NATIONAL
UPDATES:
1. Rajghat
coal 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.
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.
Note: Chief Minister of Delhi: Arvind
Kejriwal; Lieutenant Governor of Delhi: Anil Baijal.
2. Election
notification issued for Vellore Lok Sabha seat: Notification for the election of Vellore
Parliamentary Constituency (in Tamil Nadu) was issued by the Election
Commission of India. Vellore was the only seat that did not go for polling
in the whole country during the General Elections. During the recent General
Elections, polling to the seat was rescinded following a huge haul of money by
the Income Tax authorities that were hoarded purportedly for distribution to
the voters.
Note: Nominations date: 18th July 2019; Polling
date: 5th of August; Counting of votes: 9th August.
3. Uttarakhand
to get Asia’s first six sigma Institute of Mountain Medicines &
high-altitude rescue: According to
Trivendra Singh Rawat (Uttarakhand Chief Minister), Asia’s first Six Sigma
Institute of Mountain Medicines and High-Altitude Rescue will be established at
Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand. The institute would train armed forces as well as
para-military personnel in Mountain Medicines. The mountain institute will be
Specialised healthcare, advance education and Rescue Training in the state.
4. President
Kovind to be on a four-day visit to TN, AP: President Ram Nath Kovind will be on a four-day visit to
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh from today. The President will present Doctor of
Laws degree to former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice (Retd) P. Sathasivam
(Governor of Kerala). He will also present the degree to Justice Sharad Arvind
Bobde (Supreme Court judge) and Justice Vijaya Kamlesh Tahilramani (Chief
Justice of Madras High Court) at a special convocation of the Tamil Nadu Dr
Ambedkar Law University in Chennai. The President will visit the Satish Dhawan
Space Centre in Sriharikota and witness the launch of Chandrayaan-2 lunar
mission being undertaken by the ISRO.
5. PAN
not linked to Aadhaar card will become invalid from 1st September 2019: The Union government will invalidate
all PAN cards that are not linked to Aadhaar by 1st September
2019. To validate and continue using the existing PAN cards, citizens will have
to link them to Aadhaar. A person will be permitted to use Aadhaar instead for
filing returns and while making other high-value transactions, specified under
the Income Tax Act. At present 180 out of the existing 400 million PAN cards
are not linked to Aadhaar.
Note: The Budget fine print also reveals the amended
I-T Act would put the onus on the person receiving any document relating to
specified high-value transactions or tax returns, to ensure that the PAN or the
Aadhaar number are duly quoted, and as importantly “authenticated”.
INTERNATIONAL
UPDATES:
1. North Korea revises constitution: North Korea has revised its constitution to
make Kim Jong Un as official head of state, a promotion that could help
normalise the isolated country’s diplomatic relations with the rest of the
world. Earlier Kim ruled as a chairman of state Affairs
Commission. The previous constitution stated that the chairman of SAC
served as a Supreme Leader.
Note: North Korea
Capital: Pyongyang; Currency: North Korean won.
2. The 2019
global Multidimensional Poverty Index:
UN Development Programme (UNDP) has released the 2019 global
Multidimensional Poverty Index. Highlights of the reports are: India’s MPI
value reduced from 0.283 in 2005-06 to 0.123 in 2015-16;
India has lifted 271 million people out of poverty between 2006
and 2016, recording the fastest reductions in the multidimensional poverty
index; India and Cambodia has reduced their MPI values the
fastest among the 10 selected countries for which changes over time were
analysed.
Note: Administrator of UNDP: Achim Steiner.
3. Kalyani
JV gets missile kits order: A joint
venture of a Kalyani group firm and Israel’s Rafael Advanced
Systems has secured a $100 million contract for
manufacturing 1,000 Barak-8 MRSAM missile kits. Kalyani Rafael Advanced
Systems will manufacture the kits at its production facility near Hyderabad and
supply them to Bharat Dynamics for further integration. The product will be
used by the Indian Army and the Air Force.
Note: Capital of Israel: Jerusalem; Currency
of Israel: Israeli New Shekel.
4. India
hands over 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 Rakhine State Development Programme for $ 25M for
a period of five years.
Note: Capital of
Myanmar: Naypyitaw; Currency of Myanmar: Burmese Kyat.
