker of the Karnataka state Assembly.
• The statistical model, described in the journal Science
Parliament passed the Muslim Women Bill 2019
Advances, uses certain climatic patterns related to the
ocean which have a regulatory effect on the air pollution • Parliament passed the Muslim Women (Protection of
over northern India. Rights on Marriage) Bill 2019.
• This act will free Muslim women from the practice of
South Asia Air Quality Tech Camp in Kathmandu
Triple Talaq.
• The U.S. Embassy in Nepal has organized a South Asia Air • This bill is a historic step to protect the dignity of Muslim
Quality Tech Camp in Kathmandu. women and keep it intact.
• The aim of camp is to address political, social, and • It will bring a new era of hope and respect in the lives of
scientific facets of the problem and engage governments, Muslim women.
empower the public and take action to improve air quality
22nd Nat. Conference to be held at Shillong
in South Asia.
• Participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, • The 22nd National Conference on e-Governance 2019 will
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka attended the camp. be held on 8-9th August, 2019 at Shillong, Meghalaya.
• This is the first time the event is being organized in North-
President Kovind reaches Gambia
Eastern region of the country.
• President Ramnath Kovind has reached at the Banjul • This Conference provides a platform to disseminate
Airport, Gambia on his second leg of his three Nations knowledge on effective methods of designing.
visit. • The theme of this Conference is 'Digital India: Success to
• This is the first-ever state visit to the Gambia by an Indian Excellence'.
President.
Indian IT companies contributed 57.2 bn $
• The National Assembly building complex in Banjul is one of
the prominent projects in west Africa built under the line • Indian IT companies contributed 57.2 billion dollars to the
of credit extended by India. GDP of the US in 2017.
• Gambian President - Adama Barrow. • India-based global IT services companies employ more
Domestic banks can sell NPAs abroad than 175,000 workers in the US accounting for 8.4 per cent
of employment in the computer systems design industry.
• The Reserve Bank of India allowed domestic banks to • The two-way investments between India and the US have
directly sell their bad loans in manufacturing and reached about 60 billion dollars.
infrastructure sectors to investors abroad as part of one-
RBI relaxed Ext Commercial Borrowing norms
time settlement (OTS) exercises.
• The move will allow overseas investors to take direct loan • The RBI has liberalised the end-use stipulations for the
exposure to Indian corporates. External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) both for
• It will also allow companies to raise cheap, long-term loans corporates as well as liquidity starved non-banking
easily now. lenders.
• The liberalisation will be applicable to ECBs taken for
Appointments II
working capital, general corporate purpose loans or
• The Reserve Bank of India said Economic Affairs Secretary repayment of rupee loans.
Atanu Chakraborty has been nominated on its central • The RBI also issued a revised circular for bankers capturing
board. Last week, former economic affairs secretary Garg the changes.
was shunted to the power ministry in a bureaucratic
Venugopal Rao announces retirement
reshuffle announced by the government.
• Tata Motors said its shareholders have approved • Former India batsman and Andhra Pradesh skipper
appointment of N Chandrasekaran as director on the Venugopal Rao announced retirement from all forms of
company's board. the game.
Appointments II • He made his debut against Sri Lanka at Dambulla on July
30, 2005.
• The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to appoint • He played his last ODI against West Indies at Basseterre on
YCP leader and Telugu comedian Ali as the new chairman May 23, 2006.
of AP Film Development Corporation (APFDC). Earlier, TDP
Sports
20 | P a g e
• Indian Test opener Prithvi Shaw has been suspended by establishing authorities for timely and effective
the BCCI till November 15, 2019, for a doping violation. administration and settlement of consumers’ dispute.
Shaw had inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, • Lok Sabha also passed the Code on Wages Bill, 2019 that
which can be commonly found in cough syrups. seeks to regulate wage and bonus payments in all
• B.Sai Praneeth has jumped four places to enter in the top employments where any industry, trade, business, or
20 players in the latest World Badminton Rankings. manufacture is carried out.
Praneeth is now World No.19 in Men's Singles badminton
Tarun Chaudhri: 1st pilot to skydive jump
ranking.
• Wing commander Tarun Chaudhri became the first pilot of
Atal Mission to launch new program
Indian Armed Forces (IAF ) to do a wingsuit jump.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) will launch a new • The jump was accomplished by Chaudhri from a Mi-17
programme for Community Innovation in New Delhi on 31 helicopter from an altitude of 8500 feet.
July 2019. • This is the first flying wingsuit jump demonstration at an
• The new initiative aims to encourage the spirit of organised gathering.
innovation in the country. • The jump was undertaken during the Kargil Diwas
• The Atal Innovation Mission is a flagship initiative set up by celebrations at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 21-22 July
the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and 2019.
entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the
3rd orbit-raising manoeuvre of Chandrayaan 2
country.
• ISRO was successful in completing the third earthbound
Obituaries
orbit raising manoeuvres of Chandrayaan-2 satellite.
• Founder of the Cafe Coffee Day chain V G Siddhartha who • The satellite is 3 steps closer to the moon.
went missing over the Netravati river bridge was found • Chandrayaan-2 comprising of the orbiter, the lander
dead on 31 July 2019. His body was fished out from the Vikram and rover Pragyan was launched by GSLV Mark III
backwaters of the river near Ullal. launch vehicle from Sriharikota on July 22.
• Former RBI Deputy Governor and renowned economist • The fourth orbit-raising manoeuvre will take place on 2
Subir Gokarn passed away on 30 July 2019. He served as August 2019.
Deputy Governor of the RBI between 2009 & 2013, during
the tenure of Governor D Subbarao
New Finance Secretary of India: Rajiv Kumar
• Senior IAS officer Rajiv Kumar will be the new Finance
Secretary of India.
• Kumar will succeed Subhash Chandra Garg as the Finance
Secretary.
• The Finance Secretary holds the top bureaucratic position
among the five department of the Finance Ministry -
economic affairs, revenue, expenditure, financial services
and department of investment and public asset
management.
Parliament passed Companies (Amendment) Bill
• Parliament has passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill,
2019, as the Rajya Sabha approved it.
• The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill.
• The Bill seeks to amend the Companies Act, 2013.
• It aims to tighten Corporate Social Responsibility-CSR
compliance, transfer certain responsibilities to National
Company Law Tribunal and recategorise certain offences
as civil offences.
Bills passed
• Lok Sabha passed the Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 that
aims at protecting the interests of consumers by
21 | P a g e
India offered US$ 100 mn to Benin • He was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of
Patna High Court Amreshwar Pratap Shahi at the Raj
• India has emerged as the largest trading partner of Benin
Bhavan in Patna.
with 2-way trade crossing US$ 800 million.
• Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil
• Fresh Line of Credit worth US$ 100 million for
Kumar Modi and several other leaders were present
developmental projects in Benin was also announced.
during the ceremony.
• President Ram Nath Kovind reached Cotonou, Benin on 28
July 2019 on the first leg of his state visits to three West India and Myanmar signed MoU
African nations – Benin, Gambia and Guinea.
• India and Myanmar signed a Memorandum of
Odisha Rasagola gets GI tag Understanding on defence co-operation.
• Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (MAH), Commander-in-
• The rasagola, a popular dessert of Odisha, has received the
Chief of Defence Services (CDS) of the Republic of Union of
geographical indication tag from the Registrar of
Myanmar, is currently on an official visit to India from 25th
Geographical Indication after years of controversy around
July-2nd August 2019.
the sweet.
• India has steadily increased defence co-operation with
• The registration was conferred to ‘Odisha Rasagola’ under
Myanmar in recent years.
Section 16(I) or of authorized Section 17(3)(c) of
Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and RBI slapped fine on Mobikwik and Hip Bar
Protection) Act 1999 on 29 July 2019.
• The RBI has imposed a fine of about Rs.26 lakh on 2 online
Sports payment solutions providers for non-compliance of
regulatory guidelines.
• Former France and Manchester United defender Patrice
• Mobikwik Systems Private Limited has been slapped a fine
Evra has announced his retirement. He had played 81
of 15 lakh rupees while Hip Bar Pvt Ltd faced a fine of
times for France and also captained the side at the 2010
10.85 lakh rupees.
World Cup in South Africa.
• Bipin Preet Singh is the CEO of Mobikwik, while Venkata
• American Collin Morikawa has won the US PGA title at the
Prashant Rao Adurty is the CEO of Hip Bar.
Barracuda Championship. This was his 1st win in the US
PGA title. US’s Troy Merritt finished as the runner up of Obituaries
the event.
• In Gujarat, senior BJP leader and former Lok Sabha MP
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Vithalbhai Radadiya passed away in July 2019. The six-time
MLA also served as a Minister in the Gujarat government.
• UN observes 30 July every year as World Day Against
• Telangana's senior Congress leader and former minister
Trafficking.
Mukesh Goud passed away in Hyderabad in July 2019. He
• In 2013, the General Assembly designated July 30 as the
was suffering from cancer.
World Day against Trafficking in Persons to raise
awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking Helpline Jeene Do launched in J&K
and for the promotion and protection of their rights.
• In Jammu and Kashmir, District Administration Udhampur
• The tagline for 2019 is: Human Trafficking: call your
has launched a helpline, 'Jeene Do'.
government to action.
• The objective is to improve sex ratio and deal with
India signed MoUs with Benin defaulters of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic
Techniques or PCPNDT Act under the Centrally sponsored
• India and Benin signed four MoUs on education, health
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme.
and e-visa facilities.
• A Mobile Number -9469793363 has been dedicated to the
• The agreement was signed on mutual exemption of visa
Public to register complaints regarding this.
requirement of diplomatic and official passports and on
the fresh line of credit of 100 million US $ by India to Person in News
finance development projects in Benin.
• Karnataka Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar
• 2 more MoUs were signed on tele education program e-
announced his resignation after the House adopted the
vidyabharati and Tele medicine initiative e-Arogyabharati.
confidence motion moved by Chief Minister B S
Fagu Chauhan: New Bihar Governor Yediyurappa and passed the Appropriation Bill.
• Anandiben Patel took oath as the Governor of Uttar
• Fagu Chauhan, a six-time member of the Uttar Pradesh
Pradesh. The Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court,
Assembly, was sworn in as the 29th Governor of Bihar on
Govind Mathur, administered her the oath of Office and
29 July 2019.
Secrecy at Raj Bhawan in Lucknow.
ICC launched World Test Championship
22 | P a g e
• ICC officially launched the inaugural World Test fantasy sports gaming sector, on July 29, appointed Justice
Championship (WTC), which will get underway on 1 August A K Sikri as its ombudsman and ethics officer.
2019. • Bandhan Bank announced the appointment of Siddhartha
• To be played over two years, the World Test Championship Sanyal as chief economist and head of research who will
will witness the top 9 Test teams in the world compete in spearhead the bank's research and business strategy.
71 Test matches across 27 series.
Bill to ban unregulated deposit schemes passed
• The 2 top teams will then go head to head in the World
Test Championship final to be held in the United Kingdom • Parliament passed the Banning of Unregulated Deposit
in 2021. Schemes Bill 2019 with the Rajya Sabha approving it
unanimously.
12,000 children killed and injured in conflict
• A UN report said that more than 12,000 children were • The bill seeks to provide for a comprehensive mechanism
killed and injured in armed conflicts in 2018. to ban the unregulated deposit schemes other than
• Afghanistan, Palestine, Syria and Yemen topped the deposits taken in the ordinary course of businesses and to
casualty list. protect the interest of depositors.
• According to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' annual TN girl won gold medal in World Deaf title
report to the Security Council on Children and Armed
Conflict, deaths and injuries were among more than • Tamil Nadu girl Jerlin Anika has won the gold medal in the
24,000 grave violations against children verified by the UN. World Deaf Youth Badminton Championships held in
Taipei.
IN LCU L56 ship commissioned into Indian Navy
• Anika bagged four medals in the championship, including
• The sixth ship of the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class, the gold, two silver and one bronze.
IN LCU L56, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 29 • The President of Taiwan is Tsai Ing-wen and the Currency
July 2019. of Taiwan is Taiwanese Dollar.
• Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, Eastern Naval Command
Egan Bernal claimed Tour de Title
commissioned the ship in Visakhapatnam.
• LCU L56 is an amphibious ship with its primary role being • Egan Bernal became the first Colombian to win the Tour
transportation and deployment of Main Battle Tanks, de France when he retained the overall leader’s yellow
Armoured Vehicles, Troops and Equipment from ship to jersey after 21st and final stage won by Caleb Ewan of
shore. Australia.
• He beat Geraint Thomas of Britain with Dutchman Steven
India, Mozambique signed 2 MoUs
Kruijswijk coming home third.
• India and Mozambique signed two MoU on sharing white • Slovakian Peter Sagan wrapped up a record seventh green
shipping information and co-operation in the field of jersey for the points classification.
Hydrography.
Sports I
• The agreement will further strengthen the ongoing Indo-
Mozambican Defence co-operation and India Mozambique • World number one Brooks Koepka celebrated a three-
relations in general. stroke victory and claimed his maiden World Golf
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is on a 3-day visit to Championship. He defeated Rory Mcllory.
Mozambique. • In the Freedom Cup, New Zealand’s All Blacks and the
South African Springboks shared the trophy after the two
Report of green ratings released
teams ended with a 16-16 draw.
• Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar released
Sports II
the latest report of green ratings on fertilizer sector in
New Delhi on 29 July 2019. • Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad set new 400 meter
• Centre for Science and Environment along with its Green hurdles record in 52.20 seconds, smashed previous mark
rating project, prepared the report based on 42 of 52.34 seconds. McLaughlin finished second in
parameters. 52.88, with Spencer third in 53.11.
• The government is working to boost environmental • The third edition of Khelo India Youth Games will be held
protection incentives which are must to encourage people. in Guwahati in 2020. Games to be held from 18th January
next year, will see participation of more than 10,000
Appointments
athletes and officials.
• The Indian Federation of Sports Gaming (IFSG), India’s first IIT Hyderabad developed solar cells
and only self-regulatory industry body for the online
23 | P a g e
• Scientists at IIT Hyderabad have developed low-cost, DD News, Mayank Agrawal received the Award from Lok
environment-friendly solar cells by employing a dye used Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
to make kumkum or vermilion in India. • International sand artist, Padmashri Sudarsan Pattnaik
• The dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) is based on New won People's Choice Prize at Boston International Sand Art
Fuchsin (NF) dye with aqueous electrolyte and platinum- Championship in the US. He was among the 15 top sand
free counter electrodes. artists selected from across the world.
• However, there were many drawbacks impeding the World Hepatitis Day: 28 July
organic photovoltaic technology as organics are less
robust. • WHO observes 28 July every year as World Hepatitis Day
to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis.
Yediyurappa won trust vote
• It is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr Baruch
• Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa sails through successfully Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus (HBV) and
by winning the Trust Vote on BJP's own strength in the developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
Legislative Assembly on 29 July 2019. • The theme for 2019 is 'Invest in eliminating hepatitis'.
• Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, who took up the motion • Pakistan is the host country this year.
moved by the Yediyurappa, declared that the motion was
Nikoloz won German Tennis Championships
passed by voice vote.
• Congress-JDS Coalition Government failed to sail through • Nikoloz Basilashvili emerged victorious after a three-set
Trust vote since more than 17 MLAs rebelled against. battle with Andrey Rublev to successfully defend his title
at the German Tennis Championships.
Tiger estimation report released
• The reigning champion claimed his 12th straight win in
• On International Tiger Day Prime Minister Narendra Modi Hamburg 7-5 4-6 6-3.
released the results of 4th cycle of the All India Tiger • With the win, he has become first player to win the event
Estimation. in successive years since Roger Federer in 2004-2005.
• He also presented an award to Sathyamanglam Tiger
Himalayan Conclave held in Mussoorie
Reserve, for showing the highest increment in the four-
year Management Effective Evaluation. • In Uttarakhand, a Himalayan Conclave was held in
• The report says India, with around 3,000 tigers, is one of Mussoorie on 29 July 2019.
safest habitats for them in the world. • The objective was to discuss various issues related to the
development of the Himalayan States.
IAF got 1st batch of 4 Apache attack
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the
• US aerospace major Boeing handed over the first four of conclave as the chief guest.
the 22 Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force on • The main agenda for the conclave was water conservation,
27 July 2019. with focus on conserving rivers, glaciers, lakes and water
• Additional four choppers will be delivered to the IAF next bodies.
week.
Mary Kom, Simranjit won gold
• The AH-64E Apache, also flown by the US army, is one of
the world's most advanced multi-role combat helicopters. • Mary Kom in 51kg category and Simranjit Kaur in 60kg
• This will be the Indian army's first fleet of attack choppers. category grabbed a gold each in 23rd President's Cup
Boxing Tournament in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia.
President Kovind to visit 3 African countries
• Mary decimated Australian April Franks 5-0 in finals.
• President Ram Nath Kovind left on a state visit to three • Simranjit Kaur defeated Indonesia's Hasanah Huswatun 5-
African countries Benin, The Gambia and Guinea on 28 July 0 in the finals.
2019. • Indian boxers finished their campaign in the tournament
• The 7-day visit will be the first high-level tour of any Indian with 9 medals. The rich haul comprised 7 gold and 2 silver.
President to the three West African countries.
Max clinched German Grand Prix
• Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Minister of State for
MSME/Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, and • Red Bull's driver Max Verstappen clinched the rain-hit
Member of Parliament, Dilip Ghosh, accompanied the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim on 28 July 2019.
President. • Verstappen now has the second title of the Formula One
season.
Awards and Honours
• Four-time former champion Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel
• DD News was awarded Champions of Empathy Award for claimed the second spot after starting from the rear of the
spreading awareness about hepatitis. Director General of grind.
24 | P a g e
• Russian Daniil Kvyat achieved the third spot for Toro • He will hold talks with President, Defence Minister,
Rosso. Foreign Minister and Interior Minister of Mozambique
during his visit.
Chandigarh received affiliation from BCCI
• India and Mozambique will sign bilateral agreements to
• Chandigarh has finally received affiliation from the BCCI, boost military cooperation.
thus providing an opportunity for the city cricketers to play • During his visit, India will also hand over two fast
in BCCI tournament. interceptor boats and 44 SUVs to Mozambique.
• Chandigarh cricketers, who were earlier forced to
People in news
represent Punjab or Haryana, can now directly represent
the city. • IPS officer VK Johri has been appointed as the next
• The city can also now have their own team in the Ranji Director General of Border Security Force. He is presently
Trophy. serving as the Special Secretary in RAW, under the Cabinet
• Delhi is the only other Union Territory with BCCI affiliation. Secretariat.
• Vidisha Baliyan, from Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, was
India-Nepal Logistics Summit inaugurated
crowned Miss Deaf World 2019. The pageant was held in
• Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli inaugurated Mbombela, South Africa. Vidisha became the first Indian
the India-Nepal Logistics Summit in Kathmandu on 28 July to bag the title.
2019.
Obituaries
• The theme of the summit was Transforming Logistics
Landscape. • Former Union minister S Jaipal Reddy passed away in
• Nepal and India have a significant volume of trade, Hyderabad in July 2019.
investment, tourism and people-to-people movement for • Meghalaya Assembly Speaker and former Chief Minister
which smooth and quality logistics including easy transit Donkupar Roy passed away in July 2019.
facilities is very essential. • Tulu playwright and former chairman of Karnataka Tulu
Sahitya Academy M.K. Seetharama Kulal passed away in
July 2019.
• Veteran actor Russi Taylor, who voiced Disney's Minnie
Mouse for more than 30 years passed away.
Global Tiger Day: 29 July
• Global Tiger Day is celebrated across the world on 29 July.
• This day is observed every year to create awareness about
tiger conservation and protection of natural habitat of
tigers.
• Due to concerted efforts under Project Tiger, at present
India has the distinction of having the maximum number
of tigers in the world.
• From 1706 in 2010, tiger population has increased to 2226
in 2014.
GIIS to launch India's first smart school
• The Singapore-headquartered Global Indian International
School (GIIS) will launch India's first SMART campus in
Pune.
• The SMART Campus has features to enhance learning
outcomes for the students with the use of SMART Campus
pedagogy and to prepare the students for the future.
• Also, for the first time in India, GIIS will introduce Sports
Analytics at the school level.
NPCI ties up with JCB for global RuPay card
Rajnath Singh on a 3-day visit to Mozambique • The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and JCB
International, along with domestic banks, have launched
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Maputo on a 3- RuPay JCB Global Cards.
day visit to Mozambique.
25 | P a g e
• The cards will be accepted in India at all POS terminals and • A four-day global expert meeting on shark trade was
ATMs that accept JCB cards. organised in Kochi on 24 July 2019.
• NPCI had earlier tied up with Discover for international • The aim of the meeting was to address deep knowledge
cards. gaps and support the management of existing shark and
ray fishery across the globe.
All lanes at toll plazas to be ‘FASTag lanes’
• The event was jointly organised by the Food and
• To ensure seamless traffic and prevent congestion at toll Agriculture Organisation and the Central Marine Fisheries
plazas, the government decided to declare all lanes at toll Research Institute (CMFRI).
fee plaza on national highways as ‘FASTag lanes’ from 1
Appointments
December 2019.
• Among all lanes, one ‘hybrid lane’ will be allowed at every • IFS officer Sanjeev Kumar Singla has been appointed the
toll plaza to facilitate and monitor over-dimensional or Private Secretary (PS) to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
oversized vehicles, where FASTag and other modes of • Bandhan Bank has appointed State Bank of India's Sanjeev
payment will be accepted. Naryani as its head of the business.
Government ban on colistin for use in poultry • Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Manoj Mukund
Naravane has been appointed the next vice-chief of Indian
• The Centre has issued an order banning the last line Army.
antibiotic, colistin, for use in animals.
Gujarat tops in solar rooftop installations
• Colistin is an antibiotic meant for therapeutic purposes in
veterinary but this drug is highly misused in the poultry • In the area of solar rooftop installations, Gujarat has stood
industry as a growth promoter for prophylactic purpose. first in the country with total 261.97 megawatts (MW) of
• One of the reasons for anti-microbial resistance in India is installed rooftop solar capacity as on 23 July 2019.
due to unwanted use of the drug in poultry industry. • As per the Central government data, total rooftop solar
installations in India is 1700.54 MW.
ISRO will launch Aditya L-1 solar mission
• Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have solar rooftop
• After the successful launch of Chandrayaan-2, the ISRO installations at 198.52 MW and 151.62 MW respectively.
now looks to launch its solar mission called the Aditya L-1
Vande Bharat completes trial run
by 2020.
• The Aditya L-1 solar program will be studying the Sun’s • India's fastest train Vande Bharat Express's trial run from
corona which is basically the outer layers. New Delhi to Katra was successfully conducted by the
• The mission will also try to understand and predict climate Indian Railways' Northern Railway zone.
change on Earth. • Vande Bharat's second trial run was successfully
• The Aditya L-1 satellite will be inserted in a halo orbit completed in Kanpur Central Railway station earlier in July
about 1.5 million km from Earth. 2019.
• Vande Bharat express, also dubbed as 'Train 18', can run
Wipro launches digital product compliance lab
up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
• On 24 July 2019, IT major Wipro announced the launch of
Centre proposes light urban rail 'Metrolite'
its global Digital Product Compliance lab in Hyderabad.
• The lab will offer integrated digital product testing services • The Centre has proposed light urban rail transit system -
to ensure compliance with international standards for 'Metrolite' - in small cities and towns having a lower
reliability, safety and security for customers across projection of ridership, with each train having three
industries. coaches and a restricted speed of 25 kmph.
• The new lab is equipped with environment chambers • 'Metrolite' system which will be developed on the surface
designed to test products. and elevated stretches.
• Metrolite platforms will not have AFC gates, platform
RBI launches banking framework 'Utkarsh 2022'
screen doors, X-ray and baggage scanner.
• RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das launched Utkarsh 2022, the
IIT Kharagpur develops app for elderly people
central banks' medium-term strategy framework on 23
July 2019. • In a move to help geriatric care, students of IIT Kharagpur
• The framework has been launched to achieve excellence in have built an app which will inform the caregiver when the
the performance of RBI's mandates and strengthening the elderly person falls down with the exact location.
trust of citizens and other institutions. • ‘CARE4U’ the android-based app will connect the caregiver
• The strategic framework contains, the RBI's mission, core to the elderly person.
purpose, values and vision statements.
Kochi hosts global meet on shark trade
26 | P a g e
• CARE4U can also detect emotions and whenever the • A committee has been constituted under the Department
elderly opens the app, the phone takes his picture and a for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to
mood index is calculated. examine issues related to FDI in the e-commerce sector.
• The committee will be headed by an additional secretary-
China’s Tiangong 2 was Destroyed by China
level officer from the DPIIT.
• On 19 July 2019, China’s Tiangong-2 space laboratory • According to the current policy, 100% FDI is allowed in the
successfully entered Earth’s atmosphere under controlled marketplace format of e-commerce retailing.
conditions and burned up above the South Pacific Ocean.
PMLVMD Yojana notified by Labour Ministry
• Tiangong-2 was launched into orbit on 15 September
2016. • Santosh Kumar Gangwar-led labour ministry has notified
• In total, the station spent over 1,000 days in orbit, the pension scheme for retailers and traders benefitting
exceeding its proposed 2-year lifespan considerably, and over three crore self-employed workers in the country on
orbited Earth 16,209 times. 22 July 2019.
• The scheme, which is an extension of the PM Shram Yogi
Agreement signed b/w India and Aireon
Maan-Dhan Yojana, will make all beneficiaries eligible for a
• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed a contract monthly pension of Rs 3000 after the age of 60 at a
to use the Aireon space-based surveillance system to track minuscule monthly contribution.
aircraft in the oceanic airspace regions off Mumbai,
Chennai and Kolkata.
• The agreement immediately provides AAI surveillance • Jordan has unveiled its first underwater military museum
coverage of regions in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and off the coast of Aqaba.
the Indian Ocean, representing 6 million sq km. • The vehicles, including tanks, troop carriers and a
• Aireon is based in Virginia in the USA. helicopter, imitating a battle formation, have been
stationed at a coral reef in the Red Sea.
Dr Samir Rawat invited to Psychology congress
• Aqaba is the lone port city of Jordan and is a popular
• Lieutenant Colonel Dr Samir Rawat invited as an eminent destination for divers.
keynote speaker at the 32nd International Congress of
BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting
Psychology 2020 (ICP) in Prague.
• ICP is the most prestigious and biggest international event • India along with other BRICS nations called on all states to
in the psychological world. prevent the financing of terrorist networks and terrorist
• Dr Samir Rawat is a combat veteran and an ardent actions from their territories during the meeting of the
contributor in military psychology space and travels all BRICS Foreign Ministers in Brazil on 27 July 2019.
over the military world. • India was represented by Minister of State for Road
Transport and Highways VK Singh.
UP becomes No. 1 in implementation of PSBY
• BRICS consists of five nations Brazil, Russia, India, China
• Uttar Pradesh has become number one in implementation and South Africa.
of Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (PSBY) in the
country.
• 1.95 crores people have been given insurance cover under • Iran has test-launched a medium-range ballistic missile
the scheme till 31 march 2019. inside its borders.
• Under PSBY, people between the age group of 18 to 70 get • The missile, a Shahab-3, is a liquid-fuelled, medium-range
an accidental insurance cover of rupees 2 lakh at a ballistic weapon capable of carrying a nuclear weapon.
premium of 12 rupees annually. • It is derived from a North Korean missile called the
Nodong-A and can fly up to 2000 kilometres.
ICMR launches forum to improve data collection
Nikhat and Deepak won silver medal in boxing
• The Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) National
Institute for Medical Statistics, in partnership with • In Boxing, former junior world champion Nikhat Zareen in
Population Council, launched the National Data Quality 51 kg and Asian silver-winner Deepak Singh in 49 kg
Forum (NDQF) on 24 July 2019. category won silver medals in the Thailand Open
• NDQF will integrate learnings from scientific and evidence- International Tournament in Bangkok on 27 July 2019.
based initiatives. • Deepak Singh lost to Mirzakhmedov Nodirjon of
• Its activities will help establish protocols and good Uzbekistan and Nikhat bowed out to Chang Yuan of China.
practices of data collection and storage.
GST rates reduced on Electrical Vehicles
Committee formed for issues related to FDI
27 | P a g e
• The GST Council has decided to reduce GST Rate on • The commissioner of the Art and Culture department will
Electrical Vehicles from 12% to 5%. be the member secretary.
• The new rates will come into effect from the 1 August
7th Economic Census to be launched in Tripura
2019.
• The Council also approved an exemption from GST on the • The fieldwork of the 7th Economic Census will be launched
hiring of Electric Buses by local authorities. in Tripura on 29 July 2019.
• It also decided to reduce the rate on Electric Vehicle • The fieldwork in other State/ UTs will be launched in
Chargers from 18% to 5%. August/ September 2019.
• The enumerators and supervisors engaged by CSC have
Tree Plantation Programme launched Arunachal
been trained to collect data on a mobile application
• Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on 25 July developed for data capture, validation, report generation
2019 launched the State-wide tree plantation programme and dissemination.
– ‘Clean-Green Arunachal Campaign 2019’ – by kickstarting
High-level committee formed for Olympics
the campaign by planting 1 lakh tree saplings within the
next 24 hours. • A high-level 10-member Committee has been constituted
• The campaign is being held as part of Van Mahotsav under the Chairmanship of Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju to
celebration has also set the target of planting 1 crore tree coordinate and strategise the preparation for the 2020 and
within the next five years. 2024 Olympics.
• The objective of the committee is to ensure that the
Meryl Streep to receive Award at TIFF 2019
performance of the Indian athletes is optimised in the
• Veteran star Meryl Streep will be honoured Tribute Actor Olympics and other multidisciplinary events.
award at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.
Government approves national permit scheme
• She will be the first-ever recipient of the award.
• Her next film 'The Laundromat', about the Panama Papers • The government of India has approved the national permit
scandal, is among the films that will be screened at the scheme for inter-state travel for bus operators.
film festival. • The move is likely to increase the state revenue by 3-4% as
the money will be directly credited to the states in a
IBBI amends norms for liquidation process
proportionate manner.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has • The government will also provide the online facility of
amended norms pertaining to insolvency resolution obtaining a permit for the electric vehicles including buses,
process for corporate persons and liquidation process. car taxis, autos and bike taxis.
• The amendments specify the process for withdrawal of
B.S Yediyurappa sworn in as CM of Karnataka
applications before the constitution of Committee of
Creditors (CoC) and other scenarios. • B S Yediyurappa was sworn in as Chief Minister of
• CoC has to approve a plan providing for contribution for Karnataka on 26 July 2019.
meeting the liquidation costs • Yediyurappa has the record of taking the oath of office as
Chief Minister for the fourth time.
Delhi Cabinet nod for 22 commercial courts
• He served as Chief Minister of Karnataka from 2008 to
• The Delhi Cabinet approved proposals for establishing 22 2011.
new commercial courts and 18 permanent fast-track
Lok Sabha passes Companies (Amendment) Bill
courts in the national capital.
• The commercial courts will enable quicker disposal of • The Lok Sabha passed The Companies (Amendment) Bill
disputes and improve the city's ease-of-doing-business 2019 which seeks to amend the Companies Act 2013.
rank. • It aims to tighten Corporate Social Responsibility
• Nearly 89,000 civil cases are pending with 59 subordinate compliance, transfer certain responsibilities to National
courts in the city. Company Law Tribunal and categorise certain offences as
civil offences.
Nagaland government sets up committee
• Under the Bill, any unspent annual CSR funds must be
• The Nagaland government has set up a four-member transferred to the funds under Schedule 7 of the Act.
committee to compile the customary practices and usages
New vine snake species discovered
of all the tribes of the state.
• The committee will be headed by the Chief secretary. • Researchers from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
• The other members of the committee are Home have discovered a new vine snake species in the southern
commissioner, secretary of Justice and Law departments. Western Ghats.
28 | P a g e
• The species 'Proahaetulla antiqua' is believed to have • Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, Adhir
evolved around 26 million years ago. Ranjan Chowdhury, was appointed as the chairman of the
• The vine snake species are not only a new species but also Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
belong to a new genus. • Chowdhury is the lone member of the party in the PAC
from the House.
Scaly foot snail declared endangered
• The appointment was made by Lok Sabha Speaker Om
• Researchers of Queen’s University Belfast found that the Birla.
scaly-foot snail is the first species to be declared • The PAC has 15 members from the Lok Sabha and seven
endangered as a result of deep-sea mining. from Rajya Sabha.
• The IUCN has also added the scaly-foot snail to its global
Red List, the international inventory of at-risk species.
• Scaly foot snail was first discovered in 2003. It live at
depths of up to 9,500 feet in the sea.
Appointments
• Sunil Kumar has been given additional charge of chairman
and managing director of the Mahanagar Telephone
Nigam Limited. Kumar is currently Director at MTNL and
takes over from PK Purwar who was recently appointed
chairman and managing Director of BSNL.
• RP Upadhyaya took charge as the new DGP of Arunachal
Pradesh. He succeeded SBK Singh, who has been
transferred to Mizoram.
NGT approves to build mega reservoir in Delhi
• The National Green Tribunal has approved an ambitious
plan of the Delhi government to tap the Yamuna rainwater
by building a 1,000 acre mega reservoir on 25 July.
• The project aims to conserve water in the floodplain
between Palla on the Delhi-Haryana border and
Wazirabad.
• The government's move is to deal with the water shortage
in the capital, particularly during summers.
India creates records in nuclear power sector
• India made huge achievements in the nuclear power
sector during the last 3 years.
• It includes setting of World Record in the continuous
operation of 962 days by Unit-1 of Kaiga Generating Dubai World Expo 2020
Station among nuclear power plants of all technologies. • Dubai World Expo 2020 will take place for six months
• Completion of 50 years of safe operation of Units 1&2 of beginning 20th October 2020 up to 10th April 2021.
Tarapur Power Station, which are currently the oldest • The theme of the Expo is 'Connecting Minds, Creating the
reactors in operation in the world. Future' with 3 sub themes – Opportunity, Mobility and
INS Tarkash arrived in Russia Sustainability.
• At expo, the Indian Pavilion will showcase the 150th birth
• Indian Naval Ship Tarkash arrived at St. Petersburg, Russia anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
on 25 July 2019 to participate in the Russian Navy Day • Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways -
Parade. Piyush Goyal.
• INS Tarkash will form part of the mobile column for the
review by the President of the Russian Federation. Dashboard of DDP launched
• During its stay in harbour, the ship will be berthed at Lt • Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched a Dashboard
Schmidt Embankment and remain open for visitors on 26 of Department Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of
and 27 July 2019. Defence, to help in effective monitoring of various
Adhir Ranjan: Chairman of PAC initiatives and schemes of the department.
29 | P a g e
• Through this initiative, the Ministry will be able to keep GDP growth to be at 6.8% in FY20
track of the major components of Defence Production,
• DBS estimates that the Indian economy will not be able to
including defence exports, defence offsets, and
achieve the official forecast of 7% growth in FY20.
MissionRaksha Gyan Shakti.
• Singaporean lender DBS estimates FY20 growth to stay at
6.8%, the same as FY19.
IIM Calcutta inked MoU with foreign univ. • The report expects the focus on fiscal consolidation and
low inflation will help the monetary policy to be more
• IIM Calcutta has signed MoU, each, with Carleton
growth-oriented.
University, Canada and Montpellier Business School,
France for fostering advancement in teaching, research, • DBS Headquarters: Singapore.
cultural understanding. • CEO: Piyush Gupta.
• The MoUs have been signed under the banner of IIM's NTPC, BHEL inked pact
Student Exchange Program.
• NTPC Limited and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
• It is aimed at providing IIM Calcutta students an
opportunity to have learning experience from have signed a MoU for forming a Joint Venture company.
international environment. • An 800 MW Technology Demonstration Plant (TDP) will be
set up at NTPC’s existing power plant in Sipat,
VP Venkaiah Naidu released book Chhattisgarh.
• Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released titled 'New-Age • The demonstration plant shall be based on the Advanced
Technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0' book written by Ultra Super Critical (AUSC) technology.
Rajya Sabha Member, Narendra Jadhav on 25 July 2019. • It will reduce carbon-di-oxide emission by about 20%.
• This book examines and elaborates on various dimensions Home Minister Amit Shah to head a panel
of the so-called Industrial Revolution 4.0.
• Narendra Jadhav is an Indian economist, educationist, • Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a panel of four cabinet
public policy expert, professor and writer in English, ministers to examine ways to prevent workplace sexual
Marathi and Hindi. harassment.
• The new panel includes Women and Child Development
Cars24 got NBFC licence from RBI Minister Smriti Irani and Finance Minister Nirmala
• Cars24 has received a non-banking finance company Sitharaman.
(NBFC) licence from the RBI. • The #MeToo movement triggered a public outcry in the
• It is set to carve out the lending business as a separate country, with former junior Foreign Minister M J Akbar
entity within the Cars24 group. being accused of sexual misconduct.
• The company plans to foray into both consumer lending Int-State River Water Disputes Bill introduced
and business lending, to eventually expand its scope of
operations and help it cater to a larger clientele. • A Bill to help adjudicate disputes relating to waters of
inter-State rivers and river valleys at a faster pace was
Increase of loan limits to MSME sector introduced in Lok Sabha.
• A Committee was constituted by Reserve Bank of India • The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill,
(RBI), headed by former SEBI Chairman UK Sinha. 2019 seeks to amend the Inter State River Water Disputes
Act, 1956 to streamline the adjudication of inter-State
• It has recommended that the limit for collateral free
river water disputes.
lending should be increased to Rs 20 lakh for MSMEs and
Self-Help Groups (SHGs). • Union Jal Shakti Minister of India is Gajendra Singh
• The Committee has also recommended revision of loan Shekhawat.
limit sanctioned under MUDRA to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 10 Byju's as Team India's official sponsor: BCCI
lakh.
• The BCCI announced that Byju's has replaced Oppo India
PMAY approved construction of 1.4 lakh houses as the official Team India sponsor.
• The Centre approved construction of nearly 1.4 lakh more • The deal period will begin from 5 September, 2019 until 31
houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), March, 2022.
taking the number of houses to be built under the scheme • Byju's logo will be seen on the Indian team jersey
to over 85 lakh. September 2019 onwards when the home series against
• A total of 492 projects will cost ₹6,642 crore. South Africa begins.
• PMAY is an initiative in which affordable housing will be • Byju Raveendran is the founder and chief executive of
provided to the urban poor with a target of building 20 Byju's.
million affordable houses by 31 March 2022. Appointments
30 | P a g e
• Retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and former Parliament passed RTI Bill 2019
Director-General (DG) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police
• Parliament has passed the Right to Information
(ITBP) Ranjit Kumar Pachnanda is the new Chairman of the
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 with the Rajya Sabha approving
Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC).
it amid opposition walkout.
• Pro Kabaddi League outfit UP Yoddha have announced
former cricketer and Member of Parliament, Gautam
• The Bill seeks to empower the Centre to make rules to
Gambhir as their official brand ambassador.
decide the tenure, salary, allowances and other terms of
India, Saudi Arabia held discussions service of Information Commissioners of the Central
Information Commission and State Information
• Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra
Commissions.
Pradhan held discussions with Minister of Energy, Industry
and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Falih to Noida to get 100 charging stations
further enhance bilateral hydrocarbon cooperation.
• 100 charging stations for electric vehicles are in the offing
• Minister Al-Falih emphasized the need for capitalizing on
for Noida, where the authority is planning a tie-up with a
the growing momentum in bilateral hydrocarbon
government-backed agency for setting up infrastructure
cooperation.
for mobility based on clean energy.
• Saudi riyal is the currency of Saudi Arabia.
• A MoU is expected to be signed between Noida Authority
Obituaries and EESL, a joint venture of public sector undertakings
under the Union Ministry of Power.
• Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, the North African
country's first democratically elected leader, passed away IIT Kanpur partnered with Ericsson
in July 2019. The veteran politician, the oldest head of
• IIT Kanpur and Ericsson will together deploy an NB-IoT
state after Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, came to power in
(narrowband internet of things) based sensor network to
2014,
monitor air pollution in Delhi.
• Rutger Hauer, the Dutch actor best known for his role as
• NB-IoT is a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) radio
android Roy Batty in film Blade Runner, died in July 2019.
technology standard developed by 3GPP to enable a wide
Triple Talaq Bill passed in Lok Sabha range of cellular devices and services.
• Ericsson will use locally-developed air quality sensors
• The Lok Sabha passed the Muslim Women (Protection of
capable of sharing environmental data.
Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 commonly known as Triple
Talaq bill by voice vote. India to launch 1st-ever space war exercise
• It was important to bring in a law banning instant triple
• The Indian armed forces are all set to conduct the
talaq as the practice has continued despite a Supreme
country’s first-ever simulated space warfare exercise
Court verdict passed in 2017.
“IndSpaceEx”.
• The Bill is banned in many countries.
• This excercise will lead to an assessment of the imminent
Earth-bound orbit of Chandrayaan-2 raised threats in the expanse beyond earth and the drafting of a
joint space doctrine for futuristic battles.
• The earth-bound orbit of Chandrayaan-2 has further been
• Ministry of Defence will organize exercise with all three
raised, in preparation of its journey to the South Pole of
forces together.
the moon.
• The orbit has been increased by 9354 kilometres at the Nishagandhi Sangeetha Awards conferred
farthest point from the earth, as compared to its initial ion
• Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran presented
during the launch.
the inaugural Nishagandhi Sangeetha Puraskaram to
• On 14th August 2019, it is planned to nudge the spacecraft
musicians Parassala B. Ponnammal and T V.
away from its earth-centric orbit to begin its trans-lunar
Gopalakrishnan at the valedictory function of the five-day
trajectory.
music festival Nishagandhi Monsoon Ragas at Nishagandhi
20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas Auditorium on 24 July 2019.
• Instituted by Kerala Tourism, the award carries ₹1.5 lakh in
• The 20th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was celebrated
cash, citation and memento.
on 26 July 2019.
• The day is named after the successful Operation Vijay in India's 1st dragon blood-oozing tree
1999, when India regained the control of the high outposts
• Assam has found a plant that yields dragon’s blood, a
which had been stealthily taken over by Pakistan.
bright red resin used since ancient times as medicine, body
• The celebrations of 20th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas oil, varnish, and dye.
began in Delhi on 14 July 2019.
31 | P a g e
• A trio of researchers led by Assam forest officer Jatindra • Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways,
Sarma has discovered Dracaena cambodiana, a dragon Piyush Goyal, launched the Global Innovation Index (GII)
tree species in the Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi 2019 in New Delhi on 24 July 2019.
Anglong. • India jumped five places to improve its position from 57th
• This is for the first time that a dragon tree species has last year to 52nd in 2019.
been reported from India. • Switzerland remains number one is the GII index followed
by Sweden, the United States of America, the Netherlands,
6 firms honoured with CSR awards
and the United Kingdom as top 5.
• 3rd Edition of the CSR Journal Excellence Awards
Unlawful Activities Amendment Bill passed
honoured 6 firms for the best practices in Corporate Social
Responsibility. • Lok Sabha passed the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
• The theme of the event was ‘India First’. Amendment Bill, 2019 on 24 July 2019.
• The 6 firms- Tata Power, ReNew Power, Hindustan Zinc, • The object of the proposed amendments is to facilitate
Aditya Birla Capital Ltd., YES Bank Ltd. and Mahindra & speedy investigation and prosecution of terror offences
Mahindra emerged as the winners of the awards. and designating an individual as terrorist in line with the
international practices.
Penalty on Airtel, Vodafone approved by DCC
• The original law was enacted in 1967.
• The Digital Communications Commission approved
15th Commission on 3-day visit to Chhattisgarh
imposing cumulative penalty of Rs 3,050 crore on Bharti
Airtel and Vodafone Idea for not providing points of • The 15th Finance Commission, headed by Chairman NK
interconnection to Reliance Jio. Singh met representatives of the Panchayati Raj
• The penalty on Airtel and Vodafone works out to be about Institutions, Urban Local Bodies and the Political Parties of
Rs 1,050 crore each. Chhattisgarh in Raipur on 24 July 2019.
• In case of Idea, it comes to about Rs 950 crore. • The Finance Commission is on a 3-day visit to Chhattisgarh
from 23-25 July 2019.
Shiva Thapa won gold in Kazakhstan Cup
• It will have a detailed discussion with Chief Minister
• 4-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa became India’s first Bhupesh Baghel along with his cabinet colleagues.
gold-medallist at the President’s Cup boxing tournament in
Appointments 1
Astana, Kazakhstan.
• Signing off with a silver medal was woman boxer Parveen • Biswa Bhusan Harichandan took charge as new Governor
(60kg) who lost her final bout to local hope Rimma of Andhra Pradesh in Rajbhavan in Vijayawada, Andhra
Volosenko. Pradesh. His oath was administered by the AP High Court
• Thapa had lost to Safiullin in the Asian Championship Acting Chief Justice Justice C. Praveen Kumar.
semifinal earlier in 2019. • Lalji Tandon will take oath as Madhya Pradesh Governor at
a function at Raj Bhawan in Bhopal on July 29, 2019. He is
Kanungo to run monetary policy portfolio
the Governor of Bihar at present.
• With the exit of Viral Acharya, the RBI rejigged portfolios
Priti Patel: Britain's Home Secretary
of the other three deputy governors giving the important
monetary policy and forecasting department to B P • British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed Indian
Kanungo. origin Priti Patel as the country Home Secretary.
• Now, all the other 3 deputy governors -- N S • The Prime Minister named former Home Secretary Sajid
Vishwanathan, B P Kanungo and M K Jain have been made Javid to take over from Philip Hammond as the Finance
responsible for 12 departments each. Secretary or Chancellor.
• Viral Acharya resigned in June 2019 as the deputy • Brexit hardliner Dominic Raab was named as the country's
Governor of RBI. Foreign Secretary.
HAL delivered Chetak to Indian Navy Facebook slapped with 5 bn US dollar fine
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered a • US regulators formalized a record 5 billion US Dollar fine
Chetak helicopter ahead of schedule to the Indian Navy. on Facebook for violation of users' privacy in the
• HAL had entered into a contract with the Indian Navy in Cambridge Analytica data scandal involving 87 million
August 2017 for the supply of eight Chetak helicopters. users.
• Two helicopters were scheduled to be delivered in August • The penalty was the largest ever imposed on any company
2019 while the remaining were to be delivered in August for violating consumers' privacy and one of the largest
2020. penalties ever assessed by the US government for any
violation.
Indian ranked 52nd in Global Innovation Index
32 | P a g e
ADB sanctioned Rs. 1925 cr for projects • Atanu Chakraborty, has been appointed as Secretary in
Department of Economic Affairs.
• Asian Development Bank has sanctioned Rs.1,925 crore
• Anshu Prakash will now be the Secretary in Department of
project for upgradation of power generation and
Telecommunications in the Ministry of Communications.
distribution in Tripura.
• The project has been sanctioned for upgrading capacity of Paypal opened new centre in Hyderabad
63 MW Rokhia Project to 120 MW and modernising Gumti
• American digital payments firm PayPal announced
Hydro Electric Project.
expansion of its India footprint with the launch of
• Rokhia project is located at West Tripura district whereas
3rd global technology centre.
Gumti project is in Gomati district.
• The Hyderabad facility would house around 100 engineers
Rajya Sabha passed POCSO Amendment Bill across roles, including risk management and operations, to
provide cutting-edge digital payments solutions to
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
customers around the world.
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been passed by Rajya Sabha.
• PayPal's other centres are in Chennai and Bengaluru.
• The bill seeks to enhance punishment, including a
provision for death penalty, for committing sexual crimes RIL became top ranked Indian company
against children.
• Reliance Industries (RIL) has become the top-ranked Indian
• The government has sanctioned 1023 fast track courts for
company to feature in the latest Fortune Global 500 list.
speedy dispensation of pending cases under POCSO and
• The oil-to-retail major has toppled state-run Indian Oil
sexual assault.
Corporation (IOC) as the top-ranked Indian company.
National Affairs • RIL has attained a rank of 106 in the latest list, recording
an improvement of 42 positions.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA has
approved the creation of buffer stock of 40 lakh Metric • IOC improved its position to 117th rank, registering a jump
of 20 spots.
Tonnes of sugar for one year from the 1 August 2019.
• The Cabinet has approved the merger of National Institute AIIB withdrew from Amaravati Project
of Miners' Health with ICMR - National Institute of
Occupational Health. This will help both the institutes in • After the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank (AIIB) has withdrawn funding for the Amaravati
terms of enhanced expertise in the field of occupational
health. capital city project in Andhra Pradesh (AP).
• The AIIB was to finance the upcoming city by providing
Amendments to Aadhaar Bill approved $200 million, while the World Bank was to fund the
Amaravati project with $300 million.
• Union Cabinet has approved Official Amendments to the
Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019. • The World Bank and AIIB were to pump in $500 million,
while the Andhra govt the rest.
• The government has decided to make Aadhaar as
identification document so that people can avail the Ehsan Mani: Chief of ICC Committee
benefit of state subsidies directly in their bank account
and to eliminate middlemen. • Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairman Ehsan Mani has been
appointed as the head of the ICC’s influential Finance and
• There are around 128 crore Aadhaar cardholders in the
country. Commercial Affairs committee.
• The F&CA assists the ICC in discharging its responsibilities
PM Modi released book on Chandra Shekhar in relation to all financial and commercial matters.
• PM Modi released book on Chandra Shekhar. • Another PCB official, Salman Naseer, who is its general
• The book titled 'Chandra Shekhar- The Last Icon of counsel and barrister, has been included on the ICC's
Ideological Politics’ is written by Deputy Chairman in the Safeguarding panel.
Rajya Sabha, Harivansh and Ravi Dutt Bajpai. Appointments
• PM informed that a museum is being built at the Teen
Murti Bhavan complex in New Delhi on Prime Ministers of • The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has appointed
India. the Canadian Dejan Papic as the head coach of the Indian
table tennis team. He has signed a one-year contract and
Appointments 2 will be the in charge through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• The U.S. Senate confirmed former soldier Mark Esper as
• Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been appointed as Officer on
Secretary of Defense, filling America’s longest-ever
Special Duty in the Ministry of Home Affairs with
immediate effect. Pentagon leadership vacuum.
• Subhash Chandra Garg will now be the Power Secretary. Acharya Devvrat: New Gujarat Governor
33 | P a g e
• Gujarat’s new Governor Acharya Devvrat was sworn in on Bills introduced in Lok Sabha
22 July 2019.
• The Code on Wages Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha
• He was administered the oath of office by the acting Chief
to amend and consolidate the laws relating to wages and
Justice of Gujarat High Court, Justice Anant S. Dave, at Raj
bonus and matters connected therewith.
Bhawan in the presence of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani,
• The Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working
outgoing Governor O.P. Kohli and others.
Conditions Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha to
• Mr. Devvrat, who is the 20th Governor of the State, took
amend the laws regulating the Occupational Safety, Health
the oath in Sanskrit.
and Working Conditions of the persons employed in an
establishment.
MP Assembly passed bill raising OBC quota
• MP Assembly passed an amendment bill raising
reservation in government jobs and education for Other
Backward Classes (OBC) to 27% from the present 14%.
• The Bill is now going to the Governor and President for
assent.
• After this amendment, reservation in Madhya Pradesh will
touch 73%, including 10% quota for the Economically
Weaker Section from the general category.
Virat on No.1 in ICC Test Rankings
• Virat Kohli has retained his number 1 position in the latest
ICC Test batsmen's rankings.
• New Zealand's Kane Williamson (913) is second and
Cheteshwar Pujara (881) third in the rankings released on
22 July 2019.
• In the team rankings, India remains in the first place
followed by New Zealand (2) and South Africa (3) with
England (4) and Australia (5) rounding up the top five.
Abhay, Tanvi won Bengal Open Squash
• Abhay Singh of Tamil Nadu and Asian Games medallist
Tanvi Khanna clinched the men's and women's titles
respectively in the 6th Bengal Open squash tournament in
Kolkata on 23 July 2019.
Kalraj Mishra: New Governor of Himachal P. • Singh defeated Abhishek Pradhan 11-6 11-6 11-4, while
• Former Union Minister Kalraj Mishra took oath as the new Tanvi fought her way past Aparajitha Balamurukan 11-7
Governor of Himachal Pradesh in Shimla. 11-6 5-11 13-11.
• Kalraj Mishra replaced Acharya Devvrat, who has been • Shameena recently won the U-15 title at the All India
shifted to Gujarat. Squash Open in Mumbai.
• Kalraj Mishra is an Indian politician and he is also the Bangladesh: Scientists developed a new method
former Cabinet Minister of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises in the BJP-led NDA government of Prime • Scientists in Bangladesh have developed a method to
Minister Narendra Modi. convert Jute fibre into low-cost bio-degradable cellulose
sheets named 'Sonali'.
Andhra: 1st state to reserve 75% private jobs • It can be used as a wrapping material and carrying bag.
• Andhra Pradesh became the first state to reserve 75% jobs • The Eco-friendly jute poly bags made up of Sonali can be
for local youth in industrial units, factories, joint ventures used in garments and food packaging work and they are
and projects set up under public-private partnership not harmful for human health.
mode. • Its commercial production is likely to start by 2019 end.
• The assembly recently passed the Andhra Pradesh Boris Johnson took over as Britain PM
Employment of Local Candidates in Industries/Factories
Act, 2019. • The new leader of Conservative party Boris Johnson
• The CM of Andhra Pradesh is Jagan Mohan Reddy. took over as Prime Minister of Britain on 24 July 2019.
34 | P a g e
• Mr Johnson is scheduled to meet the Queen at National Affairs II

Buckingham Palace where he will be invited to form a new
• The government has extended the deadline for filing of
government.
Income Tax returns by individuals for financial year 2018-
• He also announced senior cabinet posts, including
19 to 31st of August from 31st July, 2019.
chancellor of the exchequer and home secretary.
• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) celebrated the
New India-UK schme to fund students from UK 159th Income Tax Day on 24th July 2019. It was on 24th
July, 1860 that Income Tax was introduced for the first
• A new India-UK bilateral pilot scheme has been launched
time in India by Sir James Wilson.
to support Britain's universities to collaborate with Indian
partners to send UK students to India to study. MMRCL gave order to Blue Star
• The “UKEIRI Mobility Programme: Study in India”, an
• Blue Star Ltd has won an air conditioning and tunnel
initiative of Universities UK International (UUKI) and British
ventilation system order valued at ₹253 crore from
Council India, opened on 23 July 2019.
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL).
• It aims to generate up to 200 opportunities for
• The scope of work includes installation and commissioning
undergraduate UK students.
of the air conditioning and more for 9 underground
National Affairs I stations.
• MMRCL is a joint venture between the central government
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the increase
and the state government of Maharashtra.
in the number of awards given to the cadets of National
Cadet Corps (NCC) from the existing 143 to 243 and cash Greenko raised $950 million
incentives in various categories.
• GIC Holdings Pte. Ltd and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
• The Supreme Court extended the deadline for publication
(ADIA) backed Greenko Energy Holdings has raised $950
of final National Register of Citizens, NRC, in Assam by a
million.
month, from July 31 to August 31, 2019.
• The bond raise followed after the 2 sovereign wealth funds
Parliament passed Finance Bill agreed to pump in an additional $329 million in Greenko
Energy Holdings.
• Parliament has passed the Finance Bill 2019 and
• Greenko owns operating assets of 4.2 gigawatts (GW) and
Appropriation Bill 2019 with the Rajya Sabha returning
under-construction assets of 7 GW.
them to the Lower House.
• The Finance bill gives effect to the financial proposals of Paytm to give instant digital loan
the Central Government for the financial year 2019-20.
• Paytm partnered with Clix Finance to offer instant digital
• The Appropriation Bill seeks to authorise payment and
loans to customers and merchants on its platform.
appropriation of certain sums from and out of the
• The company would offer loans to Paytm customers and
Consolidated Fund of India for the FY 2919-20.
merchants through Deferred Payment or Postpaid and
Government to install solar projects by 2022 Merchant Lines facilities.
• Over the next few months, Clix and Paytm will introduce
• The government has set a target for the installation of
several new products to further enhance customer
Rooftop Solar projects of 40,000 MW by 2022 in the
experience and meet customer demand.
country.
• The projects include installation of solar panels on the Shane Lowry won British Open
rooftop of houses.
• Irishman Shane Lowry won British Open to claim his first
• Over 1700 Mega Watt of grid-connected rooftop systems
major golfing title at Royal Portrush.
has been installed in the country till 18 July 2019.
• He became the 2nd player from the Republic of Ireland,
• 1.5 million units per MegaWatt per year are generated
after Padraig Harrington in 2007 and 2008, to lift the
from solar rooftop plants on an average.
Claret Jug.
Motor Vehicles Bill passed • Players from Ireland and Northern Ireland have won five of
the past 13 Opens, with Darren Clarke (2011) and Rory
• The Lok Sabha has passed the Motor Vehicles
McIlroy (2014) also hoisting the Claret Jug.
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote.
• The bill seeks to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to LIC to offer 1.25 trillion by 2024
provide for road safety.
• LIC has agreed to offer Rs 1.25 trillion line of credit by
• The Bill proposes a scheme to allow cashless treatment of
2024, to fund highway projects.
victims in a road accident during the golden hour.
• The Rs 8.41 trillion ambitious Bharatmala project aims to
• The Bill proposes to increase the minimum compensation
lay a grid of highways pan-India,
for hit and run cases.
35 | P a g e
• The Bharatmala programme will be funded through cess, • In Table Tennis, host India claimed all the seven gold
toll revenue, market borrowings, private sector medals at the 21st Commonwealth Championships, which
participation, insurance fund, pension funds, masala concluded in Cuttack on 22 July 2019.
bonds and the LIC credit line was one such initiative. • Harmeet Desai and Ayhika Mukherjee won the men's and
women's singles titles and claimed gold.
National Broadcasting Day: 23 July
• Anthony Amalraj and Manav Thakkar claimed the men's
• National Broadcasting Day is observed every year on 23 doubles gold by stunning top seeds Sathiyan and Sharath
July. Kamal 3-1.
• On this day in 1927, the first-ever radio broadcast in the
UP government to install statue of Lord Ram
country went on the air from the Bombay Station under a
private company, the Indian Broadcasting Company. • UP CM Yogi Adityanath approved the plan to install a 251-
• On 8th of June, 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service metre-tall statue of Lord Ram at Ayodhya.
became All India Radio. • The statue would be taller than the Sardar Vallabhbhai
• Since 1927, radio has been an important part in people's Patel's Statue of Unity in Gujarat, which is 183-meter-tall.
life in India. • The statue of Lord Ram would be installed on the 100
hectares of land near River Sarayu in Ayodhya.
Kanwar Yatra app for pilgrims in Meerut
Maharashtra topped in ATM frauds
• A Kawad Yatra Management app has been designed for
facilitating and guiding the Kawariya's on their journey in • Maharashtra reported 233 cases of ATM fraud in 2018-19,
the Meerut Zone. the highest in the entire country, Reserve Bank Of India
• The app provides all information about the routes, (RBI) data revealed.
temples, hospitals, police and 'Shivir' (camps). • The data showed that Delhi grabbed the second spot with
• It can be downloaded on Google play store and will 179 cases, followed by Tamil Nadu with 147 cases of ATM
operate on any Android mobile phone like other fraud.
applications. • In Maharashtra, people lost Rs 4.8 crore to bank fraud,
while in Delhi people lost Rs 2.9 crore.
Right to Information Bill passed
Navy Commissions Dornier Squadron INAS 313
• Lok Sabha passed the Right to Information (Amendment)
Bill, 2019 on 22 July 2019. • The Navy commissioned its fifth Dornier Aircraft Squadron
• In this amendment, it is proposed to amend the Right to - Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 313 in Chennai on 22th
Information Act, 2005 so as to provide that the term of July 2019.
office of, and the salaries, allowances and other terms and • INAS 313 derives its name ‘Sea Eagle’ from the bird of prey
conditions of service of, the Chief Information family Accipitridae.
Commissioner and Information Commissioners. • The Squadron will be operating from Chennai International
Airport.
Keshav, Prasun chosen for Mohun Bagan Ratna
• With this Tamil Nadu will have three naval air bases; which
• Two-time Olympic gold medallist Keshav Dutt and former is the highest number for any Coastal State.
India Football Captain Prasun Banerjee will be conferred
Ban on cryptocurrencies in India recommended
the 'Mohun Bagan Ratna' on 29 July 2019.
• July 29 is celebrated as the 'Mohun Bagan Day' because on • India seems to ban private cryptocurrencies after an inter-
this day in 1911, the Mariners became the first club to ministerial committee (IMC) suggested outlawing private
defeat a British club, East YorkshireRegiment, and lift the cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin.
IFA Shield. • The committee comprised of the Secretary (Economic
PV Sindhu to lead Indian in Japan Open Affairs) as the chairman, along with the Secretary, Ministry
of electronics and information technology, SEBI chairman
• In Badminton, PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth will lead and the deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
the Indian campaign at the Japan Open BWF World Tour
Super, starting in Tokyo from 23 July 2019. Yukiya Amano passed away
• B Sai Praneeth faced Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto. Sindhu • Former Japanese diplomat and International Atomic
opens her campaign against China’s Han Yue in women's Energy Agency Chief Yukiya Amano passed away in July
singles on 24 July 2019. 2019.
• The men's doubles partners Manu Attri and Sumeeth B • He had been chief of the key U.N. agency that regulates
Reddy took on Goh Seh Fei and Nur Izzudin of Malaysia. nuclear issues worldwide since 2009.
Harmeet, Ayhika won gold: TT Championship
36 | P a g e
• As Head of the IAEA, Amano also dealt with the aftermath • The world marked the 50th anniversary of the first Moon
of the devastating 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident in landing recently.
Japan. • The US space agency has doubled down on its next giant
leap with the Artemis programme that would take the first
8 Air Routes Made Functional Under UDAN Scheme
woman and the next man to the lunar surface.
• Eight routes under regional connectivity scheme UDAN • Artemis is named after the twin sister of Apollo who is also
have become functional. the Goddess of the Moon and the hunt.
• According to Civil Aviation Ministry, by this the total
Dhoni to train with Parachute regiment
number of operational routes have become 194.
• The ministry had launched the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam • MS Dhoni’s request to train with a battalion of the Indian
Nagrik) scheme on October 21, 2016 to stimulate regional Army’s Parachute Regiment for two months has been
air connectivity and make air travel affordable to the approved by Army chief General Bipin Rawat.
masses. • Some part of his training is expected to take place in
Jammu & Kashmir.
World Brain Day: 22 July
• He holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the
• World Brain Day is observed on July 22 every year. Territorial Army unit of the Parachute Regiment (106 Para
• The day aims at promoting interest of neurology. TA battalion).
Previously, World Brain Day has covered topics like
Indian Army to witness change
dementia, epilepsy and stroke, in cooperation with other
societies. • The Indian Army is all set to see a major change in its top
• World Brain Day 2019 theme is Migraine: The Painful brass as the government is expected to announce the
Truth. appointment to the post of Vice Chief of Army Staff and
• This year, the focus is on migraine, which is known to be top Army Commanders anytime soon.
one of world's most common brain diseases. • Eastern Army Commander Lt General MM Narawane is set
to take over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff to replace
Protection of Human Rights Bill passed
incumbent Lt Gen Devraj Anbu who is due to retire on
• Parliament has passed the Protection of Human Rights August 31, 2019.
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 with Rajya Sabha approving it 22
PV Sindhu clinched silver in Indonesia Open
July 2019.
• The bill provides for a reduction in the tenure of • Fourth seed Akane Yamaguchi defeated PV Sindhu in
Chairpersons of National Human Rights Commission and straight games 21-15, 21-16 to lift her maiden Indonesia
State Human Rights Commissions to three years from the Open title at Istora Senayan Stadium in Jakarta.
current five years. • Sindhu had to settle for just a silver medal in her first final
• It amends the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. of 2019.
• The last time the Indian lost to the Japanese was at the
NDA government completed 50 days in 2nd term
semifinals of the All England Championship in 2018.
• The Narendra Modi Government has completed fifty days
Manny Pacquiao won WBA welterweight title
in office in its second term.
• PM Narendra Modi has already laid down the vision of • Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao claimed the WBA
India becoming a Five-trillion dollar economy by 2024-25. welterweight championship after scoring a split-decision
• Indian economy is expected to grow at 6.8% in 2018-19 win against Keith Thurman.
while maintaining macro-economic stability. • He ended the American Keith Thurman’s undefeated run
• Measures have been proposed to enhance the sources of at the MGM Grand, where two judges had the fight 115-
capital for infrastructure financing. 112 in favour of the 40-year-old Pacquiao.
• One judge scored the welterweight bout 114-113 to
PM to visit Bhutan in August
Thurman, who was knocked down by Pacquiao in the
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day opening round
official visit to Bhutan in August 2019. S. Sowmya chosen for Sangita Kalanidhi Award
• The visit will reflect the importance New Delhi attaches to
its ties with Bhutan and would reiterate the government's • S. Sowmya has been chosen for the Sangita Kalanidhi
emphasis on its Neighbourhood First policy. award of the Music Academy.
• The two countries share a unique and time-tested bilateral • She will preside over 93rd annual conference of the
relationship, characterized by trust, goodwill, and mutual Academy to be held between December 12, 2019, and
understanding. January 1, 2020.
37 | P a g e
• Nagaswaram player Vyasarpadi Kothandaraman and • Till now, 26,348 beneficiaries for 24 towns have already
vocalist Rajkumar Bharathi will get the TTK awards while been approved by the Union Ministry of Housing and
Aarti N. Rao will get the Musicologist Award. Urban Affairs.
• Nearly 9,725 houses will be built by the end of 2019 under
President appointed new Governors
the scheme.
• President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed new governors • A target to obtain approval for 46,360 numbers of
for the states of UP, West Bengal, Tripura, Madhya beneficiaries has been kept by the Manipur government.
Pradesh, Bihar and Nagaland.
Obituaries
• Anandiben Patel will serve as Governor of Uttar Pradesh,
Jagdeep Dhankhar as Governor of West Bengal, Ramesh • The senior LJP leader and MP Ramchandra Paswan passed
Bais as Governor of Tripura, Lal Ji Tandon as Governor of away in July 2019. He was from Samastipur, Bihar.
Madhya Pradesh, Phagu Chauhan as Governor of Bihar and • Former BJP Delhi President Mange Ram Garg passed away
R. N. Ravi as Governor of Nagaland. in July 2019. He was the former member of Delhi
Legislative Assembly and was elected to the assembly in
Miscellaneous
2003.
• The World Bank continues to support Andhra Pradesh with
Sports
an over one billion USD programme that covers the health,
agriculture, energy and disaster management sectors. • The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced
• The government has asked Air India to put a freeze on the three Indian squads (ODIs, T20Is and Tests) for the
large-scale promotion and appointments. A new flight has upcoming tour of the West Indies. India's tour of the West
to be started only when it is extremely necessary and after Indies will begin on August 3, 2019 in Florida.
due diligence from commercial aspect. • Ravinder Kumar Malik has clinched Mr. South Asia title. He
11th DefExpo to be organised in 2020 was crowned the champion at 12th South Asian
Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship held in
• The 11th biennial edition of DefExpo India- 2020 is Kathmandu.
scheduled to be held for the first time in Uttar Pradesh.
Hima das won gold in 400 m race
• It will be held from 5th-8th February 2020.
• Main theme of the DefExpo India- 2020 will be ‘India: The • Hima Das won a gold medal in the 400-meter race with a
Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’ and focus will be season-best time of 52.09 seconds at Nove Mesto in the
on ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’. Czech Republic on 21 July 2019.
• It was Hima's fifth gold medal since July 2 when she ran
her first competitive race in Europe.
• The 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing was • Hima has already won gold in 200 meters race at the
celebrated on 20 July 2019. Poznan Athletics Grand Prix and Kutno Athletics Meet in
• On this day, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Poland earlier in July 2019.
Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the Moon.
PMKSNY: 7 cr 32 lakh families received install
• Their lunar module, named Eagle, touched down on 20th
July, 1969. • Over 7 crore 32 lakh farmer families across the country
• Ex-fighter pilot Collins remained in lunar orbit, where he have received the first and second instalments of Rs. 2000
was in touch with ground control. each under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
Yojana.
FDI inflow registered growth of 79%
• UP with over 2 crores 20 lakh farmer families topped the
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow has increased list followed by Andhra Pradesh with 72 lakh and
during the last six years from 36.05 billion US Dollars in Maharastra 50 lakh farmers.
2013-14 to 64.38 billion US Dollars in 2018-19. • PM-KISAN envisages covering approximately 14 crore 50
• The growth registered during this time was 79%. lakh beneficiaries.
• The intent is to make the FDI policy more investor-friendly
20,000 wellness centres to be completed
and remove the policy bottlenecks that have been
hindering investment inflow into the country. • 20,000 wellness centres will be completed by the end of
the current year under Ayushman Bharat programme.
9725 houses to be built under PMAY-U
• A total of 1.5 lakh wellness centres are to be established in
• In Manipur, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- the country under this programme.
Urban(PMAY-U) is being implemented effectively. • The government has set a target of eradicating
Tuberculosis from the country by 2025.
38 | P a g e
• Ayushman Bharat programme as a successful model in MoneyBack Credit Card for Village-Level Entrepreneurs
implementing universal health. (VLEs) and VLE-sourced customers.
• The credit card will give users easy access to credit for
Chandrayaan-2 launched at 2:43pm
their day-to-day business expenses.
• India’s expedition to the moon was launched on 22 July • CSCs act as access points for delivery of various services.
2019.
Israel Aerospace signs $50 Million deal
• Chandrayaan-2 was launched by using the heavy-lift
launch vehicle GSLV-Mark-Three. • State-owned defense contractor Israel Aerospace
• The rocket carrying the prestigious probe will be ignited at Industries has signed a $50 million follow-up contract to
2.43 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at provide complementary missile systems to the Indian navy
Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. and India’s MDL Shipyard.
• Originally Chandrayaan-2 was planned to be launched on • The agreement involves a range of maintenance and other
the 15th July 2019. services for sub-systems of Israel Aerospace's naval
medium-range surface-to-air missile.
Appointments
12 beaches selected for 'Blue Flag’ challenge
• Rajya Sabha MP D Raja was appointed as the General
Secretary of CPI on 21 July 2019. • The Union Environment Ministry has selected 12 beaches
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has in India to vie for a ‘Blue Flag’ certification.
approved the appointment of Shri Ajay Bhadoo, as Joint • These beaches are at Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Bhogave
Secretary to the President for a tenure co-terminus with (Maharashtra), Ghoghla (Diu), Miramar (Goa), Kasarkod
the President. and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Eden
(Puducherry), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Rushikonda
NSG facility inaugurated at CCMB
(Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha), and Radhanagar
• The Next Generation Sequencing (NSG) facility was (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
inaugurated at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular
Biology in Hyderabad on 20 July 2019.
• The facility includes technology for high genome
sequencing and also diagnostic sequencing of clinical
samples.
• The NSG would help prenatal genetic screening and
counselling, thereby generating large scale genomic data
for diagnosis and therapy.
SIDBI introduces web-based application system
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has
introduced a web-based application system for
contribution from the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS).
• The aim of the system is to improve the turnaround time
and increase transparency.
• Applications for contribution from various Alternative
Investment Funds (AIFs) will now be accepted online.
Government of India cuts interest rate on GPF
• The government of India has lowered interest rate on
General Provident Fund (GPF).
• For the July-September, General Provident Fund and other
similar funds will pay a 7.9% interest rate to its
subscribers, as compared to 8% in the previous quarter.
• This interest rate will be applicable on provident funds of
central government employees, railways and defence
forces.
HDFC bank launches 'MoneyBack' Credit Card
Palau signs ISA Framework agreement
• HDFC Bank and Government of India’s Common Service
Centre (CSC) have launched a co-branded small business
39 | P a g e
• Palau signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) • India's overall international reserves, though stood at
Framework Agreement. $411.9 billion at the end of March 2019, down from March
• Palau became the 76th country to sign the ISA Framework 2018 by $12.5 billion.
Agreement, which till date has been ratified by a total of
Gujarat tops in MSME lending potential
54 of the 76 countries.
• The ISA was jointly launched by Prime Minister Modi and • As per TransUnion CIBIL- SIDBI’s MSME Pulse Report,
then French President Francois Hollande at the UN Climate Gujarat has emerged as the top state, in terms of
Change Conference in Paris on November 2015. performance and credit growth potential for MSME
(micro, small and medium enterprises) Corporate Lending
ICICI Bank launches InstaBIZ Banking Platform
in India.
• ICICI Bank launched ‘InstaBIZ’ a new digital platform for • It is followed by Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka and
MSMEs and self-employed customers to enable them to Delhi.
undertake their business banking transactions digitally and • MSME corporate entities are borrowers with aggregate
instantly. credit exposure of up to ₹50 crore.
• The programme allows customers to avail as many as over
Repco MFI wins award from NABARD
115 products and services on their mobile phone or
internet banking platform. • Repco Micro Finance, an NBFC-MFI promoted by Repco
• MSMEs, who are not customers of the Bank, can also Bank, has received NABARD’s award for outstanding
download ‘InstaBIZ’ performance in terms of Self-Help Group (SHG) linkage in
Tamil Nadu for 2018-19.
Important Days
• Repco Micro Finance institution currently headquartered
• The Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated every in Chennai and it operates from 90 branches in Tamil Nadu
year on July 18. and Puducherry.
• Nelson Mandela is remembered as an anti-apartheid • Repco Micro Finance has provided SHG loans worth ₹3,600
revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist. crore.
• International Justice Day is observed on 17 July. India & China joint military drill in Dec
• World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) was observed on 15 July
2019. • The next edition of India and China military drill will be
held in December 2019.
Indian Cyber Crime Centre launched by MHA
• The joint military exercise 'Hand-in-Hand' will be held in
• Ministry of Home Affairs has rolled out a scheme ‘Indian Umroi near Shillong, Meghalaya.
Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)’ for the period • The last exercise, which was the seventh edition, was held
2018-2020, to combat cybercrime in the country, in a in Chengdu in December 2018.
coordinated and effective manner. • In Umroi, the two forces will focus on counter-terror
• The scheme has seven components. operations, establishment of the joint command post and
• The Central Government has launched the Cybercrime joint combat drill.
Reporting Portal to enable citizens to report online
India's first garbage cafe launched
content pertaining to Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
• India's first garbage cafe was launched Ambikapur
Andhra Bank launches AI Chatbot
Municipal Corporation in Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh.
• Andhra Bank on 15 July 2019 launched its Artificial • Under this program, any person fetching a kilo of plastic
Intelligence interactive assistant — ABHi. waste to the garbage cafe will be assured of a full meal
• With ABHi, customers will be able to get the information while those collecting at least 500 grams will get breakfast.
instantaneously 24x7, anytime they want. • The city of Ambikapur has been ranked second cleanest
• The Bank's AI-powered chatbot-ABHi uses the latest city in India after Indore.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing India's first space tech park in Kerala
(NLP) algorithm to understand the customer query.
• The Kerala government will set up India’s first space tech
India's current account balance deficit grew
park at Thiruvananthapuram's Knowledge City.
• 'The External Sector' Report was released by the • The move is aimed at making the city a manufacturing hub
International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 17 July 2019. for space-related technology.
• According to the report, India's current account (CA) • A space museum named after former President of India Dr
balance deficit grew to $68 billion in 2018-19 from $49 APJ Abdul Kalam will also be a part of the infrastructure.
billion the previous year. • The entire investment in the park will be made by the
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
40 | P a g e
Sports • The World Bank has pulled out of the Amaravati

Sustainable Infrastructure and Institutional Development
• The Cricket Association of Pondicherry (CAP) has been
Project.
granted the status of a Full Member of the BCCI by the
• The World Bank’s website shows the status of the
Committee of Administrators (CoA).
Amaravati Sustainable Infrastructure and Institutional
• Squash players Anahat Singh won the girls’ U13 title while
Development Project as ‘Dropped’.
Neel Joshi won the boys’ U17 title.
• The Bank has taken into consideration various complaints
• North Korea won the second edition of Intercontinental
from people’s groups about environmental concerns.
Cup football tournament beating Tajikistan in the final
match on 19 July 2019. Exercise Garuda-VI successfully conducted
Obituaries • After successful exercise Garuda-VI, the Indian Air Force
(IAF) Contingent landed back in India from France on 19
• Cesar Pelli, the Argentine designer behind the iconic
July 2019.
Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia, passed away on 20 July
• Exercise Garuda provided a unique opportunity for the
2019.
exchange of knowledge & experience in a dynamic warfare
• Three-time Delhi Chief Minister and senior Congress
environment.
leader Sheila Dikshit passed away on 20 July 2019 in New
• This was one of the biggest air exercises that are being
Delhi.
planned between the two Air Forces.
• Saravana Bhavan founder P Rajagopal passed away in
Chennai on 18 July 2019. PingPong launched Global Payment Service
'Happiness Utsav' begins in Delhi schools • PingPong is one of the world's fastest-growing cross-
border B2B payment platforms.
• On 16 July 2019, the Delhi government launched the
• It has announced its launch in the Indian market, providing
'Happiness Utsav' across all 1,031 schools of the
cross-border payment services for Indian sellers.
directorate to celebrate the success of the ‘happiness
curriculum’. • PingPong simply has a 1% fee rate in India, which means
that cross-border sellers who use PingPong can save at
• The first 50 minutes of each school day will be dedicated
least half of the service fee during the payment process.
to the festival with all students of the Delhi government
schools taking part in it. Algeria lifted Africa Cup of Nations
• The festival will conclude on 31 July 2019.
• Algeria won the Africa Cup of Nations for the 2nd time
International Chess Day: 20 July when a freak 2nd-minute goal by Baghdad Bounedjah gave
them a 1-0 win over gallant Senegal in the final.
• The ‘International Chess Day’ is observed every year on
• Algeria committed 32 fouls according to official match
20 July.
statistics.
• It’s a special day for India as Chess is one of the precious
• Senegal was awarded a penalty for handball in the second
gifts of India to the world.
half but the decision was revoked following a VAR review.
• Just two days ago, Indian chess got its 64th Grandmaster
Prithu Gupta, a very symbolic day as the chess board is Defence
made up of 64 squares.
• Indian Army successfully carried out summer user trials of
• The origin of chess is found in ‘Chaturanga’ – a strategy
third Generation Anti-Tank Guided Missile NAG at Pokhran
game played in India in the medieval era.
Field Firing Ranges, conducted between July 7-18, 2019.
South Asia's first cross border pipeline • INS Tarkash, a frontline warship of the Indian Navy, made
a port call at Karlskrona, Sweden on 19 July 2019. This
• South Asia’s first cross border petroleum pipeline will
marks the first visit of an Indian Naval Ship to Swedish
link Motahari in India and Amlekhgunj in Nepal.
shores after a gap of more than 15 years.
• Motihari- Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline will be a game-
changer for Nepal. Miscellaneous
• It has been successfully completed and there is a need to
lay a gas pipeline.
• The 69-kilometre long petroleum pipeline from Motihari in Fort Auditorium in New Delhi.
Bihar to Amelkhgunj in Nepal has been constructed by
• In yet another European Union move against a US tech
India.
giant, the bloc's antitrust chief on 18 July 2019 fined
World Bank dropped Amaravati Project chipmaker Qualcomm $271 million, accusing it of
Sri Lanka signed agreement with India
41 | P a g e
• Sri Lanka signed an agreement with India to upgrade tracks • The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has decided to launch
in a key railway segment connecting the north and south special cleanliness drive in Dengue prone 22 wards in the
at a cost of $ 91.26 million. city.
• This is the first time in 100 years that the 130 km-long- • The Civic body will form special teams for cleaning of
tracks, running from Maho town in the North Western garbage at Dengue prone areas.
Province to Omanthai in the Northern Province, are being • The State Health Department has earmarked beds for
upgraded. Dengue affected patients at Government hospitals.
Appointments • 132 patients have been attacked by dengue in the
metropolis in 2019 so far.
• Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Vivek Kumar was
Sanjivani Yadav handed 2-year suspension
appointed as private secretary to Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on 19 July 2019. • India's runner Sanjivani Yadav has been handed a 2-year
• Senior diplomat Sanjeev Kumar Singla has been appointed suspension by the IAAF's Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for a
as the next Indian Ambassador to Israel. doping violation.
• Israel Capital - Jerusalem • She won the 10,000m bronze at the 2019 Asian
• Currency - Israeli new shekel Championships and 5000m bronze in the 2017 edition.
• She admitted to her first violation resulting in
New e-challan system for Delhi Traffic Police
disqualification all past results since June 29, 2018.
• Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik launched the
Sports I
new e-challan system and the e-payment gateway for the
use of Delhi Traffic Police. • In Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship held in
• The payment gateway will help the citizens with the Cuttack, India made a record by winning gold in both
flexibility to login securely at their convenience and settle men’s and women’s category. The Indian women team
the pending violation notices with proof of payment. won gold for the first time in the history in the
• The E-challan devices are enabled with active GPS. commonwealth games.
• Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju launched the All India Football
Rajnath Singh to inaugurate 2 bridge projects
Federation's Golden Baby Leagues handbook 2019-20 on
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be on a day-long visit the sidelines of the Intercontinental Cup in Ahemadabad.
of Jammu and Kashmir on 20 July 2019.
Aishwarya Pratap Singh clinched gold
• During his visit he will pay tributes to the Martyrs on 20th
anniversary of Kargil war and will interact with troops. • In the Shooting Junior World Cup, Aishwarya Pratap Singh
• He will also inaugurate 2 bridge projects on the rivers Ujh Tomar clinched gold with a junior world record in the final
in Kathua district and Basantar in Samba district of Jammu of rifle 3-position event in Suhl Germany.
division. • After qualifying in the 4th place with a total of 1171,
Tomar with a score of 459.3 score won a gold.
Himachal Pradesh CM received Victory Flame
• India finished the ISSF tournament on top of the table with
• In Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur received the 10 gold, 9 silver and 5 bronze for a total of 24 medals.
'Victory Flame' at Mandi on 19 July 2019.
Sports II
• It illuminated from the National War Memorial, New Delhi
on 14 July 2019 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Kargil • The Maharashtra sports department has sought funds of
Vijay Diwas. over Rs one crore for ace shooter Rahi Sarnobat. She has
• The Kargil Vijay Diwas is being celebrated across the qualified for the next year's Tokyo Olympics.
country and on this occasion, we renew our resolve to • India is in line to get the Asian Games gold in 4x400 mixed
safeguard the honour of the tricolour. relay as Kemi Adekoya of Bahrain, who was part of the
gold winning team, has been handed a four-year ban for
Bihar: More than 52,000 placements done
failing a dope test.
• In Bihar, under Prime Minister Kaushal Vikas Yojna NDRF deployed 124 teams in the country
(PMKVY) more than 52,000 placements have been done
during last 3 years after the training of youths. • The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has
• Under the short term courses and training, 1.66 lakh deployed 124 teams in the various parts of the country to
youths got registered out of which 1.37 lakh trained since respond to any type of disaster emergency, natural or
2016 in the state. man-made.
• Unemployed youths are getting their skills honed at • 84 teams have been pre-positioned in 23 states at 71
several institutions. locations as per the flood vulnerability profile of the states.
Kolkata MC to launch special cleanliness drive
42 | P a g e
• 40 teams have been permanently deployed in 27 Regional • Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd has overtaken Bharti Airtel to
Response Centers (RRCs) for a prompt response. become the second-largest operator in terms of mobile
subscriber base.
Army Chief Bipin Rawat visited Dras sector
• The data was given by the Telecom Regulatory Authority
• Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, visited Dras of India.
sector on 19 July 2019. • As of May end, Jio had 322.98 million users as against
• During the visit, he was briefed by the General Officer Airtel’s 320.38 million users.
Commanding, 'Fire & Fury' Corps on the prevailing • Vodafone Idea continues in the top position with 387.55
situation and operational preparedness in the Sector. million users.
• He also interacted with soldiers deployed on the Line of
Mergers and Acquisitions
Control (LC).
• He was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding- • Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd has signed a definitive
in-Chief, Northern Command. agreement to acquire Lymbyc, a specialist AI company to
strengthen it’s digital and analytics offerings for ₹38 crore.
Piyush Goyal to launch Global Innovation Index
• Ebix Inc has acquired Yatra Online Inc, for a value of
• Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will launch $337.8 million (Rs 2,323.6 crore) in an all-stock deal. The
the Global Innovation Index, GII on 24 July 2019 in New two companies have entered into a definitive agreement
Delhi. under which Ebix will acquire Yatra via merger.
• The GII has been a charter for assessing the innovation
NIIT bagged ASSOCHAM awards 2019
capabilities of national economies worldwide.
• This year’s theme is Evaluating the Medical Innovation • NIIT Limited has bagged the ASSOCHAM Education
Scenario of the Next Decade. Excellence Awards 2019 as the 'Best Innovative Brand' in
the Education sector.
Protection of Human Rights Bill passed
• It received the award for company's continuous effort to
• The Protection of Human Rights(Amendment) Bill 2019 offer new-age Career Programs to address the changing
was passed by voice vote in Lok Sabha on 19 July 2019. workforce requirements.
• The amended Act will enable the appointment of the • Over the last 38 years, NIIT has contributed extensively to
retired Chief Justice or retired Judges of the Supreme the IT sector by impacting over 35 million learners in IT.
Court as the Chairperson of the National Human Rights
PT Usha nominated for IAAF veteran pin
Commission.
• It also provides for appointing three instead of two • Former Olympic track and field athlete P T Usha has been
members from civil society who have knowledge of nominated for the International Association of Athletics
Human Rights. Federations Veteran Pin for her ‘long and meritorious
service to the cause of World Athletics’.
• She will receive the pin during the opening ceremony of
• President Ram Nath Kovind will embark on a week-long the 52nd IAAF Congress in Doha.
visit to Benin, Guinea Conakry and Gambia, beginning 28 • Usha is often called the 'queen of track and field'.
July 2019.
BSE, Haryana govt signed pact
• This will be the highest-level visit from India ever to the
three West African countries. • BSE has inked a pact with Haryana government to
• Since the Modi government took office in 2014, there has encourage and support state’s micro, small and medium
been a rise in high-level visits to resource-rich Africa, enterprises (MSMEs) to raise capital.
especially since the third India Africa Summit in 2015. • The Government of Haryana and BSE intend to facilitate
SMEs in raising funds through BSE’s dedicated platform for
IIT Madras to offer tech MBA to undergrads
SME’s 'BSE SME'.
• IIT Madras is launching a first-of-its-kind tech MBA • By getting listed on the BSE's SME platform, the
programme for its undergraduate (UG) students from all enterprises will get equity financing opportunities.
the engineering streams.
Appointments
• The students taking tech MBA programme will be awarded
2 degrees - Engineering UG degree (B.Tech.) and Master's • BharatPe has appointed Pawan Pathak as its senior vice-
degree in Management (MBA). president (product) and Abhishek Sharma as its vice-
• The Institute is introducing the programme from the president (product).
Academic Year 2019-20 and it will have an intake of 25-30 • The company provides merchants interoperable QR codes
students. that can be used to take digital payments from customers.
Jio pipped Airtel: 2nd largest operator now
43 | P a g e
• BharatPe has operations in 13 cities and serves over 10 • They are meant for facilitating more divisions in
lakh merchants. Municipalities, increasing the retirement age of professors
in Medical Colleges to 65 years.
Sachin: 6th Indian in ICC Hall of Fame
• CM Chandrashekhar Rao also introduced the Telangana
• International Cricket Council has inducted Sachin Municipalities Bill 2019.
Tendulkar, Allan Donald and Cathryn Fitzpatrick into the
Sports
ICC’s Hall of Fame.
• Other Indians on the list are Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil • In Shooting, extending India's domination at the ISSF
Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid. Junior World Cup, Sarabjot Singh shot a 239.6 to bag the
• Sachin Tendulkar has 34,357 runs across formats and is the men's 10 metres air pistol gold. This is India's ninth yellow
only batsman to have 100 internationals hundreds under metal at the event in Suhl, Germany.
his belt. • The International Cricket Council, ICC has suspended
Zimbabwe Cricket with immediate effect over violation of
2 new districts to be formed in Tamil Nadu
global body's constitution which doesn't allow any
• In Tamil Nadu, two new districts are going to be formed, government intervention.
taking the total number of districts in the state to 35.
G7 Finance Ministers agree plan for taxing
• Tenkasi District would be carved out of Tirunelveli and
Chengalpet District would be established by splitting • G7 Finance Ministers meeting in France agreed a plan for
Kanchipuram district. taxing digital companies such as Facebook and Google that
• Special Officers would be appointed for the formation of will set a minimum level of taxation for them.
the new districts. • G7 looks forward to further progress in the context of the
G20 and a global agreement on the outlines of the
architecture by January 2020.
adopted by 2020.
Union HRD Minister launched Paramarsh scheme
• The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Dr.
Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched ‘Paramarsh’ – a
University Grants Commission (UGC) scheme on 18 July
2019.
• It will mentor National Accreditation and Assessment
Council (NAAC) Accreditation Aspirant Institutions.
• The scheme will target 1000 Higher Education Institutions
for mentoring with a specific focus on quality.
GeM and SAIL signed MoU
• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and Steel Authority of
India (SAIL), signed an MoU to set up GeM Organizational
Transformation Team (GOTT)Project Management Unit
(PMU).
• The MoU was signed by S. Suresh Kumar, Additional CEO,
GeM and Harinand Rai, Director (Technical), SAIL.
• SAIL has become the first PSU to establish GOTT PMU for
transforming their procurement landscape through this
MoU.
INS Sagardhwani embarked on Sagar Maitri Misn
Telangana Legislative Assembly passed 3 bills • Oceanographic research vessel of DRDO, INS Sagardhwani,
embarked on a 2-month long SAGAR MAITRI (SM) Mission-
• Telangana Legislative Assembly passed 3 Bills replacing 2 from South Jetty, Southern Naval Command (SNC) in
ordinances relating to Municipal Laws, Regulation of Age Kochi on 18 July 2019.
of Superannuation, and State Commission for Debt Relief. • INS Sagardhwani has been designed and developed by
Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL),
Kochi.
44 | P a g e
• SAGAR MAITRI Mission-2 commemorates the Golden • The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch the
Jubilee Celebrations of ship INS Kistna’s missions. Chandrayaan-2 on July 22, 2019.
• Chandrayaan-2 is India's second Moon mission and aims to
Indian waterway to transport Cargo
land a rover on the lunar surface.
• The first-ever use of an Indian waterway will transport • The mission was scheduled to be launched at 2:51 am on
cargo from Bhutan to Bangladesh via India. July 15, 2019, but had to be called off after ISRO scientists
• For this, a shipment of stone aggregates was formally detected some glitches at the last moment.
received at Narayangunj by the Indian High Commissioner
Jalan panel proposed nominal transfer of funds
to Bangladesh, Riva Ganguli Das, along with Ambassador
of Bhutan to Bangladesh Sonam T. Rabgye. • The Bimal Jalan committee has proposed a
• The Indian cargo ship MV AAI arrived in Narayanganj in nominal transfer of surplus to the central government in a
Bangladesh on July 16, 2019. phased manner.
• The report has proposed a formula for a nominal transfer
Railways to conduct recruitment drive
of a portion of the RBI’s reserves to the central
• Indian Railways will conduct the largest recruitment drive government in a period of three-five years.
for the paramedical categories from July 19, 2019. • This is in line with the current practice being followed by
• The Computer-Based Test, CBT for recruitment to 1,923 the RBI for transferring dividend annually.
posts of Para-Medical categories will be conducted over
UK's programme to boost Indian start-ups
three days.
• This is the first recruitment by Indian Railways in which • The UK government has expanded its Go Global initiative
reservation for Economically Weaker Sections will be to India.
available to eligible candidates. • The aim is to give the country's most innovative and
cutting-edge start-ups the skills they need to grow their
National Affairs
business, build links with the UK's digital sector.
• Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal • It forms part of the UK-India Tech Partnership announced
Nishank released the UGC Guide to Student Induction by outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May and her
Programme - Deeksharambh in New Delhi on July 19, Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in April 2018.
2019.
Tata: India's most valuable brand
• The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019
was introduced in Lok Sabha on 19 July 2019. The Bill • The brand 'Tata' has become India’s most valuable brand
provides for a comprehensive mechanism to ban the for the second straight year in 2019, according to the
unregulated deposit schemes. Brand Finance India 100 2019 report.
Lok Sabha passed Finance Bill 2019 • Tata’s brand value rose 37% to $19.6 billion as compared
to $14.2 billion in 2018.
• The Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill, 2019 that gives • The 2nd most valued brand was the government-owned
effect to the proposals of the Central Government for the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) at $7.3 billion and
year 2019-2020. a close third was Infosys at $6.5 billion.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pointed out that the
Microsoft, AT&T signed cloud deal
said amendments will promote 'Make in India' and
Startups. • Microsoft Corp and AT&T Inc reached a deal under which
• The deduction on the loan interest is to encourage buyers, the telecommunications company will tap Microsoft's
keeping in mind the state of the environment. Azure cloud service for its computing needs and use
Microsoft 365.
MoU signed to eradicate TB by 2025
• Under the deal, both will also work together on edge
• Union Health Ministry signed an MoU with Ministries of computing, which will see Microsoft technology deployed
Ayush, Defence and Railways to strengthen the efforts alongside AT&T's coming 5G network.
towards a TB-Free India by 2025. • The multi-year deal is worth more than $2 billion.
• Around 28 lakh people contract the disease every year in
Agreement between India and USA approved
the country and four lakh people die every year.
• TB will be completely eradicated from the country in the • The Inter-Institutional Agreement between India and the
same way polio was, as told by Health and Family Welfare USA in the areas of regenerative medicine and 3D
Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan. bioprinting, and more has been approved.
Chandrayaan-2 to be launched on July 22 • The objective of the Agreement is to contribute towards
the development of research and education of both the
Institutions through academic collaboration.
45 | P a g e
• The joint research projects, etc. will be open to all • The country enjoys duty-free sugar exports to the US for
qualified scientists and technologists. up to 10,000 tonnes annually under preferential quota
arrangement.
Appointments
Doubling of railway line in Assam approved
• Bengaluru-based IT services firm Mindtree Ltd., has
appointed A M Naik (the current chairman of L&T) as the • CCEA has given its approval to the doubling of 142.97 km
company's new non-executive chairman with effect from long railway line between New Bongaigaon and Agthori via
18 July 2019. Rangiya in Assam.
• Coca-Cola announced top-level changes in its India and • The total estimated cost of the project is around Rs.2042
South West Asia unit with appointment of Sarvita Sethi as crore and will be completed by 2022-23.
Vice-President-M&A and New Ventures, and Harsh • It will traverse through Bongaigaon, Baksa, Barpeta,
Bhutani as Vice President - Finance (CFO). Nalbari and Kamrup districts of the state.
Bernard Arnault: World's 2nd richest person Sports
• Bill Gates has never ranked lower than No. 2 in the seven- • At the ISSF Junior World Cup, Anish Bhanwala claimed gold
year history of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. in 25m rapid fire pistol competition in Suhl, Germany on
• But he dropped to No. 3 behind France’s Bernard Arnault. 17 July 2019. Adarsh Singh came 4th, while Agneya
LVMH, Arnault’s luxury-goods maker, advanced to a record Kaushik 6th with 9 points.
in Paris and pushed his net worth to $107.6 billion. • Former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has decided to
• Arnault has added $39 billion to his fortune in 2019 alone. step down as Pakistan chief selector. He would not seek an
extension or renewal of his contract, which is due to expire
ADB cut India's GDP growth forecast to 7%
by the end of July 2019.
• Asian Development Bank lowered India's GDP growth
Hima Das won 4th gold medal in 15 days
forecast to 7% for the current year on the back of fiscal
shortfall concerns. • Hima Das clinched her 4th gold in a fortnight as she won
• India is expected to grow by 7% in 2019 (FY20) and 7.2% in the 200m race with a creditable timing in the Tabor
2020 (FY21), slightly slower than projected in April Athletics Meet in Czech Republic on 17 July 2019.
because the fiscal 2018 outturn fell short. • Hima won the race in 23.25 seconds, which had a
• For the south Asian region, the growth is projected at 6.6% mediocre field with most of the competitors representing
in 2019 and 6.7% in 2020. clubs of Czech Republic.
• In men's 400m, Muhammad Anas won in 45.40 seconds,
ICJ stayed Kulbhushan Jadhav's execution
KS Jeevan was third with a timing of 46.60 seconds.
• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) stayed the
Deepika Kumari clinched silver
execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pakistan.
• Jadhav had been arrested in Pakistan’s restive province of • India's top-ranked woman archer Deepika Kumari clinched
Balochistan in 2016 and accused of terrorism, spying, and silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games test event.
fomenting trouble in Balochistan. • This was Deepika's first individual final in a world event
• He was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in since she won a gold at the third stage of the World Cup in
2017. Salt Lake City in June 2018.
• In the men's category, Atanu Das made a second round
Ebola outbreak: Global health emergency
exit, losing to Bae Jaehyeon of Korea 4-6.
• The deadly Ebola outbreak in Congo is now an
National Affairs
international health emergency, the World Health
Organization announced on 17 July 2019 after the virus • Union Cabinet approved 1,600 crore rupees for Dibang
spread this week to a city of two million people. Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh. The project is
• More than 1,600 people have died since August in the envisaged as a storage-based hydro-electric project with
second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history. flood moderation as the key objective.
• This is the fifth such declaration in history. • A bill to scrap 58 redundant laws was also approved. The
NDA government in its two terms has sent to the chopping
India permitted raw sugar export to US
block 1,824 old laws which had become redundant.
• The government has permitted the export of 1,239 tonnes
National Medical Commission to be set up
raw sugar under its tariff-rate quota (TRQ) to the US,
which enables shipments to enjoy relatively low tariff. • The Union Cabinet approved National Medical Commission
• TRQ is a quota for a volume of exports that enter the US at Bill, 2019.
relatively low tariffs.
46 | P a g e
• The bill provides for setting up of a National Medical • The UK-India Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO)
Commission in place of Medical Council of India and repeal was held in London on 15 July 2019.
the Indian Medical Council Act 1956. • India and the UK agreed to set up three new bilateral
• The NMC Bill proposes a common final year MBBS exam, working groups to tackle barriers in specific sectors
to be known as National Exit Test (NEXT). including food and drink, healthcare and data services.
• The India – UK JETCO was established on 13th January
Cabinet extended 15th FC's term till Nov 30
2005, to further develop a strategic economic relationship.
• Cabinet has approved the extension of the term of 15th
DoT and ICRIER signed MoU
Finance Commission up to 30th November 2019.
• It will enable the Commission to examine various • The Department of Telecom (DoT) and the Indian Council
comparable estimates for financial projections. for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)
• The 15th Finance Commission was constituted by the signed an MoU to develop a Broadband Readiness Index
President on 27th November, 2017. (BRI) for Indian States and UTs.
• It was to submit its report by 30th October 2019 covering • The first estimate will be made in 2019 and subsequently
a period of 5 years commencing from 1st April, 2020. every year until 2022.
• The index will appraise the condition of the underlying
'Find the Incredible You' campaign won award
digital infrastructure at the State/UT level.
• The 'Find the Incredible You' campaign of the Tourism
Smriti and Rohan received Arjuna Awards
Ministry, has won the Pacific Asia Travel Association
(PATA) Gold Award, 2019. • Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports
• The campaign focuses on digital and social media and the gave Arjuna Awards to Smriti Mandhana and Rohan
promotion of niche tourism products of the country. Bopanna on 16 July 2019.
• The campaign won the award under the 'Marketing - • Smriti Mandhana and Shri Rohan Bopanna were selected
Primary Government Destination' category. for Arjuna Awards 2018 for their outstanding
achievements in Cricket and Tennis respectively.
National Affairs I
• They could not receive the Awards from President of India
• The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) plans to convert during the Award Ceremony held on 25th September
all electricity meters into smart prepaid meters by 2022. It 2018.
is part of the government’s electricity distribution plan
Government to set 4200 Ayush Wellness Centres
prepared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
• Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that a • The government plans to set up 4,200 Ayush wellness
website would be launched listing staff of Jet Airways and centres in the country in FY 2019-20 across several states.
help find employment in other private entities. • 2,500 new centres are planned to be opened within the
first four months of the present government.
Warburg Pincus co-CEO resigned
• The government has also provided financial assistance to
• Joseph Landy is stepping aside from his role of co-chief set up integrated Ayush hospitals in 85 districts across
executive of Warburg Pincus, after two decades of various states, and has plans to add more.
managing one of the most renowned private equity firms.
• Warburg Pincus has invested more than $77 billion in
more than 870 companies in over 40 countries around the • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh awarded Raksha Mantri
world. Trophy for the Best and Second Best Command Hospitals
• Charles Kaye, co-chief executive and Landy's partner, will of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for the year
take over as the sole CEO of the PE firm. 2018, on 16 July 2019.
Ustad Bismillah Yuva Puraskars announced
Command Hospital.
• The Sangeet Natak Akademi has selected 32 artists of India • Command Hospital Central Command Lucknow was
for Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2018. adjudged the Second-Best Command Hospital.
• In the field of music, there are 8 recipients of Yuva
B Murli Kumar: Special Expenditure Observer
Puraskar including Sameehan Kashalkar and Ruchira Kedar
for Hindustani Vocal Music. • The Election Commission of India has appointed Ex- DG IT
• The award carries a purse money of Rs 25,000. Chennai Sh B Murli Kumar as Special Expenditure Observer
• The Yuva Puraskar will be presented at a special ceremony, for 8-Vellore Parliamentary Constituency.
by the Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi. • The then Spl Expenditure Observer Ms Madhu Mahajan
had recommended countermanding of Election to 8
UK JETCO meeting held in London
47 | P a g e
Vellore PC as this organised way of inducement of voters • The 21st Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship
had vitiated the electoral environment. began in Cuttack on 17 July 2019. 12 countries including
Australia and England are participating in the event. The
Internet Saathi to empower rural women
event will conclude on 22 July 2019.
• Google India's 'Internet Saathi' programme is aimed • Vijayveer Sidhu picked up his 3rd gold medal of the
at empowering rural women on how to use the Internet. ongoing ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany,
• It has now added two more states -- Punjab and Odisha. combining with Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu and Adarsh Singh
• With this, the programme has now reached 2.6 lakh to clinch the men's 25m pistol event.
villages in 20 states.
Euro Comm. elected 1st female President
• These women, in turn, impart training to other women in
their community and neighbouring villages. • German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has been
• It was launched as a pilot project in 2015. elected as the European Commission's first female
president.
Zakir Hussain selected for Sangeet Natak Fello
• Leyen's nomination was approved by 383 votes at the
• Zakir Hussain and dancer Sonal Mansingh are among the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on 16 July
4 eminent personalities who have been selected for the 2019.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships in the field of • She was nominated to become the first woman in Brussels'
performing arts. top job in June 2019 by the leaders of the bloc's 28
• The two other personalities are dancer and choreographer member states, to the annoyance of many MEPs.
Jatin Goswami and Bharatnatyam exponent
Christine resigned as MD of IMF
K.Kalyanasundaram Pillai.
• The awards will be conferred by President Ram Nath • International Monetary Fund, IMF MD Christine Lagarde
Kovind at a special investiture ceremony. has resigned ahead of a decision on her nomination to
become head of the European Central Bank, ECB.
US banned Myanmar Army Chief
• If the European Council approves her nomination, she will
• The US has banned visits by Myanmar's Army Chief and 3 become the central bank's first-ever female leader,
other top officers due to their role in the ethnic responsible for the Euro and the monetary policy of the
cleansing of the Rohingya minority. eurozone.
• The US is the first government to publicly take action with • She has been heading the IMF since 2011.
respect to the most senior leadership of the Burmese
NGT set deadline of 3 months
military.
• Also sanctioned were Deputy Commander-in-Chief Soe • The National Green Tribunal has directed the Central
Win, Brigadier-General Than Oo and Brigadier General Pollution Control Board, CPCB, to shut down polluting
Aung Aung. industries within 3 months.
• On the basis of a study jointly carried out by the CPCB and
Assam govt to plant saplings across NH
state pollution control boards in 2009-10, industrial
• The Assam Government is to plant sapling spread over one clusters were notified as Polluted Industrial Areas (PIAs).
thousand kilometres across the National Highways. • They were ranked depending upon Comprehensive
• This initiative is being taken to improve green coverage in Environmental Pollution Index scores.
the state.
Appointments
• The National Highway Authority of India has sanctioned
the plantation at 810 kilometres area. • President Ram Nath Kovind appointed Anusuiya Uikey as
• A variety of saplings will be planted near the national Governor of Chhattisgarh.
highways. • Biswa Bhusan Harichandan has been named as Governor
of Andhra Pradesh. The appointments will take effect from
National Affairs II
the dates they assume charge of their offices.
• The Centre launched a public awareness campaign in Delhi • Swatantra Dev Singh has been appointed as the new Uttar
on 17 July 2019 to accelerate vector control measures. The Pradesh BJP Chief. Singh is currently a minister in Yogi
3-day campaign aims to sensitize the community for Adityanath government.
prevention and control of diseases like Malaria, Dengue
India bagged 6 awards at SAARC film festival
and Chikungunya.
• Maharashtra government has decided to increase the • Indian entries bagged 6 awards including the Best Feature
compensation from 25 lakh to Rs 1 crore for families of Film for the movie Nagarkirtan at the 9th SAARC Film
security personnel hailing from the state. Festival held in Colombo.
• Kaushik Ganguly got the Best Director Award.
Sports
48 | P a g e
• Riddhi Sen won the best actor award for the movie while International Commercial Court. The SICC is a division of
Prabuddha Bannerjee bagged Best Original Score at the the Singapore High Court, dealing with international
film Festival. commercial disputes. It has 16 international judges in its
panel.
India, Italy to set up fast-track mechanism
• Varun Dhawan has made an announcement of his
• India and Italy have decided to set up a fast track association with the fitness brand Reebok India.
mechanism to facilitate investors and companies.
Appointments II
• The fast-track system in Italy aims to identify and solve
problems faced by Indian companies and investors. • Senior BJP leader Kalraj Mishra was on July 15 appointed
• Commerce and Industry Ministry said a meeting was held as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh. He replaced Acharya
in New Delhi on 16 July 2019 in this regard. Devvrat, who has been transferred and appointed as the
Governor of Gujarat.
India-Uzbekistan held meet
• Dr Kiran Pandya, head of department of human resource
• The 8th meeting of India-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group development (HRD), Veer Narmad South Gujarat
on Counter-Terrorism was held in New Delhi on 16 July University (VNSGU), has been appointed as member of
2019. National Statistical Commission (NSC).
• The Group discussed measures to strengthen bilateral
cooperation in the sphere of counter-terrorism.
• Cooperation in multilateral fora including UN, Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation's Regional Anti-Terrorist
Structure and EAG was also discussed.
2 Ind airports in world's best airports list
• Online travel agency Globehunters has compiled a list of
world's 45 most popular airports and ranked them
according to their suitability for business travellers.
• Japan’s Narita Airport, which recorded 81.1% on-time
flight arrivals, was crowned as the world's best business
airport.
• Delhi's IGI Airport is at the 38th spot while Mumbai's
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is at 43rd.
MP: 1st international flight from Indore
• In Madhya Pradesh, the first international flight from Devi
Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport of Indore left for
Dubai on 15 July 2019 with 153 passengers on board.
• The non-stop flight has fulfilled a long-standing desire
from the travel fraternity and tourists for direct
connectivity to the Gulf.
• Air India is operating 162-seater A-320 Neo aircraft on this
route.
Kerala to get loan from the World Bank
• The World Bank will extend a USD 250 million loan for the
Resilient Programme in Kerala, which had been devastated Raghu Ram conferred with Surgeons fellowship
by worst floods in August 2018.
• The Centre, state government and the World Bank had • Padma Shri awardee breast surgeon P Raghu Ram was
signed the loan agreement of US$ 250 million for the conferred honorary fellowship of the Royal College of
programme in June 2019. Surgeons of Thailand.
• It aims at enhancing the state's resilience against the • This is the highest recognition bestowed by the institute.
impacts of natural calamities and climate change. • Raghu Ram is also the President-elect of the Association of
Surgeons of India.
Appointments I
• His surgical career spans 24 years since he qualified to
• Former Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri has been become a surgeon in 1995.
appointed as an International Judge of the Singapore
Shah Rukh Khan to receive honorary doctorate
49 | P a g e
• Shah Rukh Khan will receive an honorary doctorate degree Sports

from Melbourne-based La Trobe University for his
• Indian youth boxers clinched four Silver and a bronze
contributions through Meer Foundation.
medal at the 37th Golden Glove of Vojvodina International
• He will be visiting Australia to attend the 10th edition of
Tournament held in Serbia.
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) in August 2019 as
• Novak Djokovic's successful defence of his Wimbledon
its chief guest.
crown ensured that he remained at world number one in
• La Trobe University is the first Australian university to
the latest ATP rankings. He collected his fifth Wimbledon
award Khan with an Honorary Degree.
title and 16th major on 14 July 2019.
RBI fined SBI, Union Bank
Extinction of 2 birds: SC formed panel
• The RBI has penalised State Bank of India and Union Bank
• The extinction of two Indian birds, Great Indian Bustard
of India for violating certain regulatory guidelines.
and the Lesser Florican has been alarming.
• SBI was fined ₹7 crore for non-compliance with the
• The Supreme Court has constituted a high powered
directions issued by the RBI.
committee to urgently frame and implement an
• A ₹10-lakh fine was imposed on Union Bank for non- emergency response plan for the protection of these
compliance with the directions on the cybersecurity species.
framework in banks issued by the RBI.
• The plea has contended that over the last 50 years the
30 lakh people enrolled under PM-SYM scheme population of the Great Indian Bustard has recorded a
decline of over 82%.
• Total 30,85,205 persons have been enrolled under
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Scheme, PM-SYM, Kohli, Bumrah at top spots in ICC rankings
till 10 July 2019.
• Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah retained their number one
• The government had launched the PM-SYM a voluntary position in the ICC batsmen and bowlers' rankings for the
and contributory pension scheme for the benefit of One-Day Internationals.
unorganized workers in February 2019.
• Another notable gainer in the rankings for batsmen is
• The scheme assures the minimum monthly pension of Ravindra Jadeja who has been lifted by 24 places to 108th
three thousand rupees to the beneficiaries after attaining position.
the age of 60 years.
• In the team Rankings, England has increased their lead
NDHB report released by Health Minister over India to three points after their maiden World Cup
triumph.
• Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family
Welfare released the National Digital Health Blueprint India bagged 2 gold at ISSF Junior World Cup
(NDHB) report on 15 July 2019.
• India bagged 2 Gold and 1 Silver medal in the Women's 10-
• The report is in line with the vision of the Prime Minister
metre Air Rifle event at the International Shooting Sport
to reach each individual of this country with services at
Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany.
their doorstep under Digital India Programme.
• In the Individual section of the category, Elavenil Valarivan
• Its vision is to create a National Digital Health Eco-system.
claimed the top honours with a total score of 251.6.
Cycle rally in South Africa • India remains at the top of the medals tally with 14
medals, six Gold, six Silver and two Bronze. China is 2nd.
• Indian diplomats in South Africa participated in a cycle
rally to promote greater awareness of Mahatma Gandhi's PV Sindhu to spearhead at IOB
ideals of non-violence and satyagraha.
• PV Sindhu will spearhead the Indian campaign at the
• This was done to celebrate his 150th birth anniversary. Indonesia Open Badminton tournament beginning in
• Conceived by Indian Consul-General in Johannesburg Dr K J Jakarta on 16 July 2019.
Srinivasa, the event was co-hosted by the Gandhi Walk • Sindhu, seeded fifth, will play her opening game against
Committee. Japan's Aya Ohori on 17 July 2019.
Wholesale inflation declined in June • Srikanth will face Japan's Kenta Nishimoto, Praneeth will
take on Wong Wing Ki of Hong Kong.
• Wholesale price-based inflation declined for the second
• Prannoy will meet second-seeded Chinese Shi Yuqi.
consecutive month to its 23-month low of 2.02% in June
2019. 20 mn children missed vaccination in 2018
• According to official data, the Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-
• United Nations said almost 20 million children missed out
based inflation was at 2.45% in May 2019.
on potentially life-saving vaccinations in 2018.
• Inflation in the fuel and power category cooled
• In an annual report issued in Geneva, the World Health
substantially to minus 2.20% from 0.98% in June.
Organization and the UNICEF said, in 2018 19.4 million
50 | P a g e
children were not fully vaccinated, up from 18.7 million in • Boxer Vijender Singh clinched a Technical Knockout over
2017 and about 18.5 million in 2016. Mike Snider on his debut in the US professional circuit at
• Some 350,000 measles cases were reported globally in Newark in US.
2018. • He prevailed in four rounds for his 11th consecutive
victory in the circuit.
821 mn people suffering from hunger
• This was Vijender's eighth knockout win in all.
• A UN report has said, more than 821 million people • The triumph came in the second minute of the fourth
suffered from hunger worldwide last year. round when Vijender cornered Snider with a flurry of
• It is the third year in a row that the number has risen. straight punches.
• The report named, 'The State of Food Security and
Indian House to be set up in Tokyo
Nutrition in the World' is produced by the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization and other UN agencies, including • Indian House would be set in Tokyo with all facilities for
WHO. the Indian players as a part of preparations of Tokyo
Olympics 2020.
U.S. celebrates 50 years of Apollo 11 mission
• The nutritional food as per the advice of the coach and
• U.S. celebrates the Apollo 11 mission’s 50th year nutritionist would also be made available at proposed
anniversary. India house.
• In the celebrations, new statues of Astronaut Neil • The government is now also creating a system to help
Armstrong were unveiled and an education centre was those players who had won medals but were not in good
dedicated to him in Ohio, US. financial condition.
• Present Administrator of NASA - James Frederick
Djokovic claimed 5th Wimbledon title
Bridenstine.
• Headquarters - Washington, D.C. • In Tennis, Serbian Novak Djokovic won his fifth Wimbledon
title after defeating Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer 7-6, 1-
Motor Vehicles Bill introduced in Lok Sabha
6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12.
• The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was • The match had to be decided in the fifth set, as both of
introduced in Lok Sabha by road transport and highways them won two sets each in the longest ever final to be
minister Nitin Gadkari. played so far.
• The Bill seeks to amend the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. • This is Djokovic's 16th Grand Slam and 5th Wimbledon
Increasing penalties of traffic violations is among the title. He is now level with Bjorn Borg as a five-time
changes proposed in the amendment. Wimbledon winner.
• The amendment Bill proposes to omit a clause of the
Sports
Motor Vehicle Act to decide certain other aspects.
• Lewis Hamilton made a thrilling victory in the Silverstone
Unicorn India Ventures launched new fund
circuit to win his sixth British Grand Prix, his seventh
• Unicorn India Ventures has launched a ₹400 crore fund, its victory in ten races in 2019.
third venture capital fund, to back companies at the pre- • India wrestler Vinesh Phogat won gold in the 53kg
Series A and Series A stage. category at Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul. Phogat
• The fund aims to invest exclusively in business-to-business beat her Russian opponent Ekaterina Poleshchuk 9-5 in the
technology startups, including software-as-a-service, final match to bag the gold medal.
artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Internet of
England lifted ICC World Cup
Things (IoT).
• Through this, the firm plans to invest in about 24 • England lifted their maiden ICC World Cup cricket trophy
companies. beating New Zealand in a nerve-wracking final that was
decided via a dramatic Super Over in London.
RBI to launch a mobile app
• In the Super Over, England batted first and the duo of Ben
• The RBI will soon come out with a mobile app that will Stokes and Jos Buttler made 15.
read out the denomination of currency notes for the • England's Ben Stokes was named player of the
visually-challenged population. match while New Zealand's Kane Williamson was adjudged
• The mobile app will be able to identify the denomination player of the tournament.
of legal tender banknotes of Mahatma Gandhi Series and
Indian won 6 medals on day 2 of ISSF World Cup
Mahatma Gandhi (New) series by scanning the image of
the notes with the mobile phone camera. • India bagged 6 medals, including two Gold, on day two of
• It can also be used to count notes later on. the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior
World Cup at Suhl in Germany.
Vijendra Singh won 11th pro bout
51 | P a g e
• In the Men's 50 metres Pistol event, Gaurav Rana claimed • The Golden Jubilee Edition of International Film Festival of
the top honours, while Arjun Singh Cheema settled for a India, IFFI will be held from 20-28 November 2019 in
Silver. Panaji, Goa.
• In Women's 50 metres Pistol event, Priya Raghav won • The business exhibition will showcase the latest
Silver, while Vibhuti Bhatia claimed the Bronze. technology, film production and distribution and other
aspects regarding films.
14 July: National day of France
• President of Oscar Academy John Bailey has been invited
• The French prepared to mark their national day on 14 July, for the event.
known as July 14th in France and Bastille Day abroad. • Russia will be IFFI partner in this edition.
• European Union leaders joined the French president for
20th anniversary of Kargil victory celebrated
the world's oldest military parade.
• This year celebrates the 230th anniversary of the storming • The celebrations of 20th Anniversary of the victory in
of the Bastille prison in Paris, a turning point in the French Operation Vijay at Kargil began in Delhi on 14 July 2019.
revolution that set the stage for the birth of the Republic. • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief General
Bipin Rawat paid tributes to the martyrs at National War
Obituaries
Memorial where a Victory Flame was illuminated.
• Bangladesh's former president Hussain Muhammad • It is being celebrated with theme ‘Remember, Rejoice and
Ershad died due to complications from old age at a Renew’..
hospital in Dhaka in July 2019.
Chandrayaan-2 launch called off
• Ershad took over the state power in a bloodless coup in
1982 and subsequently ran the country for eight years • ISRO has called off the launch of India's second mission to
until he was forced to quit in a pro-democracy mass Moon - Chandrayaan-2 onboard GSLV MkIII-M1 due to a
upsurge in 1990. technical snag.
• The countdown for the launch scheduled was stopped 56
Over 5 bn dollar penalty imposed on Pakistan
minutes and 24 seconds before lift-off following the
• An international arbitration court has imposed a penalty of announcement from the Mission Control Centre.
over 5 billion dollars on Pakistan for unlawful denial of a • It was supposed to explore the lunar south pole, 11 years
mining lease to a company for the Reko Diq project in after ISRO's successful 1st mission - Chandrayaan-1.
2011.
4th anniversary of Skill India Mission
• The Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) had filed claims for
international arbitration before the World Bank's ICSID in • The 4th anniversary of the Skill India Mission was being
2012. observed on 15 July 2019.
• The project stopped in November 2011, when the • National Skill Development Mission also known as Skill
Balochistan government rejected its application. India Mission was launched on this day in 2015.
Consistent decline in left-wing extremism • Nearly One Crore youth are being presently imparted skills
training annually under the mission.
• There has been a consistent decline in both Left Wing
Appointments and Resignations
Extremism violence and geographical spread of its
influence in the country. • BJP has appointed BL Santosh as its general secretary. He
• Violent incidents have declined from a high of 2258 in is presently the party's joint general secretary.
2009 to 833 in 2018. • Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has resigned from
• The resultant deaths have also declined steadily from 1005 Punjab Cabinet. He sent his resignation to Congress Chief
in 2010 to 240 in 2018. Rahul Gandhi on 10th June 2019.
• The trend of decline in violence has continued in 2019. • Gujarat Governor O.P. Kohli was accorded a farewell at a
2nd round talks between India and Pak held ceremony in Gandhinagar on completing his tenure.
3 bills introduced in Lok Sabha
• The 2nd round of talks between India-Pakistan on the
modalities for operationalisation of the Kartarpur Sahib • Three bills were introduced in Lok Sabha on 15 July 2019.
Corridor was held at Wagah, in Pakistan on 14 July 2019. • These are Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, Motor Vehicles
• The meeting discussed the modalities and draft agreement (Amendment) Bill, and the National Investigation Agency
for facilitation of pilgrims on the corridor. (Amendment) Bill.
• It was agreed to allow five thousand pilgrims to visit • In Rajya Sabha, the Arbitration and Conciliation
Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor everyday. (Amendment) Bill, to further amend the Arbitration and
IFFI's Golden Jubilee to be held in Goa Conciliation Act, 1996 is scheduled to be introduced.
Ad-hoc committee to run taekwondo affairs
52 | P a g e
• The Indian Olympic Association has formed an ad-hoc • In Wimbledon Tennis, seventh seed Simona Halep has won
panel to run the affairs of taekwondo in the country and the women's singles Wimbledon title of 2019.
conduct the federation's election within six months. • She defeated Serena Williams in the final match.
• The five members ad-hoc panel will be headed by IOA joint • India has secured three Gold Medals in the Yasar Dogu
secretary Namdev Shirgaonkar. Ranking series wrestling tournament in Turkey.
• The decision to form the ad-hoc committee was taken • Weightlifter Pardeep Singh created a new Commonwealth
during the General Assembly of the IOA in December record in the clean and jerk category at the
2018. Commonwealth Championships in Apia.
Russia launches space telescope Meghalaya: First state to have water policy
• Russia launched a space telescope, Spektr-RG, from the • The Meghalaya became the first state to approve a draft
cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on 13 July 2019. water policy to address water issues, conservation, and
• The Spektr-RG, developed with Germany, is a space protection of water sources in the state.
observatory intended to replace the Spektr-R, known as • As per the policy, committees will be formed at the village
the 'Russian Hubble'. level and the issue of groundwater will also be catered
• Spektr-R was launched in 2011 to observe black holes, through this policy.
neutron stars and magnetic fields. • It will also monitor the quality of the water to check if it
has a high content of iron or if acidic.
Homicide rate declines by 10% in India
• The Global Study on Homicide 2019 was published on 8
July 2019 by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
• The overall homicide rate in India has decreased by 10%
over a period of six years till 2015 but the trend increased
noticeably in some northern states.
• It was also found that the number of female homicide
victims was more than that of males in India.
NHAI inks deal with NIIF for highway projects
• National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) inked a deal
with quasi-sovereign wealth fund National Investment
Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).
• Under the deal, NIIF will provide funds for large greenfield
road projects, which will be executed by the highway
authority in the future.
• In 2015, Centre had set up NIIF to fund commercially
viable greenfield, brownfield and stalled projects.
Samsung partners with Paisabazaar.com
• Paisabazaar.com, India's largest online marketplace for
financial products, announced its partnership with
Samsung.
• Paisabazaar.com will provide Samsung Pay users with a
one-stop solution to their financial requirements.
T
• By using the facility, Samsung Pay users can apply for
ropical Storm Barry hits Louisiana in US
credit cards and personal loans from the platform.
• In the United States, Tropical Storm Barry began hitting
Walmart Labs acqui-hires two Indian startups
Louisiana with wind and rain, building towards hurricane
strength. • Walmart Labs, the technology arm of the US retail giant,
• It is the first hurricane of the season. has acqui-hired health tech start-up FloCare and B2B
• The centre of the storm was about 5 miles northeast of trading platform BigTrade.
Intracoastal City. • Walmart has brought on-board the teams of the two
• It has weakened from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical Bengaluru-based companies to help strengthen its
storm. customer technology and supply chain.
Sports
53 | P a g e
• FloCare which was co-founded by former Google research • Japanese scientists have successfully landed an unmanned
scientist Gagan Goel and former InMobi employee Gaurav spacecraft, Hayabusa 2, on the distant asteroid Ryugu for
Gupta. the second time as part of an ongoing mission to help
explore the origins of the solar system.
ICSI launches UDIN for corporate governance
• The spacecraft first arrived at the asteroid in June 2018 to
• The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has carry out experiments.
rolled out an initiative in the form of a Unique Document • Hayabusa 2 will depart Ryugu in December 2019 and
Identification Number (UDIN). return to Earth by the end of 2020.
• UDIN will provide ease of maintaining a register of
Indian scientists develop 'black gold'
attestation and certification services.
• The ICSI UDIN will be mandatory for every document • Scientists at the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of
except an e-form, signed or certified by a company Fundamental Research (TIFR) developed a new material
secretary with from 1 October 2019. called 'Black Gold'.
• Scientists used gold nanoparticles and by rearranging size
Port integrity campaign launched in India
and gaps between them developed a new material.
• Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) has announced • It has unique properties such as the capacity to absorb
the launch of a Port Integrity Campaign in India. light and carbon dioxide.
• The campaign aims to reduce and (in the long term) • It could also act as a catalyst and could convert carbon
eliminate integrity issues and bottlenecks to trade during dioxide into methane.
operations in Indian ports.
AGCL, OIL, and GGL signed agreement
• MACN is a global business network of over 110 companies
working to tackle corruption in the maritime industry. • Assam Gas Company Limited (AGCL), Oil India Limited (OIL)
and GAIL Gas Limited (GGL) signed an agreement for
Exim Bank inks loan pact with PNG and Senegal
setting up a new company for implementation of the City
• Exim Bank has signed agreements with Papua New Guinea Gas Distribution (CGD) network in five districts of Assam.
(PNG) and Senegal governments for providing USD 124 • The joint venture will supply Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to
million. the domestic, commercial and industrial customers.
• The loan amount will be used to finance infrastructure and • Around 95,000 households will be connected with the
health care projects in these countries. PNG.
• The agreement under this line of credit is effective from 25
India's 1st ethanol-based motorcycle launched
June 2019.
• TVS Motor has launched India's first ethanol-powered
France passes GAFA Tax
motorcycle, a 'green' version of its popular Apache RTR
• France became the first major economy to impose a tax on 200 4V.
digital companies. • The bike uses 100% ethanol to replace petrol.
• The tax is known as the GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook • Ethanol is produced domestically from renewable sources,
and Amazon). including remains and alcohol from sugar factories and is
• The law will levy a 3% tax on total annual revenues of the lesser polluting as well.
largest tech firms providing services to French consumers. • The bike will initially be available in Maharashtra, Uttar
• GAFA targets digital companies with global sales of more Pradesh and Karnataka.
than 750 million euros and sales in France of at least 25
Gandhi-Mandela Peace Medal 2019 announced
million euros.
• The annual Gandhi-Mandela Peace Medal 2019 has been
Delhi girl bags ICJ internship programme
awarded to Thich Nhat Hanh.
• Isha Kanth is one of the two persons in the world to have • Thich Nhat Hanh is a global spiritual leader, poet and
bagged an internship programme at the International peace activist.
Court of Justice based in Hague. • The first edition of Gandhi-Mandela Peace Initiative was
• She has earlier worked in rural Bihar spreading awareness held in New Delhi.
on the right to education and women empowerment • The Initiative was organised by Believe Foundation in
among children belonging to the marginalised sections. association Dr Raman Bhai Patel Foundation (RBF).
• The ICJ is the principal judiciary organ of the United
Women Startup Summit to be held in Kochi
Nations.
Japan lands spacecraft on distant asteroid • The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) will host the Women
Startup Summit 2019 in Kochi on 1 August 2019.
54 | P a g e
• The Summit aims at encouraging aspiring women Appointments

professionals to take up their entrepreneurial journey and
• Yadlapati Raghunath Babu has been appointed as Tobacco
developing an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem in the
Board Chairman.
State.
• Rashid Khan has been appointed the captain of
• The summit will be organised in association with the
Afghanistan cricket team in all three formats.
Indian Women Network floated by Confederation of Indian
• Former skipper Asghar Afghan will be the Vice Captain of
Industry.
Afghanistan Cricket team.
India USTR Talks Held in New Delhi
Agri-Business Incubation Centre started
• The bilateral talks were held between India and the United
• An Agri-Business Incubation Centre has started in Raipur.
States Trade Representative(USTR) in New Delhi on 12 July
• The centre is set up by the Union Agriculture Ministry in
2019.
the Indira Gandhi Agriculture University.
• The aim of the meeting was to provide a new impetus to
• The Centre is set up under the National Agriculture
bilateral trade and commercial ties between India and the
USA. Development Scheme- RAFTAAR.
• The Indian delegation was led by Sanjay Chadha, • Under the scheme, guidance, technology and
infrastructure will be provided to youth and entrepreneurs
Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce.
for start-ups in different areas of agriculture.
Film Divisions to launch documentary film club
Rafting Expedition on Indus River flagged off
• Film Divisions of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
• Fire and Fury Corps Chief of Staff Major General Arvind
launched 'KSHITIJ', a documentary film club in Mumbai on
Kapoor flagged off White Water Rafting Expedition on
12 July 2019.
Indus River in Leh on 12 July 2019.
• The initiative was launched in association with Indian
• The expedition is undertaken by the 27 member Parashu
Documentary Producer’s Association. Public screenings
Brigade led by Capt Hrishikesh Ghogare from Nyoma to
will begin at 5:30 PM on the second and fourth Friday of
Nimu.
every month.
• The screenings will be held at Films Division Complex. • The expedition will commemorate the sacrifices of the
brave soldiers to win the Kargil war.
Conference on Media Freedom held in London
WB Govt decides to construct 8.3 Lakh houses
• Indian delegation attended the Global Conference on
Media Freedom in London. • The West Bengal Government will construct 8 lakh 30
thousand houses under Bangla Abas Yojana for the people
• The Conference was attended by Prasar Bharati Chairman
belonging to economically weaker sections.
A Surya Prakash, Member of Parliament Swapan Das
• The Rural Development Department is implementing the
Gupta and Kanchan Gupta, Member, Press Council.
project as per the Socio-Economic Census of 2011.
• The UK government has committed 18 million pounds
• The centre is giving 60% of the fund while the State
towards improving media freedom across the world and
Government is bearing the rest of the expenditure for
announced the creation of a new Global Media Defence
implementation of the project.
Fund.
Sports
Miscellaneous News
• The independent Atlantic League became the first
• 'Ulto Rath Yatra' celebrated in West Bengal.
American professional baseball league to let a computer
• In Madhya Pradesh, continuous rain has damaged Asia's
call balls and strikes.
largest solar Power project in Rewa.
• In Archery, Deepika Kumari finished fourth in the women's
• West Bengal government observed Save Water Day on 12
recurve qualifying round at the Tokyo Olympic Games test
July 2019. The aim of the day is to create awareness
event on 12 July 2019.
among people to check misuse of water.
• In Table Tennis, G. Sathiyan and Anthony Amalraj won the
Obituaries bronze at the World Tour Platinum Australian Open on 13
July 2019.
• Former Secretary of Billiards and Snooker Federation of
India (BSFI), Mr C. Kapur passed away on 12 July 2019. India, Russia hold talks on space cooperation
• Well known Malayalam cinematographer M J
• India and Russia held high-level talks to elevate bilateral
Radhakrishnan passed away on 12 July 2019.
cooperation in the field of space, including assistance in
• Veteran journalist C.M. Ramachandra passed away on 12
India's 'Gaganyaan' mission.
July 2019. He was the Editorial Representative of The
Hindu in Karnataka.
55 | P a g e
• NSA Ajit Doval and Dmitry Rogozin, Director-General of • Anshula Kant, Managing Director of the State Bank Of
Russia's space agency ROSCOSMOS, led the two sides in India, has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief
the meeting held on 11 July 2019. Financial Officer of the World Bank.
• India shares robust cooperation with Russia in strategic • She will be the first woman CFO of the Bank. She will be
areas of defence, nuclear and space. responsible for financial and risk management.
• Her duties will include risk management and financial
First train under Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra
reporting and she will work with the Bank’s CEO to
• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal flagged off the first mobilise financial resources.
train under the Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra scheme from
YouTube Introduces ‘Learning Playlists’
the Safdarjung railway station on 12 July 2019.
• Under the scheme, fully funded by the Delhi government, • YouTube is bringing a new education feature “Learning
the train will ferry 1,000 senior citizens on the Delhi- Playlists” with dedicated landing pages for educational
Amritsar-Wagah Border-Anandpur Sahib tour circuit. videos on topics like math, science, music and language.
• The scheme covers five routes of religious importance. • YouTube was investing $20 million to fund resources for
educational creators and organisations through a Learning
Mysterious Black Hole Disc discovered
Fund initiative.
• Using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have • CEO of YouTube - Susan Wojcicki.
discovered a disc very close to a starving black hole. • You Tube Established- February 2005.
• The unexpected thin disc of material was found encircling
Best performing state in education: Chandigarh
a supermassive black hole at the heart of the spiral galaxy
NGC 3147, located 130 million light-years away. • Chandigarh has been ranked best among states and Union
• A black hole is a region of space time exhibiting territories in the field of education and is followed by
gravitational acceleration so strong that nothing can Kerala and Gujarat, according to HRD Ministry.
escape from it. • As per the Performance Grading Index 2017-18, Arunachal
Pradesh is the least performing state and has been ranked
SBI waives IMPS charges from August 1
36 on the index.
• State Bank of India (SBI) decided to remove the charges on • The information also shared by Union HRD Minister
fund transfer through mobile phones using the IMPS Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank'.
(Immediate Payment Service) from 1 August 2019.
IAF to get ASRAAM
• It has waived charges on NEFT and RTGS transactions
through the Internet and mobile banking from 1 July 2019. • The Indian Air Force plans to adopt Advanced Short Range
• Before July 1, SBI used to charge between ₹1 and ₹5 for Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), a new European visual range
transactions through NEFT and ₹5 to 50 for RTGS air to air missile, across its fighter fleet.
transactions. • IAF aims to expand its Su-30 fleet with a proposal to build
40 more jets under license at HAL’s Nashik facility.
Central Universities Bill passed in Lok Sabha
• The adoption is a part of a £250 million IAF contract with
• The Lok Sabha passed the Central Universities MBDA, UK.
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 to establish a central university • The contract was signed in July 2014.
and a tribal university in Andhra Pradesh.
The 2019 global Multidimensional Poverty Index
• Tribal University will provide research facilities in tribal art,
culture and customs. • UN Development Programme has released the 2019 global
• The establishment of a Central University and a Central Multidimensional Poverty Index.
Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh was obligatory under • India’s MPI value reduced from 0.283 in 2005-06 to 0.123
the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. in 2015-16.
Microsoft launches AI for Cultural Programme • India has lifted 271 million people out of poverty between
2006 and 2016, recording the fastest reductions in the
• Microsoft will now channel $10 million into an AI project multidimensional poverty index.
that focuses on tangible and intangible cultural heritage. • In India Child mortality dropped from 4.5% to 2.2%.
• It will use AI to work with nonprofits, universities and
governments around the world to help preserve the Jeremy Lalrinnunga sets records
languages we speak, the places we live and the artefacts • In Weightlifting, Youth Olympics gold medallist Jeremy
we treasure. Lalrinnunga smashed three records at the Commonwealth
• AI for Cultural Heritage was announced by the company's Championships in Apia, Samoa.
President Brad Smith.
Anshula Kant is World Bank MD and CFO
56 | P a g e
• Jeremy, competing in the 67 kg category, obliterated the • The 5th India-EU High-Level Dialogue on Migration and
Youth World, Asian and Commonwealth records in the Mobility was held in New Delhi.
snatch category with a lift of 136 kgs. • External Affairs Ministry said the discussion encompassed
• Achinta Sheuli lifted a total of 305 kgs to win the senior a wide range of issues of mutual interest in the context of
and junior men's 73kg gold. migration and mobility along the India-EU corridor.
• Both sides reaffirmed that migration and mobility are
Commonwealth Championships I
important dimensions of the strategic partnership
• Papul Changmai clinched the silver medal in 81 kg category between India and EU.
by lifting a total of 313 kgs at the
India-US trade talks held in New Delhi
Commonwealth Championships 2019 in Apia, city of
Samoa. • India and US held trade talks in New Delhi to discuss
• P Anuradha lifted 221 kg to grab the first place in the bilateral and economic issues.
men's 87 kg category. • The visiting USTR delegation will also call on Commerce
• Commonwealth gold medallist RV Rahul settled for the and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal today.
second spot by lifting 325 kg in the 89 kg event. • This is the first meeting on trade issues after the meeting
of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President
Commonwealth Championships II
Donald Trump in Japan on the sidelines of the G20
• Indian weightlifter Ajay Singh has won Gold in 81 kg summit.
category at the Commonwealth Championships 2019 in
Model Tenancy Act (MTA) drafted
Apia, city of Samoa.
• He also created a new Commonwealth record in the clean • The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has drafted a
and jerk category by lifting more than double his body ‘Model Tenancy Act’, 2019.
weight (190 kg) to score vital points at the Olympic • It envisages to balance the interest and rights of both the
qualifying event. owner and tenant and to create an accountable and
• He also smashed the national record in the same category. transparent ecosystem for renting the premises in
disciplined and efficient manner.
NMMC launches rental services for e-bikes
• Hardeep Singh Puri - MOS independent charge.
• Along with the hugely popular Public Bicycle Sharing
Mansukh Mandaviya to flag off vessel
System launched by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
in November last year, the civic body has now introduced • Minister of State for Shipping and Chemical & Fertilizers,
rental services for electric bikes. Shri Mansukh Mandaviya will flag off an inland waterways
• Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has taken a lead in vessel containing cargo from Bhutan to Bangladesh via
promoting electric vehicles in Maharashtra River Brahmaputra (NW 2) and the Indo Bangla Protocol
• To hire an e-bike, one has to simply download YULU app Route.
on their mobile phones and scan a code. • This is a first of its kind movement where an Indian inland
waterways is being used for connecting two countries –
Centres for skill development in aviation
landlocked Bhutan and Bangladesh.
• Gujarat Government will develop Centers of Excellence for
Bank of Baroda to launch e-commerce platform
skill development in the Aviation industry.
• This was announced by Captain Ajay Chauhan, Director of • Bank of Baroda plans to launch an online marketplace to
Civil Aviation- Government of Gujarat. its customers offering banking services and farm-related
• It was said during 2nd Gujarat Aviation Conclave products.
Conference on Business Opportunities in the aviation • The state-owned lender has invited bids seeking a partner
sector held in Ahmedabad. to supply 'digital commerce platform' to provide assistance
to merchants.
US-India trade could reach USD 238 billion
• The bank will offer various kinds of banking services and
• US India Strategic and Partnership Forum has said, the farm-related products on its e-commerce platform.
bilateral trade between the two countries could reach 238
Appointments
billion Dollars by 2025 from the current 143 billion Dollars.
• In a report released on the occasion of its second annual • Balbir Singh Dhilon has replaced Rahil Ansari to become
leadership summit, the US-based group USISPF said, this Audi India's new head. Dhilon currently heads dealer
growth will occur if trade grows by 7.5 per cent each year. development and will be taking up his new position from
September 1, 2019.
India, EU hold high-level talks on migration
• Accenture has announced that Julie Sweet has been
appointed chief executive officer. David Rowland,
57 | P a g e
currently interim chief executive officer, has been • Union cabinet banned the US Based Pro-Khalistani group
appointed executive chairman. Sikhs for Justice for alleged anti-national activities.
Secretary of Overseas Indian Affairs appointed • It propelled the Sikh Referendum 2020 as part of its
separatist agenda.
• Senior diplomat Vikas Swarup has been appointed as • SFJ openly supported the cause of Khalistan, a Sikh
Secretary, Overseas Indian Affairs, according to an order separatist movement.
issued by the Personnel Ministry. • It challenged the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
• Swarup, a 1986-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, India.
is at present India’s High Commissioner in Ottawa.
Oriental Bank of Commerce bank cuts MCLR rate
• He has been appointed as the Secretary, in the External
Affairs Ministry with effect from August 1, 2019, the order • Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) has reduced the
said. marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) by up to
Obituaries 10 basis points (bps) for various tenors.
• It is effective from 11 July 2019.
• Former Bengal and Railway leg-spinner Soumendranath • MCLR for overnight has been reduced to 8.20% from
Kundu passed away. Kundu was conferred the CAB Kartick 8.30% and one-month loan tenor has been reduced by 10
Bose life- time Achievement Award 2014. Kundu took 127 bps from 8.35% to 8.25%.
wickets in 30 First Class matches between 1958-59 and
1968-69. He also took 10 wickets in a match thrice.
• Actor Amit Purohit, who starred in the hit Telugu film,
Sammohanam, died.
Rajghat plant to be turned into solar park
• The Delhi government has announced that the Rajghat
thermal power plant will be officially shut and turned into
a solar park and electricity museum.
• A 5,000 KW of solar power will be produced at the 45 acre
plant site.
• The coal-based plant, whose current units were
commissioned in 1989, has been lying in a shutdown mode
from 2014.
Isha Kanth bags ICJ internship programme
• Indian girl, Isha Kanth is one of the two persons in the
world to have bagged an internship programme at the
International Court of Justice.
• She has earlier worked in rural Bihar spreading awareness
among children belonging to the marginalised sections.
• Headquarters: The Hague (Netherlands).
• President: Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf (Somalia).
India gives pre-fabricated houses to Myanmar
• India handed over 250 pre-fabricated houses to Myanmar
in Maung Daw for use of displaced returnees from
Bangladesh.
• The Indian government had taken up the project under its World Population Day: 11 July
Rakhine State Development Programme for $ 25M for a • The United Nations observes 11 July every year as World
period of five years. Population Day.
• The MoU on RSDP signed between India and Myanmar in • This year’s World Population Day calls for global attention
December 2017 aims to contribute to the socio-economic to the unfinished business of the 1994 International
development of the area. Conference on Population and Development.
Government banned 'Sikhs for Justice' group • United Nations Headquarters - New York, USA
• Founded - 24 October 1945.
• Secretary General - Antonio Guterres.
58 | P a g e
Index and rankings CHIK. Venkatesh Vijayaraghavan is the Group Director &
CEO – Personal Care & Alliances.
• Actor Akshay Kumar is the only face from Bollywood to
• FanMojo has appointed cricketer Prithvi Shaw as its brand
make it to Forbes’ annual Highest-Paid Celebrities list.
ambassador. Fanmojo is a fantasy platform where users
Singer Taylor Swift has topped the list, yet again after
play skill-based games to earn money.
2016.
• Max Life Insurance Company Ltd., one of India’s leading FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019
life insurance companies, is the only life insurance
• The Estádio Bezerrão in Brasília (Gama) will make football
company to be recognised amongst India’s “Top 100 Great
history on 26 October when it hosts the opening match of
Places to Work For” by Great Place to Work Institute.
the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Smith & Nephew's NAVIO honored • It is the first-ever edition of this prestigious tournament to
be staged in Brazil.
• NAVIO has recently been felicitated at the prestigious 'The
• Three cities and four stadiums will host the FIFA U-17
Economic Times Best Healthcare Brands 2019'.
World Cup Brazil 2019.
• NAVIO is a robotics-assisted surgery system from Smith &
• In the past it has hosted 1950 and 2014 FIFA World Cups,
Nephew, a Global medical technology provider.
as well as 2016 Olympics.
• This coveted and one of the most prestigious awards in
India honors brands which have shown robust growth by Bank in News
high customer satisfaction in the healthcare sector.
• RBI working group has suggested calibrated extension of
Govt to establish first Nat. Police University forex market trading hours from 9 am to 9 pm. The RBI
regulates money markets, Government Securities (G-Sec)
• Centre said it has initiated a proposal to establish the first
market, foreign exchange (Forex) market and the markets
National Police University in the country.
for derivatives on interest rate, currency and credit
• It will be dedicated to imparting education in policing and
derivatives.
internal security.
• The RBI cancelled licences of 1,701 non-banking financial
• The university will conduct academic programmes in
companies in the year ended 31 March.
specialized subjects.
• Gujarat, Rajasthan and Jharkhand have set up dedicated RPF launched “Operation Thirst”
universities for conducting courses in police services and
• To curb the menace of unauthorized PDW (PACKAGED
internal security.
DRINKING WATER) in Railway premises, an all India drive
Lok Sabha passes NDAIC Bill named 'Operation Thirst' was launched.
• In the drive all the Zonal Principal Chief Security
• Lok Sabha passes New Delhi International Arbitration
Commissioners (PCSC) were asked to crackdown these
Centre Bill.
unauthorised activities.
• It seeks to provide for the establishment and incorporation
• During the drive, 1371 persons were arrested for selling of
of New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDAIC) for
packaged drinking water of unauthorised brands.
the purpose of creating an independent and autonomous
regime for institutionalized arbitration. Organized Group ‘A’ Status to RPF
• The legislation has provision to declare the NDIAC as an
• The Union Cabinet has approved Grant of Organised Group
institution of national importance.
'A' status to Indian Railway Protection Force (RPF).
Prasar Bharati signs MoU with IIT Kanpur • It will also give consequential benefits of Non-Functional
Financial Upgradation (NFFU) with effect from 01-01-2006.
• Prasar Bharati and Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
• Grant of status of Organized Group 'A' service to RPF will
signed a Memorandum of Understanding for research
end stagnation, improve career progression of the officers
collaboration in newly emerging technologies and
and keep up their motivational level.
broadcasting-related areas in New Delhi.
• The move is likely to boost research activities in the Cabinet approves Transgender Persons Bill 2019
broadcasting field.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to introduce
• Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati - Shashi Shekhar
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019.
Vempati.
• The Bill provides a mechanism for their social, economic
• Director, IIT Kanpur - Abhay Karandikar.
and educational empowerment.
CavinKare & FanMojo appoints Brand Ambassadors • The Bill will benefit a large number of transgender
persons, mitigate the stigma, discrimination and abuse
• CavinKare announced Bollywood star Sonakshi Sinha as
against this marginalized section and bring them into the
the brand ambassador for its largest shampoo Brand,
mainstream of society.
59 | P a g e
'Code on Occupational Safety' approved • Rakhi Halder and Davinder Kaur won a gold medal each in
the senior women’s section in Commonwealth
• The Cabinet has approved for introduction of the Code on
Weightlifting championship 2019.
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill,
• Kaur lifted a total of 184 kg (80+104) to win the women’s
2019 in the Parliament.
59 kg gold.
• The decision will enhance the coverage of the safety,
• while Halder clinched the yellow metal with a combined
health and working conditions provisions manifold as
effort of 214 kg (94+120) in the 64 kg category.
compared to the present scenario.
• India also won five other gold medals in the junior and
• The New Code has been drafted after amalgamation of the
youth sections.
relevant provisions of the 13 Central Labour acts.
Ukraine inaugurates world’s largest Metal Dome
'Banning of Unregulated Deposit Bill' passed
• Ukraine has inaugurated the world’s largest movable
• The Cabinet has approved the banning of Unregulated
metal dome encasing the destroyed reactor at the
Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019.
infamous Chernobyl plant.
• It will replace the banning of Unregulated Deposit
• It is a 108-meter high dome which weighs 36,000 tonnes.
Schemes Ordinance, 2019.
• The Chernobyl nuclear power station was the scene of the
• The Bill will help tackle the menace of illicit deposit taking
world's worst civilian nuclear accident on April 26, 1986.
activities in the country.
• Thirty people were killed in an explosion and many
• Illicit deposits, at present are exploiting regulatory gaps to
hundreds died of related illnesses.
dupe poor and gullible people of their hard-earned
savings. Sports
VNL signs pact with Vietnam • MS Dhoni became the only second Indian player to reach
the 350-game mark in One-Day International cricket (ODI).
• Vihaan Networks Ltd (VNL) has inked a pact with Vietnam
The first Indian to set the record was Sachin Tendulkar.
to develop digital villages.
• India physiotherapist, Patrick Farhat’s tenure ended after
• Vihaan Networks Ltd will offer solutions for advancing
India lost to New Zealand in the World Cup 2019.
rural connectivity by developing digital villages in
• Elina Svitolina became first Ukrainian woman to reach
Vietnam’s underserved areas through solar-based cellular
and broadband solution. Wimbledon major semi finals.
• Vietnam Capital -Hanoi. Appointments
• Currency - Vietnamese dong.
• LinkedIn appointed Ashutosh Gupta as its new country
• Prime Minister - Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
manager for India. He will replace Mahesh Narayanan. He
• President - Nguyen Phu Trong.
was the country manager for India from January to June
Duty waived on products for nuclear plants 2019.
• Arun Kumar has been appointed as the Director General of
• Government of India has waived off basic customs duty
aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation. He
(BCD) on products imported for nuclear plants.
will replace BS Bhullar.
• "All goods for use in generation of nuclear power” and “all
forms of uranium ores and concentrates for generation of Museum of Indian Cinema launched NMIC Bulletin
nuclear power” will now have to pay no basic customs
• The National Museum of Indian Cinema launched a
duty.
fortnightly bulletin named “NMIC Bulletin“.
• The department of atomic energy (DAE) imports uranium
• It is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ore concentrate from firms in Kazakhstan and Canada, and
• It was brought out by the Films Division with veteran
Russia
filmmaker Jahnu Barua.
Deposits in PMJDY crosses Rs 1 lakh crore • The Museum was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister
of India on 19th January 2019.
• Deposits in bank accounts opened under Jan Dhan scheme
have crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark. Defence Ministry signed MoU with IPFC and NRDC
• As per the latest finance ministry data, the total balance in
• IPFC, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of
over 36.06 crore Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
Defence and NRDC, Ministry of Science and Technology
accounts was at Rs 1,00,495.94 crore as on July 3.
signed an MoU with a vision to bridge the capacity
• The PMJDY was launched on August 28, 2014, with an aim
shortfall.
to provide universal access to banking facilities to the
• It will promote a culture of Innovation and Intellectual
people in the country.
Property Rights IPR in Indian Defence industry.
Rakhi Halder & Davinder Kaur won a gold medal
60 | P a g e
• The move will be a boost to the Mission Raksha Gyan • The decision has been taken in a Board of Directors’
Shakti. meeting held under the chairmanship of the Minister for
Cooperatives Govind Singh in Bhopal.
India to host 14th COP of UNCCD
• The brand name of seeds will be ‘Sah-Beej’.
• India is set to host the 14th Conference of the Parties • A plan has been made to produce seeds from the next
(COP) of United Convention to combat Desertification Rabi season.
(UNCCD) from September 02 to 13.
NGT asks states to tackle crop burning
• The global conference will be hosted at India Expo Mart
Limited in Greater Noida. • National Green Tribunal has asked states of Punjab,
• Ahead of COP-14, Minister also launched “Bonn Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as to how they intend to tackle
Challange”, a maiden project to lay emphasis on India’s the problem of crop burning.
capacity for forest landscape restoration. • The bench is headed by NGT Chairperson Justice AK Goel.
Art and Culture • The direction by the tribunal came following news reports
on deaths caused in the NCR due to air pollution, and crop
• The auspicious Kharchi Pooja started. Kharchi puja is a burning being one of the reasons for the poor air quality.
Hindu festival in Tripura. The festival involves the worship
of the fourteen gods forming the dynasty deity of the
Tripuri people. • Russia successfully launched Soyuz-2.1 a carrier rocket
• In Sri Lanka, the fortnight long annual festival at historic with a hydrometeorological satellite and 32 small
Kataragama temple began. Kathirgamam temple is satellites.
dedicated to Buddhist guardian deity Kataragama deviyo • The satellite will provide images of clouds, the surface of
and Hindu War God Murugan. the Earth, ice and snow covers in the visible, infrared and
Commonwealth Weightlifting championship I microwave ranges.
• The ride-share mission lifted off from the Vostochny
• India won 13 medals on the opening day of the Cosmodrome in eastern Russia.
Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in Apia,
Samoa. Sharjah issues 1st permanent residency visa
• The medals comprised 8 Gold, 3 silver and 2 Bronze. • Sharjah’s first Golden Card visa was issued to an Indian
• Former world champion Mirabai Chanu led the Indian expat businessman Lalu Samuel.
medal rush in the senior women's 49 kg event to win the • The move is a part of the permanent residency system
gold medal in the Olympic qualifying event. tailored for investors.
Commonwealth Weightlifting championship II • The Golden Card is a 10-year long-term visa eligible for
investors and entrepreneurs to engage them in the
• Jhilli Dalabehra also clinched the first place on the podium renaissance and development of the UAE.
with a lift of 154 kg in the senior women's 45 kg event
Kyriakos Mitsotakis becomes Greece’s new PM
which is not an Olympic weight category.
• In the senior women's 55 kg, Soroikhaibam Bindyarani • Kyriakos Mitsotakis was sworn in as the Prime minister of
Devi won the gold while silver went to Matsa Santoshi. Greece.
• In the senior men's 55kg category, Rishikanta Singh • Mitsotakis is the son of former prime minister Constantine
grabbed the gold with a total lift of 235 kg. Mitsotakis, one of the country’s longest serving
parliamentarians.
Dutee Chand clinches gold medal
• Greece Capital - Athens
• Dutee Chand clinched a gold medal in the World • Greece Currency - Euro
Universiade in 100 m dash event at Napoli in Italy.
• With this, she became the first Indian woman track and Sri Lanka eliminates measles
field athlete to win Gold. • Sri Lanka has become fifth country in the World Health
• She took 11.32 seconds to finish the race. Organisation (WHO) Southeast Asia region to eliminate
• Dutee has now become the second Indian sprinter to win a measles.
gold in a global event after Hima Das. • The other countries in the region which have achieved this
Madhya Pradesh to produce its own seeds soon feat are Bhutan, Maldives, DPR Korea and Timor-Leste.
• Measles is a highly infectious illness caused by the rubeola
• The Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Seed Federation virus.
will produce seeds. • WHO estimate that 2.6 million people who have not had
the vaccine die of measles every year.
Awards and Honours
61 | P a g e
• Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar’s directorial ‘Gully Boy’ has won • The meeting will focus on six core areas of cooperation,
the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema Award at including development of transport infrastructure and
the 23rd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in technologies, agriculture and agro-processing sector and
South Korea. small and medium business support.
• The amplified version of honey bees sound used by the
Northeast Frontier Railways to ward off elephants from
tracks, thereby preventing any mishap deaths has won • France will impose green tax up to €18 on plane tickets
Indian Railways' best innovation of the year award. from 2020.
• The move aims to fund less-polluting transportation
Sports
projects.
• Magnus Carlsen won the 2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour • A similar tax was introduced in Sweden in April 2018,
title. India’s Viswanathan Anand ended up with 4.5 points which imposed an added charge of up to €40 on every
and finished 11th. ticket in a bid to lessen the impact of air travel on the
• Arinjeeta Dey, a 10-year-old girl, has won a silver medal in climate.
the World Youth Cup held in Umag, Croatia. The
CP 9th most expensive office location in world
tournament was organised by World Karate Federation
affiliated to the International Olympic Association. • According to property consultant CBRE, New Delhi’s
Connaught Place (CP) is the 9th most expensive office
Appointments
location in the world.
• Lieutenant General Shailesh Tinaikar of India assumed • Hong Kong’s Central district retained the top spot as the
charge as Force Commander of United Nations Mission in world’s most expensive market for prime office rents.
South Sudan. Shailesh Tinaikar has been awarded the Sena • Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex and Nariman Point CBD
Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal for Distinguished slipped to 27th and 40th position.
Service.
2 new Chinook helicopters arrived in Gujarat
• BCCI has formally appointed Rahul Dravid as
the Indian National Cricket Academy’s Head of • American aerospace major Boeing announced the arrival
Cricket. Dravid will oversee all cricket related activities at of two new heavy-lift Chinook helicopters for the Indian
NCA. Air Force at the Mundra port in Gujarat.
Obituaries • The Indian Air Force has ordered 15 Chinooks and the first
four helicopters arrived in February.
• Former India football goalkeeper from Tamil Nadu A. U. • The advanced multi-mission helicopter will provide the
Celestine passed away. He played for the Tamil Nadu Indian armed forces unmatched strategic airlift capability.
men’s team in the senior Nationals as a keeper in the 1965
and 69 National championships. Venkaiah Naidu released 'Vivekadeepini' book
• Rip Torn, a distinguished actor in theater, television and • Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu released a
movies and an Emmy winner in his 60s for his comedy book titled Vivekadeepini.
piece on TV's 'The Larry Sanders Show has passed away. • It was initially written by Adi Shankaracharya who is one of
AIFF Awards announced India’s greatest spiritual and literary geniuses.
• Vivekadeepini is a summary of Prashnottara Ratnamalika
• Indian men's football team captain Sunil Chhetri and written by Adi Shankaracharya.
women's footballer Ashalata Devi bagged the top honours • It contains universal truths and are the starting point for
at the All India Football Federation's Awards. reflection.
• Development Programme - Jammu & Kashmir Football
Association. Next session of Heritage Committee in Fuzhou
• Best Referee - R. Venkatesh. • The city of Fuzhou (China) will host the next session of the
• Best Assistant Referee - Joseph Tony. World Heritage Committee in 2020.
• Emerging Women’s Footballer 2018-19 - Dangmei Grace. • This decision concluded the work of the 43rd session of
• Emerging Men’s Footballer of the Year- Abdul Sahal. the World Heritage Committee, meeting in Baku since 30
June.
2nd India-Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue
• During this year’s session, the World Heritage Committee
• The 2nd India-Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue began in inscribed a total of 29 new sites on the World Heritage
New Delhi. List.
• The first Dialogue was held in St. Petersburg in November • The committee included Jaipur in UNESCO's cultural list.
2018.
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in UNESCO's list
62 | P a g e
• The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in south-west Victoria • On December 5 2018, Supreme Court has directed all
has been included in UNESCO's World heritage list. States and Union Territories to endorse the scheme.
• It is the 20th site in Australia to make it to the UNESCO's • The Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 shall be the 'law'
List. under Article 141 and 142 of the Constitution, till the
• The landscape is marked for its Aboriginal cultural enactment of suitable legislation.
importance.
Mexico won 8th CONCACAF Gold Cup
• It is considered as one of the oldest aquaculture sites in
the world. • Mexico's men's soccer team have won their record eighth
• The site was cared for over 6,600 years and is important to CONCACAF Gold Cup by defeating the United States 1-0 in
the Gunditjmara People. the final.
• The single goal was hit by Mexico’s Jonathan dos Santos.
• CONCACAF is the international men’s football
championship of North, Central American, and Caribbean
region.
• The 2019 CONCACAF was hosted by US, Costa Rica and
Jamaica.
Operation Milap of Delhi Police
• The Delhi Police Crime Branch has rescued 333 children
from Delhi as these children were missing since January
2019 from various parts of the country.
• The operation Milap was launched in December 2014.
• Under this project, the Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU)
of the Delhi Police develops information, rescues the
trafficked or kidnapped person and arrests the
kidnappers.
US approves arms sale to Taiwan
• The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale
to Taiwan of M1A2T Abrams tanks, Stinger missiles and
related equipment at an estimated value of $2.2 billion.
• This was done despite China's criticism of the deal. US
said that this will not alter the basic military balance in the
region.
• The United States is the main arms supplier to Taiwan,
which China deems a disloyal province.
Jallianwala Bagh Bill introduced in Lok Sabha
Vinesh Phogat won gold medal • The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (amendment) Bill
was introduced in Lok Sabha by Culture Minister Prahlad
• India’s wrestler Vinesh Phogat won her first gold medal Singh Patel.
after shifting to 53 kg category at the Grand Prix of Spain • It seeks to remove the Congress president as a permanent
2019 at Madrid, Spain. member in a trust that runs the Jallianwala Bagh National
• Divya Kakran claimed the top honours in the 68 kg Memorial trust.
category. • The members are- PM as the chairperson, President of
• In the championship, India finished second with 130 points INC, Culture Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok
in team championship behind Russia which secured 165. Sabha, Punjab governor & CM.
• Vinesh defeated Jessica Blaszka (Dutch) at the finals.
DEEP-CEE: AI Powered tool launched
Odisha implemented Witness Protection Scheme
• Matthew Chan, a doctoral researcher at Lancaster
• The Odisha government implemented the Centre’s University has developed deep learning technology called
Witness Protection Scheme 2018. 'Deep-CEE' (Deep Learning for Galaxy Cluster Extraction
• By this Odisha became the first State to implement the and Evaluation)
Scheme. • It speeds up the hunt for galaxy clusters by using neural
networks, which mimic the way the human brain identifies
63 | P a g e
objects i.e. by using specific neurons that can visualise • Rajya Sabha passed the Aadhaar and Other Laws
patterns and colours. (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by a voice vote, which was passed
by Lok Sabha on July 4.
Earth Alliance launched
• It allows voluntary use of Aadhaar as identity proof to
• Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs and Brian Sheth open bank accounts and get mobile connection.
will launch Earth alliance to tackle climate change. • It provides for a ₹1 crore penalty and a jail term for private
• Caprio has merged his Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation into entities violating provisions on Aadhaar data and also
Earth Alliance. allows Adhaar's use for KYC authentication.
• The alliance will work globally to protect ecosystems,
50 years of partnership of India and UNWFP
climate change, support renewable energy, and secure
indigenous rights to the benefit of all life on earth. • Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri
Narendra Singh Tomar launched a Coffee Table Book-50
New tranche of gold bonds out
years of Partnership for Change.
• The government announced a new tranche of sovereign • This was launched along with Dr. Hameed Nuru,
gold bonds at an issue price of ₹3,443 per gram, with a Representative and Country Director, UN World Food
discount of 1.45%. Programme in India, to commemorate 50 years of
• Sovereign gold bonds track the price of physical gold and partnership between the Ministry and the agency towards
also pay out an interest of 2.5%. addressing food and nutritional security in India.
• These bonds are government securities denominated in
Delhi-Lucknow Tejas-first privately run train
grams of gold and come with a maturity period of 8 years
with an exit option from the fifth year. • The Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express is set to be the first train
to be operated by private players, as a part of the 100 day
India's 1st elephant rehabilitation centre
agenda of Indian railways to hand over the operation of
• India's first elephant rehabilitation centre will be situated two trains to private sector on a trial basis.
in Kottoor, Kerala. It is an ecotourism village. • The train was announced in 2016 but was introduced in
• It is being planned on the lines of the Pinnawala Elephant the new time table released recently.
Orphanage in Sri Lanka. • It is currently parked at the Annandnagar railway station in
• It will have an elephant museum, mahout training centre, Uttar Pradesh.
super-specialty hospital, a retirement home and
US Congress to vote for Green card bill
crematorium for the animals, will house orphaned, injured
and older elephants. • The US Congress will vote for the Green card bill that will
remove the per country cap on the number of green cards
Sri Lanka inaugurates first model village
issues by the US.
• Ranidugama- The 1st Model Village having 2400 houses • This will mainly benefit high-tech professionals on H-1B
and built with Indian assistance in Sri Lanka was work visas from countries like India.
inaugurated. • The Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, also known
• This is a part of housing project meant for civil war- as HR 1044 is being supported by 203 Democrats and 108
affected people and estate workers. Republicans, and requires 290 votes to be passed.
• India has partnered with Sri Lankan Ministry of Housing
Facebook to clarify how it makes money
and Construction and Cultural Affairs and will also provide
a grant of Rs 1,200 million (USD 17.5 million) for the same. • Facebook is updating its terms and services guidelines to
clarify how it makes money from the personal information
RBI's norms stricter than requirements: BCBS
of its users.
• RBI's norms on large exposures for banks are compliant • This is an attempt to satisfy regulators in the U.S. and
with the Basel requirements, infact they are stricter in Europe, which have urged the company to make sure
some areas, according to the Basel Committee on Banking users know what they are signing up for.
Supervision. • Even after deleting the information, it might still exist on
• The assessment was conducted by the Regulatory Facebook’s servers for 90 days.
Consistency Assessment Programme (RCAP) and focused
Twitter to mark rule breaking tweets
on the completeness and consistency of the domestic
regulations in commercial banks in India. • Twitter would label and deprioritise tweets from officials
and politicians that violates its rules.
Parliament passes Aadhaar amendment Bill
• Users will see a notice about a tweet which violates the
rules and must then tap or click through to see the
message.
64 | P a g e
• It would only apply to verified political candidates and • It was launched on July 1 and will cover the entire 1,000-
government officials with more than 1,00,000 followers. kms length of the India-Pakistan International Border.
• The Border Security Force is the primary force guarding
iPhone designer John Ive quits Apple
this frontier as the ‘first line of defence’.
• Apple's Chief Design Officer, John Ive will quit Apple after
UAE Foreign Minister on India's visit
more than two decades.
• He's the man behind the iconic designs of the iPhone, iMac • Foreign Minister of United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah
and iPad. bin Zayed Al Nahyan will held bilateral talks with External
• He will be starting his own new design firm, LoveFrom, Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi.
from which he will cater to Apple. • The UAE Foreign Minister is on a three-day visit to India.
• The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner and fourth
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to visit India
largest energy supplier.
• Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will be making a short visit
Deutsche Bank exits from Equities Business
to India in Sept.
• He was supposed to visit India in Feb which was cancelled • Deutsche Bank, the German bank, announced that it is to
due to elections in both the countries. Earlier, he had pull out of global equities sales and trading, scale back
visited India in 2018 which marked 25 years since the investment banking.
establishment of full diplomatic relations. • The decision of the bank will cut down 18,000 jobs for a
• PM Modi was the first Indian PM to visit Israel in 2017. global headcount of around 74,000 employees by 2022.
• The move comes after the departure of the chief Garth
RBI board finalises Utkarsh 2022
Ritchie by mutual agreement.
• RBI board finalised the three-year medium-term strategy -
P Kashyap gets silver medal
Utkarsh 2022 during its meeting held in New Delhi.
• The issues to be discussed were finalised by the committee • In Badminton, India's Parupalli Kashyap lost to Li Shi Feng
headed by outgoing Deputy Governor Viral Acharya. of China in the men's singles title clash of the Canada
• It is a roadmap to improve regulation and supervision, Open.
currency management and payment system etc. The board • He got silver medal in the tournament.
also finalised RBI's budget for July 2019-June 2020. • Kashyap entered the final, defeating Taiwan's Wang Tzu-
wei in a semi-final encounter at Calgary.
India slams OHCHR's reports on J&K
Govt to set up 3 CoE in Sports at Itanagar
• India has strongly condemned the report released
by Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human • Youth Affairs and Sports minister, Kiren Rijiju has informed
Rights. that central government is going to set-up three Sports
• The report mentions that neither India nor Pakistan have Centre of Excellence in Itanagar.
taken any concrete steps to address the concerns raised by • The three centre of excellence will be for Martial Arts,
it last year in its first-ever report. Weight Lifting and Boxing.
• India strongly protested that this report is a continuation • The government will also set up 12 to 15 football stadiums
of the last year's report, which wasn't favouring India in the next 3 years.
either. • He also said that Arunachal Pradesh will host the North
J&K govt approves Aadhaar-linked payment mode East Youth Festival.
Medals won by India
• Jammu and Kashmir government has approved Aadhaar-
linked payment mode for disbursal of pension to • Hima Das won her second international gold in women's
beneficiaries under various central and state-sponsored 200m with a top finish at the Kutno Athletics Meet in
schemes. Poland.
• It is done to ensure transparency and avoid delays. • Hima took 23.97 seconds to clinch the gold while VK
• The move is aimed at ensuring transparency and avoid Vismaya bagged the silver in 24.06 seconds.
delays in disbursement of pension to eligible old-aged, • Muhammed Anas won the gold in men's 200m race in
widows and physically challenged persons. 21.18 seconds.
Operation ‘Sudarshan’ launched • MP Jabir won the gold in men's 400m hurdles in 50.21
seconds while Jithin Paul was third in 52.26 seconds.
• BSF has launched the operation ‘Sudarshan’ to fortify the
‘anti-infiltration grid’ along the Pakistan border in Punjab World’s First Interactive Browser Launched
and Jammu. • Popshot, the world’s first ever interactive browser built for
smartphones, launches in India.
65 | P a g e
• Popshot is a smart app that changes the way people • Brazil won the Copa America Final 2019. Gabriel Jesus
explore, share, and save the web through a first-of-its-kind made one goal and showed exceptional skills. Brazil
interactive screenshot feature. defeated Peru by 3-1.
• This promises to redefine the users’ digital capabilities in
Banks in News
exploring, bookmarking and sharing content by making it
more visual, organized and direct. • The Reserve Bank of India announced an additional
liquidity facility to banks for purchase of assets from and
Indian Army to buy long-range howitzer ammo
on-lending to non-banking financial companies and
• The Indian Army is planning to acquire the Excalibur housing finance companies. This will enable banks to avail
artillery ammunition from the Americans under the additional liquidity of ₹1,34,000 crore.
emergency procurement procedures. • Punjab National Bank has reported RBI about a fraud of
• It is capable of hitting targets more than 50 Kilometers more than Rs 3,800 crore by Bhushan Power & Steel Ltd.
away.
PM unveils Lal Bahadur Shastri statue
• This Excalibur ammunition can be fired from US-made M-
777 ultra-light howitzers which are already in process of • The Prime Minister unveiled the statue of former Prime
being inducted in the Army. Minister Sh. Lal Bahadur Shastri at the Lal Bahadur Shastri
International Airport in Varanasi.
DRDO carries out successful Nag missile tests
• He then launched the tree-plantation drive at Anand
• DRDO carried out three successful test firings of the Kanan Vatika in Varanasi.
Nag missiles in the Pokhran firing ranges. • He also visited the virtual museum at Man Mahal.
• The Defence Acquisition Council has last year approved • The museum is a cultural landmark in the city of Varanasi,
the procurement of DRDO's designed and developed NAG showcasing the various aspects of our cultural heritage.
Missile System (NAMIS).
Assam to develop over 300 tourist spots
• The system includes a third generation Anti-Tank Guided
Missile, the NAG, along with the NAMICA. • Assam government has taken a step to develop 316
• The NAG missile is a third generation anti-tank guided tourists spot in the state.
missile. • 150 crore rupees will be spent to develop these locations
under Axom Darshan.
Rohit Sharma made history
• MD of Assam Tourism Development Corporation Phukan
• Rohit Sharma made history by making 5th century in 2019 added that river tourism is one of the sought after sectors
World Cup against Sri Lanka. in Assam and the state government will utilise the mighty
• 5 centuries is an all-time record for most tons in a single Brahmaputra to develop the sector.
edition of the tournament. Kumar Sangakkara, with 4
Obituaries
centuries in the 2015 World Cup, was the previous holder
of this record. • Joao Gilberto, the legendary Brazilian musician and
• Rohit became the second Indian batsman after Sachin songwriter died. He was a pioneer of the lilting, melodious
Tendulkar to score 600 or more runs in a single World Cup music known as bossa nova.
edition. • Cameron Boyce, a young actor who starred in the Disney
Channel series Jessie and played a major role in the
Sports I
Descendants series of Disney crossover movies, has died.
• Jasprit Bumrah became the second-fastest Indian bowler • R. Ramakrishnan, a member of the Rajya Sabha between
to bag 100 ODI wickets. 1981 and 1987, passed away.
• JP Duminy and spinner Imran Tahir of South Africa ended
Appointments
their One-day International careers at Old Trafford.
• Roger Federer created the history by becoming the first • J&K Bank announced the appointment of Rajni Saraf as the
player – man or woman – to win 350 singles matches at Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the bank. Having
the majors. experience of more than three decades in the banking
industry, Saraf currently heads the Supervision and Control
Sports II
Division of the bank.
• The United States won a record-extending fourth FIFA • Kartik Aaryan is Manyavar’s new brand ambassador
Women’s World Cup with a 2-0 victory over the and Katrina Kaif is Reebok's new brand ambassador.
Netherlands. Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle confirmed
Miscellaneous News
their status as the leading power in the women’s game.
• To serve the underprivileged children, Bring a Smile
Foundation along with Cyberabad Police, SCSC and GHMC,
66 | P a g e
launched Smile Box campaign aimed at bringing a 'smile' RBI slapped fine on Mobikwik and Hip Bar
on their faces.
• The RBI has imposed a fine of about Rs.26 lakh on 2 online
• As part of celebrations of 20 years of Kargil victory,
payment solutions providers for non-compliance of
commemorative treks were organised by 13 Jammu and
regulatory guidelines.
Kashmir Rifles and 18 Grenadiers battalion of the Indian
• Mobikwik Systems Private Limited has been slapped a fine
Army to Batra Top and Tiger hill.
of 15 lakh rupees while Hip Bar Pvt Ltd faced a fine of
Vertical steep dive version of Brahmos tested 10.85 lakh rupees.
• Bipin Preet Singh is the CEO of Mobikwik, while Venkata
• India has successfully tested the vertical steep dive version
Prashant Rao Adurty is the CEO of Hip Bar.
of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile that changes the
dynamics of conventional war fare. NPCI ties up with JCB for global RuPay card
• The CEO of Bramhos Aerospace Dr. Sudhir Mishra said that
• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and JCB
the 'Made in India' Brahmos Aerospace is also ready with a
International, along with domestic banks, have launched
longer 500 km range version of the Brahmos missile.
RuPay JCB Global Cards.
• It can be fired from Sukhoi 30 fighter jets.
• The cards will be accepted in India at all POS terminals and
One-time settlement scheme launched ATMs that accept JCB cards.
• NPCI had earlier tied up with Discover for international
• On 1 July 2019, the Uttarakhand government launched a
cards.
one-time settlement scheme for those who have taken a
loan of up to Rs 60 lakh from co-operative banks. RBI launches banking framework 'Utkarsh 2022'
• The scheme has been launched to recover co-operative
• RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das launched Utkarsh 2022, the
banks' Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) worth Rs 391.50
central banks' medium-term strategy framework on 23
crore which has piled up over the last 25 years.
July 2019.
• The 100-day scheme will last until 7 October 2019.
• The framework has been launched to achieve excellence in
Guidelines on self-care interventions launched the performance of RBI's mandates and strengthening the
trust of citizens and other institutions.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched its
• The strategic framework contains, the RBI's mission, core
first guidelines on self-care interventions for health.
purpose, values and vision statements.
• The guidelines focus on sexual and reproductive health
and rights. GST rates reduced on Electrical Vehicles
• The guidelines have been launched in response to an
• The GST Council has decided to reduce GST Rate on
estimate that by 2035 the world will face a shortage of
Electrical Vehicles from 12% to 5%.
nearly 13 million healthcare workers.
• The new rates will come into effect from the 1 August
2019.
Business & Economy • The Council also approved an exemption from GST on the
hiring of Electric Buses by local authorities.
Indian IT companies contributed 57.2 bn $
• It also decided to reduce the rate on Electric Vehicle
• Indian IT companies contributed 57.2 billion dollars to the Chargers from 18% to 5%.
GDP of the US in 2017. IBBI amends norms for liquidation process
• India-based global IT services companies employ more
than 175,000 workers in the US accounting for 8.4 per cent • The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has
of employment in the computer systems design industry. amended norms pertaining to insolvency resolution
• The two-way investments between India and the US have process for corporate persons and liquidation process.
reached about 60 billion dollars. • The amendments specify the process for withdrawal of
applications before the constitution of Committee of
RBI relaxed Ext Commercial Borrowing norms Creditors (CoC) and other scenarios.
• The RBI has liberalised the end-use stipulations for the • CoC has to approve a plan providing for contribution for
External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) both for meeting the liquidation costs
corporates as well as liquidity starved non-banking India creates records in nuclear power sector
lenders.
• The liberalisation will be applicable to ECBs taken for • India made huge achievements in the nuclear power
working capital, general corporate purpose loans or sector during the last 3 years.
repayment of rupee loans. • It includes setting of World Record in the continuous
• The RBI also issued a revised circular for bankers capturing operation of 962 days by Unit-1 of Kaiga Generating
the changes. Station among nuclear power plants of all technologies.
67 | P a g e
• Completion of 50 years of safe operation of Units 1&2 of • ICC officially launched the inaugural World Test
Tarapur Power Station, which are currently the oldest Championship (WTC), which will get underway on 1 August
reactors in operation in the world. 2019.
• To be played over two years, the World Test Championship
Cars24 got NBFC licence from RBI
will witness the top 9 Test teams in the world compete in
• Cars24 has received a non-banking finance company 71 Test matches across 27 series.
(NBFC) licence from the RBI. • The 2 top teams will then go head to head in the World
• It is set to carve out the lending business as a separate Test Championship final to be held in the United Kingdom
entity within the Cars24 group. in 2021.
• The company plans to foray into both consumer lending
TN girl won gold medal in World Deaf title
and business lending, to eventually expand its scope of
operations and help it cater to a larger clientele. • Tamil Nadu girl Jerlin Anika has won the gold medal in the
World Deaf Youth Badminton Championships held in
Increase of loan limits to MSME sector
Taipei.
• A Committee was constituted by Reserve Bank of India • Anika bagged four medals in the championship, including
(RBI), headed by former SEBI Chairman UK Sinha. the gold, two silver and one bronze.
• It has recommended that the limit for collateral free • The President of Taiwan is Tsai Ing-wen and the Currency
lending should be increased to Rs 20 lakh for MSMEs and of Taiwan is Taiwanese Dollar.
Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
• The Committee has also recommended revision of loan
limit sanctioned under MUDRA to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 10
lakh.
Sports
Venugopal Rao announces retirement
• Former India batsman and Andhra Pradesh skipper
Venugopal Rao announced retirement from all forms of
the game.
• He made his debut against Sri Lanka at Dambulla on July
30, 2005.
• He played his last ODI against West Indies at Basseterre on
May 23, 2006.
Sports
• Indian Test opener Prithvi Shaw has been suspended by
the BCCI till November 15, 2019, for a doping violation.
Shaw had inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance,
which can be commonly found in cough syrups.
• B.Sai Praneeth has jumped four places to enter in the top
20 players in the latest World Badminton Rankings.
Praneeth is now World No.19 in Men's Singles badminton
ranking.
Sports
• Former France and Manchester United defender Patrice
Evra has announced his retirement. He had played 81
times for France and also captained the side at the 2010 Egan Bernal claimed Tour de Title
World Cup in South Africa. • Egan Bernal became the first Colombian to win the Tour
• American Collin Morikawa has won the US PGA title at the de France when he retained the overall leader’s yellow
Barracuda Championship. This was his 1st win in the US jersey after 21st and final stage won by Caleb Ewan of
PGA title. US’s Troy Merritt finished as the runner up of Australia.
the event. • He beat Geraint Thomas of Britain with Dutchman Steven
ICC launched World Test Championship Kruijswijk coming home third.
68 | P a g e
• Slovakian Peter Sagan wrapped up a record seventh green • The sixth ship of the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class,
jersey for the points classification. IN LCU L56, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 29
July 2019.
Sports I
• Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, Eastern Naval Command
• World number one Brooks Koepka celebrated a three- commissioned the ship in Visakhapatnam.
stroke victory and claimed his maiden World Golf • LCU L56 is an amphibious ship with its primary role being
Championship. He defeated Rory Mcllory. transportation and deployment of Main Battle Tanks,
• In the Freedom Cup, New Zealand’s All Blacks and the Armoured Vehicles, Troops and Equipment from ship to
South African Springboks shared the trophy after the two shore.
teams ended with a 16-16 draw.
IAF got 1st batch of 4 Apache attack
Sports II
• US aerospace major Boeing handed over the first four of
• Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad set new 400 meter the 22 Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force on
hurdles record in 52.20 seconds, smashed previous mark 27 July 2019.
of 52.34 seconds. McLaughlin finished second in • Additional four choppers will be delivered to the IAF next
52.88, with Spencer third in 53.11. week.
• The third edition of Khelo India Youth Games will be held • The AH-64E Apache, also flown by the US army, is one of
in Guwahati in 2020. Games to be held from 18th January the world's most advanced multi-role combat helicopters.
next year, will see participation of more than 10,000 • This will be the Indian army's first fleet of attack choppers.
athletes and officials.
INS Tarkash arrived in Russia
Nikoloz won German Tennis Championships
• Indian Naval Ship Tarkash arrived at St. Petersburg, Russia
• Nikoloz Basilashvili emerged victorious after a three-set on 25 July 2019 to participate in the Russian Navy Day
battle with Andrey Rublev to successfully defend his title Parade.
at the German Tennis Championships. • INS Tarkash will form part of the mobile column for the
• The reigning champion claimed his 12th straight win in review by the President of the Russian Federation.
Hamburg 7-5 4-6 6-3. • During its stay in harbour, the ship will be berthed at Lt
• With the win, he has become first player to win the event Schmidt Embankment and remain open for visitors on 26
in successive years since Roger Federer in 2004-2005. and 27 July 2019.
Mary Kom, Simranjit won gold Dashboard of DDP launched
• Mary Kom in 51kg category and Simranjit Kaur in 60kg • Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched a Dashboard
category grabbed a gold each in 23rd President's Cup of Department Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of
Boxing Tournament in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Defence, to help in effective monitoring of various
• Mary decimated Australian April Franks 5-0 in finals. initiatives and schemes of the department.
• Simranjit Kaur defeated Indonesia's Hasanah Huswatun 5- • Through this initiative, the Ministry will be able to keep
0 in the finals. track of the major components of Defence Production,
• Indian boxers finished their campaign in the tournament including defence exports, defence offsets, and
with 9 medals. The rich haul comprised 7 gold and 2 silver. MissionRaksha Gyan Shakti.
•
20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas
Defence • The 20th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was celebrated
Tarun Chaudhri: 1st pilot to skydive jump on 26 July 2019.
• The day is named after the successful Operation Vijay in
• Wing commander Tarun Chaudhri became the first pilot of 1999, when India regained the control of the high outposts
Indian Armed Forces (IAF ) to do a wingsuit jump. which had been stealthily taken over by Pakistan.
• The jump was accomplished by Chaudhri from a Mi-17 • The celebrations of 20th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas
helicopter from an altitude of 8500 feet. began in Delhi on 14 July 2019.
• This is the first flying wingsuit jump demonstration at an
organised gathering. India to launch 1st-ever space war exercise
• The jump was undertaken during the Kargil Diwas • The Indian armed forces are all set to conduct the
celebrations at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 21-22 July country’s first-ever simulated space warfare exercise
2019. “IndSpaceEx”.
IN LCU L56 ship commissioned into Indian Navy
69 | P a g e
• This excercise will lead to an assessment of the imminent • State-owned defense contractor Israel Aerospace
threats in the expanse beyond earth and the drafting of a Industries has signed a $50 million follow-up contract to
joint space doctrine for futuristic battles. provide complementary missile systems to the Indian navy
• Ministry of Defence will organize exercise with all three and India’s MDL Shipyard.
forces together. • The agreement involves a range of maintenance and other
services for sub-systems of Israel Aerospace's naval
HAL delivered Chetak to Indian Navy
medium-range surface-to-air missile.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered a
India & China joint military drill in Dec
Chetak helicopter ahead of schedule to the Indian Navy.
• HAL had entered into a contract with the Indian Navy in • The next edition of India and China military drill will be
August 2017 for the supply of eight Chetak helicopters. held in December 2019.
• Two helicopters were scheduled to be delivered in August • The joint military exercise 'Hand-in-Hand' will be held in
2019 while the remaining were to be delivered in August Umroi near Shillong, Meghalaya.
2020. • The last exercise, which was the seventh edition, was held
in Chengdu in December 2018.
Navy Commissions Dornier Squadron INAS 313
• In Umroi, the two forces will focus on counter-terror
• The Navy commissioned its fifth Dornier Aircraft Squadron operations, establishment of the joint command post and
- Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 313 in Chennai on 22th joint combat drill.
July 2019.
Exercise Garuda-VI successfully conducted
• INAS 313 derives its name ‘Sea Eagle’ from the bird of prey
family Accipitridae. • After successful exercise Garuda-VI, the Indian Air Force
• The Squadron will be operating from Chennai International (IAF) Contingent landed back in India from France on 19
Airport. July 2019.
• With this Tamil Nadu will have three naval air bases; which • Exercise Garuda provided a unique opportunity for the
is the highest number for any Coastal State. exchange of knowledge & experience in a dynamic warfare
environment.
Dhoni to train with Parachute regiment
• This was one of the biggest air exercises that are being
• MS Dhoni’s request to train with a battalion of the Indian planned between the two Air Forces.
Army’s Parachute Regiment for two months has been
Defence
approved by Army chief General Bipin Rawat.
• Some part of his training is expected to take place in • Indian Army successfully carried out summer user trials of
Jammu & Kashmir. third Generation Anti-Tank Guided Missile NAG at Pokhran
• He holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Field Firing Ranges, conducted between July 7-18, 2019.
Territorial Army unit of the Parachute Regiment (106 Para • INS Tarkash, a frontline warship of the Indian Navy, made
TA battalion). a port call at Karlskrona, Sweden on 19 July 2019. This
marks the first visit of an Indian Naval Ship to Swedish
Indian Army to witness change
shores after a gap of more than 15 years.
• The Indian Army is all set to see a major change in its top
brass as the government is expected to announce the
appointment to the post of Vice Chief of Army Staff and • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be on a day-long visit
top Army Commanders anytime soon. of Jammu and Kashmir on 20 July 2019.
• Eastern Army Commander Lt General MM Narawane is set • During his visit he will pay tributes to the Martyrs on 20th
to take over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff to replace anniversary of Kargil war and will interact with troops.
incumbent Lt Gen Devraj Anbu who is due to retire on • He will also inaugurate 2 bridge projects on the rivers Ujh
August 31, 2019. in Kathua district and Basantar in Samba district of Jammu
division.
11th DefExpo to be organised in 2020
Army Chief Bipin Rawat visited Dras sector
• The 11th biennial edition of DefExpo India- 2020 is
scheduled to be held for the first time in Uttar Pradesh. • Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, visited Dras
• It will be held from 5th-8th February 2020. sector on 19 July 2019.
• Main theme of the DefExpo India- 2020 will be ‘India: The • During the visit, he was briefed by the General Officer
Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’ and focus will be Commanding, 'Fire & Fury' Corps on the prevailing
on ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’. situation and operational preparedness in the Sector.
• He also interacted with soldiers deployed on the Line of
Israel Aerospace signs $50 Million deal
Control (LC).
70 | P a g e
• He was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding- • The Indian Army is planning to acquire the Excalibur
in-Chief, Northern Command. artillery ammunition from the Americans under the
emergency procurement procedures.
INS Sagardhwani embarked on Sagar Maitri Misn
• It is capable of hitting targets more than 50 Kilometers
• Oceanographic research vessel of DRDO, INS Sagardhwani, away.
embarked on a 2-month long SAGAR MAITRI (SM) Mission- • This Excalibur ammunition can be fired from US-made M-
2 from South Jetty, Southern Naval Command (SNC) in 777 ultra-light howitzers which are already in process of
Kochi on 18 July 2019. being inducted in the Army.
• INS Sagardhwani has been designed and developed by
DRDO carries out successful Nag missile tests
Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL),
Kochi. • DRDO carried out three successful test firings of the
• SAGAR MAITRI Mission-2 commemorates the Golden Nag missiles in the Pokhran firing ranges.
Jubilee Celebrations of ship INS Kistna’s missions. • The Defence Acquisition Council has last year approved
the procurement of DRDO's designed and developed NAG
Missile System (NAMIS).
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh awarded Raksha Mantri • The system includes a third generation Anti-Tank Guided
Trophy for the Best and Second Best Command Hospitals Missile, the NAG, along with the NAMICA.
of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for the year • The NAG missile is a third generation anti-tank guided
2018, on 16 July 2019. missile.
Kargil tribute song released
Command Hospital.
• Command Hospital Central Command Lucknow was • Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has released a Kargil
adjudged the Second-Best Command Hospital. Tribute Song to honour, salute and pay homage to the
Kargil martyrs and war veterans.
20th anniversary of Kargil victory celebrated
• It was released at a function organized in New Delhi as
• The celebrations of 20th Anniversary of the victory in part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Kargil
Operation Vijay at Kargil began in Delhi on 14 July 2019. Vijay Diwas.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief General • The song, a tribute to the soldiers has been composed by
Bipin Rawat paid tributes to the martyrs at National War eminent Hindi lyricist Sammer Anjaan and sung by
Memorial where a Victory Flame was illuminated. Shatadru Kabir.
• It is being celebrated with theme ‘Remember, Rejoice and
India seeks to buy $2.2 billion warships
Renew’..
• India sought bids for purchase of warships and support
IAF to get ASRAAM
vessels for its navy and coast guard.
• The Indian Air Force plans to adopt Advanced Short Range • It is done to ramp up security of its maritime border in the
Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), a new European visual range Indian Ocean region.
air to air missile, across its fighter fleet. • The government asked 7 shipyards to submit proposals for
• IAF aims to expand its Su-30 fleet with a proposal to build the construction of six missile warships and other smaller
40 more jets under license at HAL’s Nashik facility. vessels.
• The adoption is a part of a £250 million IAF contract with • The tender includes 8 fast patrol vessels, 12 hovercrafts
MBDA, UK. and 8 missile-cum-ammunition barges
• The contract was signed in July 2014.
India signs ₹200 crore anti-tank missile deal
Operation ‘Sudarshan’ launched
• India has signed a deal to acquire 'Strum Ataka' anti-tank
• BSF has launched the operation ‘Sudarshan’ to fortify the missile from Russia for its fleet of Mi-35 attack choppers.
‘anti-infiltration grid’ along the Pakistan border in Punjab • The deal for the missiles is worth around ₹200 crore and
and Jammu. would give an added capability to the Mi-35 attack
• It was launched on July 1 and will cover the entire 1,000- choppers to take out enemy tanks and other armoured
kms length of the India-Pakistan International Border. elements.
• The Border Security Force is the primary force guarding • Recently, the IAF has acquired the Spice-2000 stand-off
this frontier as the ‘first line of defence’. weapon system.
Indian Army to buy long-range howitzer ammo Special Camp to mark Kargil Diwas anniversary
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• Special national integration camp under the aegis of • It aims to tighten Corporate Social Responsibility-CSR
national cadet corp is being organised in Ladakh region of compliance, transfer certain responsibilities to National
Jammu and Kashmir. Company Law Tribunal and recategorise certain offences
• It marks the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Kargil as civil offences.
Vijay Diwas.
Bills passed
• The theme is 'Rejoice, Renew, Remember'.
• More than 500 cadets from all over the country are • Lok Sabha passed the Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 that
participating in the special national integration camp at aims at protecting the interests of consumers by
the Ladakh scout regimental centre. establishing authorities for timely and effective
administration and settlement of consumers’ dispute.
• Lok Sabha also passed the Code on Wages Bill, 2019 that
seeks to regulate wage and bonus payments in all
employments where any industry, trade, business, or
manufacture is carried out.
Bill to ban unregulated deposit schemes passed
• Parliament passed the Banning of Unregulated Deposit
Schemes Bill 2019 with the Rajya Sabha approving it
unanimously.
• The bill seeks to provide for a comprehensive mechanism
to ban the unregulated deposit schemes other than
deposits taken in the ordinary course of businesses and to
protect the interest of depositors.
Int-State River Water Disputes Bill introduced
• A Bill to help adjudicate disputes relating to waters of
inter-State rivers and river valleys at a faster pace was
introduced in Lok Sabha.
• The Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill,
2019 seeks to amend the Inter State River Water Disputes
Act, 1956 to streamline the adjudication of inter-State
river water disputes.
• Union Jal Shakti Minister of India is Gajendra Singh
Shekhawat.
Triple Talaq Bill passed in Lok Sabha
• The Lok Sabha passed the Muslim Women (Protection of
Polity Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 commonly known as Triple
Parliament passed the Muslim Women Bill 2019 Talaq bill by voice vote.
• It was important to bring in a law banning instant triple
• Parliament passed the Muslim Women (Protection of talaq as the practice has continued despite a Supreme
Rights on Marriage) Bill 2019. Court verdict passed in 2017.
• This act will free Muslim women from the practice of • The Bill is banned in many countries.
Triple Talaq.
• This bill is a historic step to protect the dignity of Muslim Parliament passed RTI Bill 2019
women and keep it intact. • Parliament has passed the Right to Information
• It will bring a new era of hope and respect in the lives of (Amendment) Bill, 2019 with the Rajya Sabha approving
Muslim women. it amid opposition walkout.
Parliament passed Companies (Amendment) Bill • The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill.
• The Bill seeks to empower the Centre to make rules to
• Parliament has passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill, decide the tenure, salary, allowances and other terms of
2019, as the Rajya Sabha approved it. service of Information Commissioners of the Central
• The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill. Information Commission and State Information
• The Bill seeks to amend the Companies Act, 2013. Commissions.
72 | P a g e
Unlawful Activities Amendment Bill passed • The Appropriation Bill seeks to authorise payment and
appropriation of certain sums from and out of the
• Lok Sabha passed the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Consolidated Fund of India for the FY 2919-20.
Amendment Bill, 2019 on 24 July 2019.
• The object of the proposed amendments is to facilitate Motor Vehicles Bill passed
speedy investigation and prosecution of terror offences
• The Lok Sabha has passed the Motor Vehicles
and designating an individual as terrorist in line with the
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 by voice vote.
international practices.
• The bill seeks to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to
• The original law was enacted in 1967.
provide for road safety.
Rajya Sabha passed POCSO Amendment Bill • The Bill proposes a scheme to allow cashless treatment of
victims in a road accident during the golden hour.
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
• The Bill proposes to increase the minimum compensation
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been passed by Rajya Sabha.
for hit and run cases.
• The bill seeks to enhance punishment, including a
provision for death penalty, for committing sexual crimes Right to Information Bill passed
against children.
• Lok Sabha passed the Right to Information (Amendment)
• The government has sanctioned 1023 fast track courts for
Bill, 2019 on 22 July 2019.
speedy dispensation of pending cases under POCSO and
• In this amendment, it is proposed to amend the Right to
sexual assault.
Information Act, 2005 so as to provide that the term of
Amendments to Aadhaar Bill approved office of, and the salaries, allowances and other terms and
conditions of service of, the Chief Information
• Union Cabinet has approved Official Amendments to the
Commissioner and Information Commissioners.
Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019.
• The government has decided to make Aadhaar as Protection of Human Rights Bill passed
identification document so that people can avail the
• Parliament has passed the Protection of Human Rights
benefit of state subsidies directly in their bank account
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 with Rajya Sabha approving it 22
and to eliminate middlemen.
July 2019.
• There are around 128 crore Aadhaar cardholders in the
• The bill provides for a reduction in the tenure of
country.
Chairpersons of National Human Rights Commission and
Bills introduced in Lok Sabha State Human Rights Commissions to three years from the
current five years.
• The Code on Wages Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha
• It amends the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
to amend and consolidate the laws relating to wages and
bonus and matters connected therewith. Protection of Human Rights Bill passed
• The Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working
• The Protection of Human Rights(Amendment) Bill 2019
Conditions Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha to
was passed by voice vote in Lok Sabha on 19 July 2019.
amend the laws regulating the Occupational Safety, Health
• The amended Act will enable the appointment of the
and Working Conditions of the persons employed in an
retired Chief Justice or retired Judges of the Supreme
establishment.
Court as the Chairperson of the National Human Rights
MP Assembly passed bill raising OBC quota Commission.
• It also provides for appointing three instead of two
• MP Assembly passed an amendment bill raising
members from civil society who have knowledge of
reservation in government jobs and education for Other
Human Rights.
Backward Classes (OBC) to 27% from the present 14%.
• The Bill is now going to the Governor and President for Telangana Legislative Assembly passed 3 bills
assent.
• Telangana Legislative Assembly passed 3 Bills replacing
• After this amendment, reservation in Madhya Pradesh will
ordinances relating to Municipal Laws, Regulation of Age
touch 73%, including 10% quota for the Economically
of Superannuation, and State Commission for Debt Relief.
Weaker Section from the general category.
• They are meant for facilitating more divisions in
Parliament passed Finance Bill Municipalities, increasing the retirement age of professors
in Medical Colleges to 65 years.
• Parliament has passed the Finance Bill 2019 and
• CM Chandrashekhar Rao also introduced the Telangana
Appropriation Bill 2019 with the Rajya Sabha returning
Municipalities Bill 2019.
them to the Lower House.
• The Finance bill gives effect to the financial proposals of Lok Sabha passed Finance Bill 2019
the Central Government for the financial year 2019-20.
73 | P a g e
• The Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill, 2019 that gives Aadhar and Other Laws Bill passed
effect to the proposals of the Central Government for the
• Lok Sabha passed Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment)
year 2019-2020.
Bill, 2019.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pointed out that the
• The Bill seeks to amend Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of
said amendments will promote 'Make in India' and
Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act
Startups.
2016.
• The deduction on the loan interest is to encourage buyers,
• It also seeks to further amend the Indian Telegraph Act
keeping in mind the state of the environment.
1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002.
National Affairs • It proposes giving a child an option to exit from the
biometric ID programme after 18 years.
• Union Cabinet approved 1,600 crore rupees for Dibang
Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh. The project is Indian Medical Association Bill passed
envisaged as a storage-based hydro-electric project with
• Parliament has passed the Indian Medical Council
flood moderation as the key objective.
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 with the Rajya Sabha approving it
• A bill to scrap 58 redundant laws was also approved. The
on 4 July 2019.
NDA government in its two terms has sent to the chopping
• Lok Sabha has already passed it.
block 1,824 old laws which had become redundant.
• The Bill seeks to supersede the Medical Council of India
Cabinet extended 15th FC's term till Nov 30 (MCI) for a period of two years with effect from 26
September, 2018.
• Cabinet has approved the extension of the term of 15th
Finance Commission up to 30th November 2019. • The bill aims at ensuring transparency, accountability and
quality in the governance of medical education.
• It will enable the Commission to examine various
comparable estimates for financial projections. Int Arbritration Bill introduced in Lok Sabha
• The 15th Finance Commission was constituted by the
• The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019
President on 27th November, 2017.
was introduced in Lok Sabha on 3 July 2019.
• It was to submit its report by 30th October 2019 covering
• The Bill replaces an Ordinance which was promulgated in
a period of 5 years commencing from 1st April, 2020.
March 2019.
Motor Vehicles Bill introduced in Lok Sabha • It seeks to provide for the establishment and incorporation
of New Delhi International Arbitration Centre for the
• The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was
purpose of creating an independent and autonomous
introduced in Lok Sabha by road transport and highways
regime for institutionalized arbitration.
minister Nitin Gadkari.
• The Bill seeks to amend the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. Code on Wages Bill approved
Increasing penalties of traffic violations is among the
• The Union Cabinet approved the Code on Wages Bill.
changes proposed in the amendment.
• It seeks to subsume existing laws related to workers
• The amendment Bill proposes to omit a clause of the
remuneration and enable the Centre to fix minimum
Motor Vehicle Act to decide certain other aspects.
wages for the entire country.
3 bills introduced in Lok Sabha • The Code on Wages is one of the four codes that would
subsume 44 labour laws with certain amendments to
• Three bills were introduced in Lok Sabha on 15 July 2019.
improve the ease of doing business and attract investment
• These are Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, Motor Vehicles
for spurring growth.
(Amendment) Bill, and the National Investigation Agency
(Amendment) Bill. Medical Council (Amendment) Bill passed
• In Rajya Sabha, the Arbitration and Conciliation
• Lok Sabha passed the Indian Medical Council
(Amendment) Bill, to further amend the Arbitration and
(Amendment) Bill 2019 by a voice vote.
Conciliation Act, 1996 is scheduled to be introduced.
• The main aim of the legislation is to enhance quality of
Model Tenancy Act (MTA) drafted education imparted in medical colleges.
• It provides for supersession of Medical Council of India for
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has drafted a
a period of two years with effect from September 26,
‘Model Tenancy Act’, 2019.
2018.
• It envisages to balance the interest and rights of both the
• It also proposes to increase the number of members in the
owner and tenant and to create an accountable and
board of Governors to 12 from 7.
transparent ecosystem for renting the premises in
disciplined and efficient manner.
• Hardeep Singh Puri - MOS independent charge.
74 | P a g e
National Affairs • Scientists at IIT Hyderabad have developed low-cost,

environment-friendly solar cells by employing a dye used
22nd Nat. Conference to be held at Shillong to make kumkum or vermilion in India.
• The 22nd National Conference on e-Governance 2019 will • The dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) is based on New
be held on 8-9th August, 2019 at Shillong, Meghalaya. Fuchsin (NF) dye with aqueous electrolyte and platinum-
• This is the first time the event is being organized in North- free counter electrodes.
Eastern region of the country. • However, there were many drawbacks impeding the
• This Conference provides a platform to disseminate organic photovoltaic technology as organics are less
knowledge on effective methods of designing. robust.
• The theme of this Conference is 'Digital India: Success to Yediyurappa won trust vote
Excellence'.
• Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa sails through successfully
Atal Mission to launch new program by winning the Trust Vote on BJP's own strength in the
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) will launch a new Legislative Assembly on 29 July 2019.
programme for Community Innovation in New Delhi on 31 • Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, who took up the motion
July 2019. moved by the Yediyurappa, declared that the motion was
• The new initiative aims to encourage the spirit of passed by voice vote.
innovation in the country. • Congress-JDS Coalition Government failed to sail through
• The Atal Innovation Mission is a flagship initiative set up by Trust vote since more than 17 MLAs rebelled against.
the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and Himalayan Conclave held in Mussoorie
entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the
country. • In Uttarakhand, a Himalayan Conclave was held in
Mussoorie on 29 July 2019.
3rd orbit-raising manoeuvre of Chandrayaan 2 • The objective was to discuss various issues related to the
• ISRO was successful in completing the third earthbound development of the Himalayan States.
orbit raising manoeuvres of Chandrayaan-2 satellite. • Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the
• The satellite is 3 steps closer to the moon. conclave as the chief guest.
• Chandrayaan-2 comprising of the orbiter, the lander • The main agenda for the conclave was water conservation,
Vikram and rover Pragyan was launched by GSLV Mark III with focus on conserving rivers, glaciers, lakes and water
launch vehicle from Sriharikota on July 22. bodies.
• The fourth orbit-raising manoeuvre will take place on 2 GIIS to launch India's first smart school
August 2019.
• The Singapore-headquartered Global Indian International
Odisha Rasagola gets GI tag School (GIIS) will launch India's first SMART campus in
• The rasagola, a popular dessert of Odisha, has received the Pune.
geographical indication tag from the Registrar of • The SMART Campus has features to enhance learning
Geographical Indication after years of controversy around outcomes for the students with the use of SMART Campus
the sweet. pedagogy and to prepare the students for the future.
• The registration was conferred to ‘Odisha Rasagola’ under • Also, for the first time in India, GIIS will introduce Sports
Section 16(I) or of authorized Section 17(3)(c) of Analytics at the school level.
Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and All lanes at toll plazas to be ‘FASTag lanes’
Protection) Act 1999 on 29 July 2019.
• To ensure seamless traffic and prevent congestion at toll
Helpline Jeene Do launched in J&K plazas, the government decided to declare all lanes at toll
• In Jammu and Kashmir, District Administration Udhampur fee plaza on national highways as ‘FASTag lanes’ from 1
has launched a helpline, 'Jeene Do'. December 2019.
• The objective is to improve sex ratio and deal with • Among all lanes, one ‘hybrid lane’ will be allowed at every
defaulters of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic toll plaza to facilitate and monitor over-dimensional or
Techniques or PCPNDT Act under the Centrally sponsored oversized vehicles, where FASTag and other modes of
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme. payment will be accepted.
• A Mobile Number -9469793363 has been dedicated to the Government ban on colistin for use in poultry
Public to register complaints regarding this.
• The Centre has issued an order banning the last line
IIT Hyderabad developed solar cells antibiotic, colistin, for use in animals.
75 | P a g e
• Colistin is an antibiotic meant for therapeutic purposes in • Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on 25 July
veterinary but this drug is highly misused in the poultry 2019 launched the State-wide tree plantation programme
industry as a growth promoter for prophylactic purpose. – ‘Clean-Green Arunachal Campaign 2019’ – by kickstarting
• One of the reasons for anti-microbial resistance in India is the campaign by planting 1 lakh tree saplings within the
due to unwanted use of the drug in poultry industry. next 24 hours.
• The campaign is being held as part of Van Mahotsav
Wipro launches digital product compliance lab
celebration has also set the target of planting 1 crore tree
• On 24 July 2019, IT major Wipro announced the launch of within the next five years.
its global Digital Product Compliance lab in Hyderabad.
Delhi Cabinet nod for 22 commercial courts
• The lab will offer integrated digital product testing services
to ensure compliance with international standards for • The Delhi Cabinet approved proposals for establishing 22
reliability, safety and security for customers across new commercial courts and 18 permanent fast-track
industries. courts in the national capital.
• The new lab is equipped with environment chambers • The commercial courts will enable quicker disposal of
designed to test products. disputes and improve the city's ease-of-doing-business
rank.
Gujarat tops in solar rooftop installations
• Nearly 89,000 civil cases are pending with 59 subordinate
• In the area of solar rooftop installations, Gujarat has stood courts in the city.
first in the country with total 261.97 megawatts (MW) of
7th Economic Census to be launched in Tripura
installed rooftop solar capacity as on 23 July 2019.
• As per the Central government data, total rooftop solar • The fieldwork of the 7th Economic Census will be launched
installations in India is 1700.54 MW. in Tripura on 29 July 2019.
• Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have solar rooftop • The fieldwork in other State/ UTs will be launched in
installations at 198.52 MW and 151.62 MW respectively. August/ September 2019.
• The enumerators and supervisors engaged by CSC have
Centre proposes light urban rail 'Metrolite'
been trained to collect data on a mobile application
• The Centre has proposed light urban rail transit system - developed for data capture, validation, report generation
'Metrolite' - in small cities and towns having a lower and dissemination.
projection of ridership, with each train having three
Dashboard of DDP launched
coaches and a restricted speed of 25 kmph.
• 'Metrolite' system which will be developed on the surface • Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched a Dashboard
and elevated stretches. of Department Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of
• Metrolite platforms will not have AFC gates, platform Defence, to help in effective monitoring of various
screen doors, X-ray and baggage scanner. initiatives and schemes of the department.
• Through this initiative, the Ministry will be able to keep
UP becomes No. 1 in implementation of PSBY
track of the major components of Defence Production,
• Uttar Pradesh has become number one in implementation including defence exports, defence offsets, and
of Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (PSBY) in the MissionRaksha Gyan Shakti.
country.
VP Venkaiah Naidu released book
• 1.95 crores people have been given insurance cover under
the scheme till 31 march 2019. • Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released titled 'New-Age
• Under PSBY, people between the age group of 18 to 70 get Technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0' book written by
an accidental insurance cover of rupees 2 lakh at a Rajya Sabha Member, Narendra Jadhav on 25 July 2019.
premium of 12 rupees annually. • This book examines and elaborates on various dimensions
of the so-called Industrial Revolution 4.0.
ICMR launches forum to improve data collection
• Narendra Jadhav is an Indian economist, educationist,
• The Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) National public policy expert, professor and writer in English,
Institute for Medical Statistics, in partnership with Marathi and Hindi.
Population Council, launched the National Data Quality
PMAY approved construction of 1.4 lakh houses
Forum (NDQF) on 24 July 2019.
• NDQF will integrate learnings from scientific and evidence- • The Centre approved construction of nearly 1.4 lakh more
based initiatives. houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY),
• Its activities will help establish protocols and good taking the number of houses to be built under the scheme
practices of data collection and storage. to over 85 lakh.
• A total of 492 projects will cost ₹6,642 crore.
Tree Plantation Programme launched Arunachal
76 | P a g e
• PMAY is an initiative in which affordable housing will be • The 15th Finance Commission, headed by Chairman NK
provided to the urban poor with a target of building 20 Singh met representatives of the Panchayati Raj
million affordable houses by 31 March 2022. Institutions, Urban Local Bodies and the Political Parties of
Chhattisgarh in Raipur on 24 July 2019.
Home Minister Amit Shah to head a panel
• The Finance Commission is on a 3-day visit to Chhattisgarh
• Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a panel of four cabinet from 23-25 July 2019.
ministers to examine ways to prevent workplace sexual • It will have a detailed discussion with Chief Minister
harassment. Bhupesh Baghel along with his cabinet colleagues.
• The new panel includes Women and Child Development
Minister Smriti Irani and Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman.
• The #MeToo movement triggered a public outcry in the
country, with former junior Foreign Minister M J Akbar
being accused of sexual misconduct.
India's 1st dragon blood-oozing tree
• Assam has found a plant that yields dragon’s blood, a
bright red resin used since ancient times as medicine, body
oil, varnish, and dye.
• A trio of researchers led by Assam forest officer Jatindra
Sarma has discovered Dracaena cambodiana, a dragon
tree species in the Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi
Anglong.
• This is for the first time that a dragon tree species has
been reported from India.
Penalty on Airtel, Vodafone approved by DCC
• The Digital Communications Commission approved
imposing cumulative penalty of Rs 3,050 crore on Bharti
Airtel and Vodafone Idea for not providing points of
interconnection to Reliance Jio.
• The penalty on Airtel and Vodafone works out to be about
Rs 1,050 crore each.
• In case of Idea, it comes to about Rs 950 crore.
Kanungo to run monetary policy portfolio
• With the exit of Viral Acharya, the RBI rejigged portfolios
of the other three deputy governors giving the important
ADB sanctioned Rs. 1925 cr for projects
monetary policy and forecasting department to B P
Kanungo. • Asian Development Bank has sanctioned Rs.1,925 crore
• Now, all the other 3 deputy governors -- N S project for upgradation of power generation and
Vishwanathan, B P Kanungo and M K Jain have been made distribution in Tripura.
responsible for 12 departments each. • The project has been sanctioned for upgrading capacity of
• Viral Acharya resigned in June 2019 as the deputy 63 MW Rokhia Project to 120 MW and modernising Gumti
Governor of RBI. Hydro Electric Project.
• Rokhia project is located at West Tripura district whereas
HAL delivered Chetak to Indian Navy
Gumti project is in Gomati district.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered a
Rajya Sabha passed POCSO Amendment Bill
Chetak helicopter ahead of schedule to the Indian Navy.
• HAL had entered into a contract with the Indian Navy in • The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
August 2017 for the supply of eight Chetak helicopters. (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been passed by Rajya Sabha.
• Two helicopters were scheduled to be delivered in August • The bill seeks to enhance punishment, including a
2019 while the remaining were to be delivered in August provision for death penalty, for committing sexual crimes
2020. against children.
15th Commission on 3-day visit to Chhattisgarh
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• The government has sanctioned 1023 fast track courts for • The government has set a target for the installation of
speedy dispensation of pending cases under POCSO and Rooftop Solar projects of 40,000 MW by 2022 in the
sexual assault. country.
• The projects include installation of solar panels on the
National Affairs
rooftop of houses.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA has • Over 1700 Mega Watt of grid-connected rooftop systems
approved the creation of buffer stock of 40 lakh Metric has been installed in the country till 18 July 2019.
Tonnes of sugar for one year from the 1 August 2019. • 1.5 million units per MegaWatt per year are generated
• The Cabinet has approved the merger of National Institute from solar rooftop plants on an average.
of Miners' Health with ICMR - National Institute of
National Affairs II
Occupational Health. This will help both the institutes in
terms of enhanced expertise in the field of occupational • The government has extended the deadline for filing of
health. Income Tax returns by individuals for financial year 2018-
19 to 31st of August from 31st July, 2019.
Paypal opened new centre in Hyderabad
• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) celebrated the
• American digital payments firm PayPal announced 159th Income Tax Day on 24th July 2019. It was on 24th
expansion of its India footprint with the launch of July, 1860 that Income Tax was introduced for the first
3rd global technology centre. time in India by Sir James Wilson.
• The Hyderabad facility would house around 100 engineers
MMRCL gave order to Blue Star
across roles, including risk management and operations, to
provide cutting-edge digital payments solutions to • Blue Star Ltd has won an air conditioning and tunnel
customers around the world. ventilation system order valued at ₹253 crore from
• PayPal's other centres are in Chennai and Bengaluru. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL).
AIIB withdrew from Amaravati Project • The scope of work includes installation and commissioning
of the air conditioning and more for 9 underground
• After the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment stations.
Bank (AIIB) has withdrawn funding for the Amaravati • MMRCL is a joint venture between the central government
capital city project in Andhra Pradesh (AP). and the state government of Maharashtra.
• The AIIB was to finance the upcoming city by providing
Kanwar Yatra app for pilgrims in Meerut
$200 million, while the World Bank was to fund the
Amaravati project with $300 million. • A Kawad Yatra Management app has been designed for
• The World Bank and AIIB were to pump in $500 million, facilitating and guiding the Kawariya's on their journey in
while the Andhra govt the rest. the Meerut Zone.
• The app provides all information about the routes,
Andhra: 1st state to reserve 75% private jobs
temples, hospitals, police and 'Shivir' (camps).
• Andhra Pradesh became the first state to reserve 75% jobs • It can be downloaded on Google play store and will
for local youth in industrial units, factories, joint ventures operate on any Android mobile phone like other
and projects set up under public-private partnership applications.
mode.
UP government to install statue of Lord Ram
• The assembly recently passed the Andhra Pradesh
Employment of Local Candidates in Industries/Factories • UP CM Yogi Adityanath approved the plan to install a 251-
Act, 2019. metre-tall statue of Lord Ram at Ayodhya.
• The CM of Andhra Pradesh is Jagan Mohan Reddy. • The statue would be taller than the Sardar Vallabhbhai
National Affairs I Patel's Statue of Unity in Gujarat, which is 183-meter-tall.
• The statue of Lord Ram would be installed on the 100
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the increase hectares of land near River Sarayu in Ayodhya.
in the number of awards given to the cadets of National
Cadet Corps (NCC) from the existing 143 to 243 and cash Maharashtra topped in ATM frauds
incentives in various categories. • Maharashtra reported 233 cases of ATM fraud in 2018-19,
• The Supreme Court extended the deadline for publication the highest in the entire country, Reserve Bank Of India
of final National Register of Citizens, NRC, in Assam by a (RBI) data revealed.
month, from July 31 to August 31, 2019. • The data showed that Delhi grabbed the second spot with
Government to install solar projects by 2022 179 cases, followed by Tamil Nadu with 147 cases of ATM
fraud.
78 | P a g e
• In Maharashtra, people lost Rs 4.8 crore to bank fraud, • The Next Generation Sequencing (NSG) facility was
while in Delhi people lost Rs 2.9 crore. inaugurated at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular
Biology in Hyderabad on 20 July 2019.
NDA government completed 50 days in 2nd term
• The facility includes technology for high genome
• The Narendra Modi Government has completed fifty days sequencing and also diagnostic sequencing of clinical
in office in its second term. samples.
• PM Narendra Modi has already laid down the vision of • The NSG would help prenatal genetic screening and
India becoming a Five-trillion dollar economy by 2024-25. counselling, thereby generating large scale genomic data
• Indian economy is expected to grow at 6.8% in 2018-19 for diagnosis and therapy.
while maintaining macro-economic stability.
12 beaches selected for 'Blue Flag’ challenge
• Measures have been proposed to enhance the sources of
capital for infrastructure financing. • The Union Environment Ministry has selected 12 beaches
in India to vie for a ‘Blue Flag’ certification.
Miscellaneous
• These beaches are at Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Bhogave
• The World Bank continues to support Andhra Pradesh with (Maharashtra), Ghoghla (Diu), Miramar (Goa), Kasarkod
an over one billion USD programme that covers the health, and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Eden
agriculture, energy and disaster management sectors. (Puducherry), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Rushikonda
• The government has asked Air India to put a freeze on (Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha), and Radhanagar
large-scale promotion and appointments. A new flight has (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
to be started only when it is extremely necessary and after
India's first space tech park in Kerala
due diligence from commercial aspect.
• The Kerala government will set up India’s first space tech
9725 houses to be built under PMAY-U
park at Thiruvananthapuram's Knowledge City.
• In Manipur, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- • The move is aimed at making the city a manufacturing hub
Urban(PMAY-U) is being implemented effectively. for space-related technology.
• Till now, 26,348 beneficiaries for 24 towns have already • A space museum named after former President of India Dr
been approved by the Union Ministry of Housing and APJ Abdul Kalam will also be a part of the infrastructure.
Urban Affairs. • The entire investment in the park will be made by the
• Nearly 9,725 houses will be built by the end of 2019 under Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
the scheme.
South Asia's first cross border pipeline
• A target to obtain approval for 46,360 numbers of
beneficiaries has been kept by the Manipur government. • South Asia’s first cross border petroleum pipeline will
link Motahari in India and Amlekhgunj in Nepal.
20,000 wellness centres to be completed
• Motihari- Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline will be a game-
• 20,000 wellness centres will be completed by the end of changer for Nepal.
the current year under Ayushman Bharat programme. • It has been successfully completed and there is a need to
• A total of 1.5 lakh wellness centres are to be established in lay a gas pipeline.
the country under this programme. • The 69-kilometre long petroleum pipeline from Motihari in
• The government has set a target of eradicating Bihar to Amelkhgunj in Nepal has been constructed by
Tuberculosis from the country by 2025. India.
• Ayushman Bharat programme as a successful model in
Miscellaneous
implementing universal health.
Chandrayaan-2 launched at 2:43pm
• India’s expedition to the moon was launched on 22 July Fort Auditorium in New Delhi.
2019. • In yet another European Union move against a US tech
• Chandrayaan-2 was launched by using the heavy-lift giant, the bloc's antitrust chief on 18 July 2019 fined
launch vehicle GSLV-Mark-Three. chipmaker Qualcomm $271 million, accusing it of
• The rocket carrying the prestigious probe will be ignited at 'predatory pricing' to drive a competitor out of the market.
2.43 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at New e-challan system for Delhi Traffic Police
Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
• Originally Chandrayaan-2 was planned to be launched on • Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik launched the
the 15th July 2019. new e-challan system and the e-payment gateway for the
use of Delhi Traffic Police.
NSG facility inaugurated at CCMB
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• The payment gateway will help the citizens with the • President Ram Nath Kovind will embark on a week-long
flexibility to login securely at their convenience and settle visit to Benin, Guinea Conakry and Gambia, beginning 28
the pending violation notices with proof of payment. July 2019.
• The E-challan devices are enabled with active GPS. • This will be the highest-level visit from India ever to the
three West African countries.
• Since the Modi government took office in 2014, there has
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be on a day-long visit been a rise in high-level visits to resource-rich Africa,
of Jammu and Kashmir on 20 July 2019. especially since the third India Africa Summit in 2015.
• During his visit he will pay tributes to the Martyrs on 20th
IIT Madras to offer tech MBA to undergrads
anniversary of Kargil war and will interact with troops.
• He will also inaugurate 2 bridge projects on the rivers Ujh • IIT Madras is launching a first-of-its-kind tech MBA
in Kathua district and Basantar in Samba district of Jammu programme for its undergraduate (UG) students from all
division. the engineering streams.
• The students taking tech MBA programme will be awarded
Himachal Pradesh CM received Victory Flame
2 degrees - Engineering UG degree (B.Tech.) and Master's
• In Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur received the degree in Management (MBA).
'Victory Flame' at Mandi on 19 July 2019. • The Institute is introducing the programme from the
• It illuminated from the National War Memorial, New Delhi Academic Year 2019-20 and it will have an intake of 25-30
on 14 July 2019 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Kargil students.
Vijay Diwas.
2 new districts to be formed in Tamil Nadu
• The Kargil Vijay Diwas is being celebrated across the
country and on this occasion, we renew our resolve to • In Tamil Nadu, two new districts are going to be formed,
safeguard the honour of the tricolour. taking the total number of districts in the state to 35.
• Tenkasi District would be carved out of Tirunelveli and
Bihar: More than 52,000 placements done
Chengalpet District would be established by splitting
• In Bihar, under Prime Minister Kaushal Vikas Yojna Kanchipuram district.
(PMKVY) more than 52,000 placements have been done • Special Officers would be appointed for the formation of
during last 3 years after the training of youths. the new districts.
• Under the short term courses and training, 1.66 lakh
National Affairs
youths got registered out of which 1.37 lakh trained since
2016 in the state. • Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal
• Unemployed youths are getting their skills honed at Nishank released the UGC Guide to Student Induction
several institutions. Programme - Deeksharambh in New Delhi on July 19,
2019.
Kolkata MC to launch special cleanliness drive
• The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019
• The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has decided to launch was introduced in Lok Sabha on 19 July 2019. The Bill
special cleanliness drive in Dengue prone 22 wards in the provides for a comprehensive mechanism to ban the
city. unregulated deposit schemes.
• The Civic body will form special teams for cleaning of
Chandrayaan-2 to be launched on July 22
garbage at Dengue prone areas.
• The State Health Department has earmarked beds for • The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch the
Dengue affected patients at Government hospitals. Chandrayaan-2 on July 22, 2019.
• 132 patients have been attacked by dengue in the • Chandrayaan-2 is India's second Moon mission and aims to
metropolis in 2019 so far. land a rover on the lunar surface.
• The mission was scheduled to be launched at 2:51 am on
NDRF deployed 124 teams in the country
July 15, 2019, but had to be called off after ISRO scientists
• The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has detected some glitches at the last moment.
deployed 124 teams in the various parts of the country to Jalan panel proposed nominal transfer of funds
respond to any type of disaster emergency, natural or
man-made. • The Bimal Jalan committee has proposed a
• 84 teams have been pre-positioned in 23 states at 71 nominal transfer of surplus to the central government in a
locations as per the flood vulnerability profile of the states. phased manner.
• 40 teams have been permanently deployed in 27 Regional • The report has proposed a formula for a nominal transfer
Response Centers (RRCs) for a prompt response. of a portion of the RBI’s reserves to the central
government in a period of three-five years.
80 | P a g e
• This is in line with the current practice being followed by • The NMC Bill proposes a common final year MBBS exam,
the RBI for transferring dividend annually. to be known as National Exit Test (NEXT).
Doubling of railway line in Assam approved National Affairs I
• CCEA has given its approval to the doubling of 142.97 km • The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) plans to convert
long railway line between New Bongaigaon and Agthori via all electricity meters into smart prepaid meters by 2022. It
Rangiya in Assam. is part of the government’s electricity distribution plan
• The total estimated cost of the project is around Rs.2042 prepared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
crore and will be completed by 2022-23. • Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that a
• It will traverse through Bongaigaon, Baksa, Barpeta, website would be launched listing staff of Jet Airways and
Nalbari and Kamrup districts of the state. help find employment in other private entities.
National Affairs Government to set 4200 Ayush Wellness Centres
• Union Cabinet approved 1,600 crore rupees for Dibang • The government plans to set up 4,200 Ayush wellness
Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh. The project is centres in the country in FY 2019-20 across several states.
envisaged as a storage-based hydro-electric project with • 2,500 new centres are planned to be opened within the
flood moderation as the key objective. first four months of the present government.
• A bill to scrap 58 redundant laws was also approved. The • The government has also provided financial assistance to
NDA government in its two terms has sent to the chopping set up integrated Ayush hospitals in 85 districts across
block 1,824 old laws which had become redundant. various states, and has plans to add more.
Assam govt to plant saplings across NH
• The Assam Government is to plant sapling spread over one
thousand kilometres across the National Highways.
• This initiative is being taken to improve green coverage in
the state.
• The National Highway Authority of India has sanctioned
the plantation at 810 kilometres area.
• A variety of saplings will be planted near the national
highways.
National Affairs II
• The Centre launched a public awareness campaign in Delhi
on 17 July 2019 to accelerate vector control measures. The
3-day campaign aims to sensitize the community for
prevention and control of diseases like Malaria, Dengue
and Chikungunya.
• Maharashtra government has decided to increase the
compensation from 25 lakh to Rs 1 crore for families of
security personnel hailing from the state.
NGT set deadline of 3 months
• The National Green Tribunal has directed the Central
Pollution Control Board, CPCB, to shut down polluting
industries within 3 months.
• On the basis of a study jointly carried out by the CPCB and
state pollution control boards in 2009-10, industrial
National Medical Commission to be set up clusters were notified as Polluted Industrial Areas (PIAs).
• They were ranked depending upon Comprehensive
• The Union Cabinet approved National Medical Commission Environmental Pollution Index scores.
Bill, 2019.
• The bill provides for setting up of a National Medical MP: 1st international flight from Indore
Commission in place of Medical Council of India and repeal • In Madhya Pradesh, the first international flight from Devi
the Indian Medical Council Act 1956. Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport of Indore left for
Dubai on 15 July 2019 with 153 passengers on board.
81 | P a g e
• The non-stop flight has fulfilled a long-standing desire • It was supposed to explore the lunar south pole, 11 years
from the travel fraternity and tourists for direct after ISRO's successful 1st mission - Chandrayaan-1.
connectivity to the Gulf.
4th anniversary of Skill India Mission
• Air India is operating 162-seater A-320 Neo aircraft on this
route. • The 4th anniversary of the Skill India Mission was being
observed on 15 July 2019.
Extinction of 2 birds: SC formed panel
• National Skill Development Mission also known as Skill
• The extinction of two Indian birds, Great Indian Bustard India Mission was launched on this day in 2015.
and the Lesser Florican has been alarming. • Nearly One Crore youth are being presently imparted skills
• The Supreme Court has constituted a high powered training annually under the mission.
committee to urgently frame and implement an
ICSI launches UDIN for corporate governance
emergency response plan for the protection of these
species. • The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has
• The plea has contended that over the last 50 years the rolled out an initiative in the form of a Unique Document
population of the Great Indian Bustard has recorded a Identification Number (UDIN).
decline of over 82%. • UDIN will provide ease of maintaining a register of
attestation and certification services.
RBI to launch a mobile app
• The ICSI UDIN will be mandatory for every document
• The RBI will soon come out with a mobile app that will except an e-form, signed or certified by a company
read out the denomination of currency notes for the secretary with from 1 October 2019.
visually-challenged population.
Port integrity campaign launched in India
• The mobile app will be able to identify the denomination
of legal tender banknotes of Mahatma Gandhi Series and • Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) has announced
Mahatma Gandhi (New) series by scanning the image of the launch of a Port Integrity Campaign in India.
the notes with the mobile phone camera. • The campaign aims to reduce and (in the long term)
• It can also be used to count notes later on. eliminate integrity issues and bottlenecks to trade during
operations in Indian ports.
Consistent decline in left-wing extremism
• MACN is a global business network of over 110 companies
• There has been a consistent decline in both Left Wing working to tackle corruption in the maritime industry.
Extremism violence and geographical spread of its
India's 1st ethanol-based motorcycle launched
influence in the country.
• Violent incidents have declined from a high of 2258 in • TVS Motor has launched India's first ethanol-powered
2009 to 833 in 2018. motorcycle, a 'green' version of its popular Apache RTR
• The resultant deaths have also declined steadily from 1005 200 4V.
in 2010 to 240 in 2018. • The bike uses 100% ethanol to replace petrol.
• The trend of decline in violence has continued in 2019. • Ethanol is produced domestically from renewable sources,
including remains and alcohol from sugar factories and is
IFFI's Golden Jubilee to be held in Goa
lesser polluting as well.
• The Golden Jubilee Edition of International Film Festival of • The bike will initially be available in Maharashtra, Uttar
India, IFFI will be held from 20-28 November 2019 in Pradesh and Karnataka.
Panaji, Goa.
Film Divisions to launch documentary film club
• The business exhibition will showcase the latest
technology, film production and distribution and other • Film Divisions of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
aspects regarding films. launched 'KSHITIJ', a documentary film club in Mumbai on
• President of Oscar Academy John Bailey has been invited 12 July 2019.
for the event. • The initiative was launched in association with Indian
• Russia will be IFFI partner in this edition. Documentary Producer’s Association. Public screenings
will begin at 5:30 PM on the second and fourth Friday of
Chandrayaan-2 launch called off
every month.
• ISRO has called off the launch of India's second mission to • The screenings will be held at Films Division Complex.
Moon - Chandrayaan-2 onboard GSLV MkIII-M1 due to a
Miscellaneous News
technical snag.
• The countdown for the launch scheduled was stopped 56 • 'Ulto Rath Yatra' celebrated in West Bengal.
minutes and 24 seconds before lift-off following the • In Madhya Pradesh, continuous rain has damaged Asia's
announcement from the Mission Control Centre. largest solar Power project in Rewa.
82 | P a g e
• West Bengal government observed Save Water Day on 12 • The Union Cabinet has approved Grant of Organised Group
July 2019. The aim of the day is to create awareness 'A' status to Indian Railway Protection Force (RPF).
among people to check misuse of water. • It will also give consequential benefits of Non-Functional
Financial Upgradation (NFFU) with effect from 01-01-2006.
Rafting Expedition on Indus River flagged off
• Grant of status of Organized Group 'A' service to RPF will
• Fire and Fury Corps Chief of Staff Major General Arvind end stagnation, improve career progression of the officers
Kapoor flagged off White Water Rafting Expedition on and keep up their motivational level.
Indus River in Leh on 12 July 2019.
Museum of Indian Cinema launched NMIC Bulletin
• The expedition is undertaken by the 27 member Parashu
Brigade led by Capt Hrishikesh Ghogare from Nyoma to • The National Museum of Indian Cinema launched a
Nimu. fortnightly bulletin named “NMIC Bulletin“.
• The expedition will commemorate the sacrifices of the • It is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
brave soldiers to win the Kargil war. • It was brought out by the Films Division with veteran
Central Universities Bill passed in Lok Sabha filmmaker Jahnu Barua.
• The Museum was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister
• The Lok Sabha passed the Central Universities of India on 19th January 2019.
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 to establish a central university
India to host 14th COP of UNCCD
and a tribal university in Andhra Pradesh.
• Tribal University will provide research facilities in tribal art, • India is set to host the 14th Conference of the Parties
culture and customs. (COP) of United Convention to combat Desertification
• The establishment of a Central University and a Central (UNCCD) from September 02 to 13.
Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh was obligatory under • The global conference will be hosted at India Expo Mart
the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Limited in Greater Noida.
NMMC launches rental services for e-bikes • Ahead of COP-14, Minister also launched “Bonn
Challange”, a maiden project to lay emphasis on India’s
• Along with the hugely popular Public Bicycle Sharing capacity for forest landscape restoration.
System launched by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
in November last year, the civic body has now introduced Madhya Pradesh to produce its own seeds soon
rental services for electric bikes. • The Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Seed Federation
• Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has taken a lead in will produce seeds.
promoting electric vehicles in Maharashtra • The decision has been taken in a Board of Directors’
• To hire an e-bike, one has to simply download YULU app meeting held under the chairmanship of the Minister for
on their mobile phones and scan a code. Cooperatives Govind Singh in Bhopal.
Rajghat plant to be turned into solar park • The brand name of seeds will be ‘Sah-Beej’.
• A plan has been made to produce seeds from the next
• The Delhi government has announced that the Rajghat Rabi season.
thermal power plant will be officially shut and turned into
a solar park and electricity museum. NGT asks states to tackle crop burning
• A 5,000 KW of solar power will be produced at the 45 acre • National Green Tribunal has asked states of Punjab,
plant site. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as to how they intend to tackle
• The coal-based plant, whose current units were the problem of crop burning.
commissioned in 1989, has been lying in a shutdown mode • The bench is headed by NGT Chairperson Justice AK Goel.
from 2014. • The direction by the tribunal came following news reports
Govt to establish first Nat. Police University on deaths caused in the NCR due to air pollution, and crop
burning being one of the reasons for the poor air quality.
• Centre said it has initiated a proposal to establish the first
National Police University in the country. 2 new Chinook helicopters arrived in Gujarat
• It will be dedicated to imparting education in policing and • American aerospace major Boeing announced the arrival
internal security. of two new heavy-lift Chinook helicopters for the Indian
• The university will conduct academic programmes in Air Force at the Mundra port in Gujarat.
specialized subjects. • The Indian Air Force has ordered 15 Chinooks and the first
• Gujarat, Rajasthan and Jharkhand have set up dedicated four helicopters arrived in February.
universities for conducting courses in police services and • The advanced multi-mission helicopter will provide the
internal security. Indian armed forces unmatched strategic airlift capability.
Organized Group ‘A’ Status to RPF J&K govt approves Aadhaar-linked payment mode
83 | P a g e
• Jammu and Kashmir government has approved Aadhaar- • Odisha was hit by 'Very severe cyclonic storm' Fani in May
linked payment mode for disbursal of pension to 2019.
beneficiaries under various central and state-sponsored • The grants will benefit around 45,100 cyclone victims and
schemes. will be used to provide hygiene kits, kitchen kits, water,
• It is done to ensure transparency and avoid delays. education, household items and shelter kits.
• The move is aimed at ensuring transparency and avoid
Sports News
delays in disbursement of pension to eligible old-aged,
widows and physically challenged persons. • The government will set up a National Sports Education
Board under Khelo India to popularise sports at all levels.
Govt to set up 3 CoE in Sports at Itanagar
Sports minister Kiren Rijiju thanked Prime Minister
• Youth Affairs and Sports minister, Kiren Rijiju has informed Narendra Modi and the finance minister for the initiative.
that central government is going to set-up three Sports • Shoaib Malik, a veteran of 35 Tests, 287 ODIs and 111
Centre of Excellence in Itanagar. T20Is for Pakistan, has announced his retirement from ODI
• The three centre of excellence will be for Martial Arts, cricket.
Weight Lifting and Boxing.
National Affairs
• The government will also set up 12 to 15 football stadiums
in the next 3 years. • Ministry of I&B has set up FM Radio Transmitter on 103.7
• He also said that Arunachal Pradesh will host the North MHZ frequency at Baltal, on the Amarnath
East Youth Festival. route. Amarnath Yatra program is being generated from
Baltal base camp.
Miscellaneous News
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said an exclusive
• To serve the underprivileged children, Bring a Smile television channel will be set up for startups that will serve
Foundation along with Cyberabad Police, SCSC and GHMC, as a platform for discussing issues affecting their growth
launched Smile Box campaign aimed at bringing a 'smile' and match-making with venture capitalists.
on their faces. WB govt to increase daily allowances
• As part of celebrations of 20 years of Kargil victory,
commemorative treks were organised by 13 Jammu and • The West Bengal Government has decided to increase
Kashmir Rifles and 18 Grenadiers battalion of the Indian daily allowances of Ministers and MLAs for their presence
Army to Batra Top and Tiger hill. in the State Assembly.
• The daily allowances for the Ministers will be Rs.3000
India's 1st Design Development Centre launched
while Legislators will get Rs. 2000 per day for their
• India's first Design Development Center 'Fashionova' was attendance in the House.
launched in the Textile city Surat. • Additional 15 crore rupees will be spent from the State
• The aim of the centre is to promote the city in the field of exchequer to implement the decision.
the fashion design sector.
Damanganga-Pinjal River Linkage project
• Fashionova has been named in the Start-up scheme of the
Government. • In Maharashtra, the state government has decided to
• The main objective of this studio is to provide a strong inter-link rivers to solve the crisis of drought.
platform to all those who have a flair of the apparel • For Mumbai, the best option is the Damanganga–Pinjal
business. river inter-linking project, which is seen as an ideal, long-
term solution for Mumbai’s water needs.
India's first highway corridors for e-vehicles
• This will fulfil Mumbai’s water needs till 2060.
• India's first highway corridors with charging stations for UP govt promised piped water to households
electric vehicles are expected to come up along the Delhi-
Jaipur and Delhi-Agra highways by 2020. • UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that every household in the
• The e-corridors are proposed to be the first under the Ease state will receive piped water within two years.
of Doing Business Programme (EODB) of the Advance • This project will start from Bundelkhand region by the end
Services for Social and Administrative Reforms (ASSAR). of August 2019.
• Eighteen charging stations will be set up on the two • As many as 15 rivers, which have gone dry, will also be
routes. rejuvenated in the coming months.
• To make Ganga clean, committees have been constituted
Hong Kong approves over $9 million for Odisha
in the district near the bank of the river.
• The Hong Kong government has approved over $900,000
UP govt launched toll-free CM helpline 1076
for relief and rehabilitation work in cyclone-hit Odisha.
84 | P a g e
• The UP government launched a toll-free Chief Minister • The strong points of the State are tourism, horticulture
helpline number 1076. and handicrafts. The stress would be on the power sector
• It will enable people from across the state to register their and manufacturing as well.
complaints and will ensure a time-bound action on the
Athi Varadar: Idol that emerges every 40 years
complaints also.
• The CM helpline number 1076 will work 24x7 and anyone • The Kanchi Athi Varadar festival began on July 1, 2019.
from any part of the state can call on this number anytime. • The temple of Varadar is in Kancheepuram.
• The 500-seater call centre has been established for the • The deity is made of fig tree and hence the name Athi
helpline. Varadar. He is immersed in Anantasaras, the temple tank.
• He is brought out once in 40 years, pujas done for 45 days
Rural sanitation coverage jumped to 99%
and restored to his water bed.
• Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), 9 crore 62 • The last time he came out was on July 2, 1979, and earlier
lakh individual household toilets have been constructed so on July 12, 1939.
far.
• The sanitation coverage in the rural areas of the country
has increased to more than 99%, which was over 38% on
2nd October 2014.
• 632 Districts, 30 States, over 2.50 lakh Gram Panchayats
and 5 lakh 67 thousand 498 villages have been declared
open defecation Free.
National Affairs
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the
increase in the Minimum Support Prices, MSP for all Kharif
crops for 2019-20 Season.
• In Mizoram, drug abuse has gone up to an alarming
level. The official record reveals that more than 300
people lost their lives last year in drug abuse related
incidents.
Miscellaneous I
• Chief of Defence Force of Maldives National Defence
Force, Major General Abdulla Shamaal is on a 3-day visit to
India.
• Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Lady of
Ghana, Rebecca Akufo-Addo launched an inspiring children
story of Kofi and Ama for children to strengthen family
values of love and respect since young ages.
Miscellaneous II
• National Cadet Corps (NCC) has undertaken a pan-India
Mega Pollution Awareness Pakhwada (fortnight) from July
01-11 2019. The pakhwada aims to sensitise the people
Workshop on Glacial Hazards conducted
against various kinds of pollution and their effects.
• The government said that the recruitment examination of • National Disaster Management Authority in partnership
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) will now be conducted in 13 with Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
regional languages in addition to English and Hindi. organized a 2-day meeting on the assessment of glacial
risks and GLOFs.
First investors summit to be held in J&K
• GLOFs refer to the sudden discharge of a water reservoir
• Jammu & Kashmir will host its first-ever investor summit in that has formed either underneath, at the side, in front,
September-October 2019 in Srinagar, with a chapter in within, or on the surface of a glacier.
Jammu, to attract investment and counter perceptions • The 2013 Kedarnath disaster was a result of the same.
about the State.
HDFC, Manipal Academy launched a programme
• The State is presently under President’s Rule.
85 | P a g e
• HDFC Bank along with Manipal Global Academy of BFSI has • It failed to curb illegal coal mining with the Central
launched a future bankers programme for training and Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
grooming candidates. • The National Green Tribunal had fined the Meghalaya
• The bank plans to hire 5,000 such professionals over the government on January 4, 2019.
next two to three years who will be posted as personal • It admitted that a large number of mines were operating
bankers. illegally in the northeastern state.
• The starting salary for the job is ₹4 lakh per annum plus
Tax Treaty to be implemented
allowances depending on the category of town or city of
posting. • India has ratified the Multilateral Convention to
Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base
50 lakh trees to be planted by 2020: J&K
Erosion and Profit Shifting (MLI).
• In Jammu and Kashmir, the Governor’s Administration has • It was signed by the Finance Minister at Paris on 7th June
approved the launch of Green Jammu and Kashmir drive 2017 on behalf of India, alongwith representatives of more
from July 8, 2019. than 65 countries.
• Under this major environment-friendly initiative 50 Lakh • The Multilateral Convention/MLI is an outcome of the
trees will be planted by June 2020. OECD / G20 Project to tackle Base Erosion and Profit
• In the 1st phase, the plantation activities will primarily be Shifting.
focussed in Jammu and 9 Lakh trees over 2300 Hectare
2.5 lakh new jobs to be created in IT sector
area are targeted for plantation this Monsoon season.
• About 2 lakh 50,000 new jobs will be created in the IT
Miscellaneous News
sector in the coming months through the comprehensive
• Odisha is all set to organise the 21st Commonwealth Table skill development programme.
Tennis Championship at Jawaharlal Indoor Stadium in • Rapid advances made in the digital technology in the
Cuttack from July 17 to 22, 2019. country can take this sector to the tune of 7.2 billion
• The world-famous Jagannath Rath Yatra began on4 JUly dollars from 2.5 billion in 2018.
2019 at Puri in Odisha. Lakhs of people are gathering in • Transforming the world's largest youth force into a truly
Puri to witness Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi skilled force is the vision of the NDA government.
Subhadra riding three giant wooden chariots.
WB: 10% reservation to backward section
Delhi, Vijayawada get UIDAI centres
• The West Bengal Cabinet has decided to give 10%
• The UIDAI has operationalised the first 'Aadhaar Seva reservation in Education and Employment to the
Kendra' in Delhi and Vijayawada. economically backward section people of the state.
• It is part of an ambitious plan to set up 114 such centres by • The State Cabinet took the decision under the
the year-end. chairmanship of Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee in
• These Aadhaar centres, meant to facilitate enrolment, Kolkata.
updation and other activities, will be UIDAI’s own and • People who get reservations under caste system will not
operate in addition to thousands of centres, currently get the benefit.
being run by banks and post offices, and in government
First ever IICTF fair to be held in October
premises.
• The First Ever India International Cooperatives Trade Fair
Mekadetu project to take land away
(IICTF) is going to be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
• More than 60% of land needed for the Mekedatu from 11th till 13th October, 2019.
Balancing Reservoir project will be in the core area of the • Steered by NCDC, the Fair is being conducted with the
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. support of one international organization (NEDAC), 3
• Of the 52.52 sq. km needed for the project, 31.81 sq. km Ministries, 4 State Governments.
comes in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, while another • The Trade Fair is aimed at promoting cooperative to
18.69 sq. km is adjacent forest land. cooperative trade within India and abroad.
• The project will also see the displacement of the Iruliga
Project of planting 33 crore saplings launched
tribals and other residents of five villages.
• Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launched the state’s
SC slapped fine on Meghalaya Government
ambitious project of planting 33 crore saplings within the
• The Supreme Court directed the Meghalaya government next two months.
to deposit the ₹100 crore fine imposed on it by the • The aim was to create a record of planting over 50-crore
National Green Tribunal saplings during the tenure of the current BJP-led State
Government.
86 | P a g e
• Maharashtra Government has successfully planted 2.82 • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was on a visit to Eastern
crore saplings in 2016, 5.17 crore saplings in 2017 and Naval Command.
15.17 crore in 2018. • He was briefed on the operational readiness of the
Command and other aspects of maritime and coastal
Mann Ki Baat
security on the Eastern Seaboard on 30 Jun 19.
• PM Narendra Modi called upon people to start a mass • He also visited Indian Navy’s indigenously conceived
movement for water conservation and resolve to save design and constructed frontline stealth frigate INS Shivalik
every drop of water amidst water scarcity in several parts and Indian Naval Submarine Sindhukirti at Visakhapatnam.
of the country.
• Keeping the importance of water in mind, a new Jal Shakti
ministry has been created in the country.
• He was addressing the nation through Mann Ki Baat for
the first time after resuming office for the 2nd term.
Inaugation of Chabra's Thermal Station Unit
• In Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated 5th
and 6th Unit of Chabra Super Critical Thermal Power
Station on 30 June 2019.
• This is the state’s First project based on Super Critical
Thermal Power Technology and the estimated cost of this
project is 9 thousand 550 Crore Rupees.
• 3 crore additional units of power daily will be generated
and 78 lakh new consumers will get benefited.
Jal Shakti Abhiyaan launched
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched across the country from 1
July 2019 to accelerate water harvesting and conservation
measures.
• The scheme is aimed at making water conservation and
promotion of irrigation efficiency through asset creation
and communication campaigns.
• Over 250 officers have been appointed as in-charge of
water-stressed districts in the country.
Government to introduce new system for GST
• The government introduced the new return system on a
trial basis on the second anniversary of Goods and Services
Tax (GST) on 1 July 2019.
• It will come into force from 1st of October this year on a
mandatory basis.
• The government will rationalize a single cash ledger in
such a manner that earlier 20 heads are merged into 5
major heads.
Commemoration of Digital India initiative
• Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi
Shankar Prasad launched the commemoration of four
years of Digital India initiative in New Delhi.
• The aim of this initiative is to bridge the digital divide and
create awareness about Information Technology.
• The Project aims to connect all gram panchayats by
broadband connectivity under BharatNet Project to
promote e-governance.
Defence Minister visited Visakhapatnam
87 | P a g e

July 2019

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July 2019

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Current Affairs Monthly Capsule I July 2019

Awards & Honours ............................................................................................................................................ 3

Awards &Honours • Nagaswaram player Vyasarpadi Kothandaraman and

Miscellaneous • Present Administrator of NASA - James Frederick

Odisha implemented Witness Protection Scheme AYUSH, MeitY signs MoU

Science & Technology 50th anniversary of Apollo 11

Vertical steep dive version of Brahmos tested Miscellaneous News

• Mr Johnson is scheduled to meet the Queen at National Affairs II

Sports • The World Bank has pulled out of the Amaravati

• Shah Rukh Khan will receive an honorary doctorate degree Sports

• The Summit aims at encouraging aspiring women Appointments

National Affairs • Scientists at IIT Hyderabad have developed low-cost,

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