5. Delhi
Based Isha Kanth Selected for ICJ Internship Programme: Delhi girl Isha Kanth (20-year) has been
selected for the prestigious two-month internship at the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) based at The Hague. Only two law students from across the world
get selected for this internship programme. Currently, Isha Kanth pursuing a bachelor’s
degree in Law from the Queen Mary University of London.
Note: The ICJ (the principal judicial organ of the
United Nations) offers internships for one to three months to students and
young professionals who are in the early stages of their careers. The interns
get an opportunity to put their knowledge and experience into practice while
performing certain tasks for the Court under the supervision of registry
officials.
6. India-ASEAN
Troika Trade Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi: India-ASEAN Troika Trade Ministers’ meeting was held in New Delhi
for informal consultation on the ongoing Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP). India looks at RCEP as a logical extension of its Act East
Policy and it holds enormous potential for economic growth and stability for
the entire region.
Note:
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a
proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six
Indo-Pacific states (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New
Zealand).
7. India,
EU hold high-level talks on migration, mobility: The 5th India-EU High-Level Dialogue on Migration and
Mobility was held in New Delhi. External Affairs Ministry said in a release
said the discussion was held in a highly friendly and constructive spirit. It
encompassed a wide range of issues of mutual interest in the context of migration
and mobility along the India-EU corridor. Both sides reaffirmed that migration
and mobility are important dimensions of the strategic partnership between
India and EU and exchanged views on further initiatives and steps aimed at
realizing the full potential of further strengthening cooperation in this area.
8. India-US
trade talks restart in New Delhi:
India and US trade negotiators will hold talks in New Delhi to discuss
bilateral and economic issues. The US delegation is being led by Assistant U.S.
Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Christopher Wilson. The Indian
side is being led by Additional Secretary level officer from Commerce and
Industries Ministry. This would be the first meeting on trade issues after the
meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump in Japan
on the sidelines of the G20 summit. The visiting USTR delegation will also call
on Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
9. First
Global Conference for Media Freedom in London: The first Global Conference for Media
Freedom co-hosted by the UK and Canada in London. A three
members Indian media delegation, including Prasar Bharati Chairman A.Surya
Prakash, Rajya Sabha MP and journalist Swapan Dasgupta, and journalist and
political analyst Kanchan Gupta, have attended the first Global Conference
for Media Freedom.
Note: World Press Freedom Index 2019: Rank of
India 140th out of 180.
10. USISPF
second annual leadership summit held in Washington: The US India Strategic and Partnership
Forum 2nd annual leadership summit held in Washington. "US
India Bilateral Trade Report" was released on the occasion. Some findings
of the report are: US India bilateral trade could reach USD 238
billion by 2025; Sectors such as defence trade, commercial aircrafts, oil and LNG,
coal, machinery and electronics are areas of potential growth;
The US-India trade balance has grown 3.8 per cent on an
average in favour of India.
Note: President of United States: Donald
Trump; Capital: Washington, DC.
11. 19th
Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in London: The 19th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers
Meeting was held in London. External Affairs
Minister conveyed India’s stand at the meet.
Note: External Affairs Minister of India: S.
Jaishankar; UK Capital: London; Currency: Pound sterling.
12. Vikas
Swarup appointed Secretary of Overseas Indian Affairs: According to an order issued by the Personnel Ministry,
Senior diplomat Vikas Swarup (1986-batch officer-Indian Foreign Service) has
been appointed as Secretary, (consular, passport, visa and Overseas Indian
Affairs) in the External Affairs Ministry. His appointment will come into
effect from August 1, 2019. Currently, Mr. Swarup is India's High Commissioner
to Canada.
Note:
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) was a ministry of the Government
of India, dedicated to all matters relating to the Indian diaspora around the
world. The MOIA was merged with the Ministry of External Affairs on 7th January
2016.
OTHER
UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. 4
gold medals for India in Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships: India have won 4 gold medals in Commonwealth
Weightlifting Championships held in Apia, Samoa. The Indian medallists
are: Men (Elite and junior): Achinta Sheuli has won 2 gold medals in
73kg event; Junior: Gulam Navi has won gold medal in 67kg event; Junior
and youth: L. Sadananda Singh has won Bronze & Gold medals in
73kg event; Women (Elite): Manpreet Kaur has won silver medal in 76kg
event; Junior: R. Arockiya Alish has won silver medal in 76kg event.
2. Mexico
wins CONCACAF Gold Cup final:
Mexico defeated USA to claim their eighth CONCACAF Gold Cup
title. Jonathan Dos Santos scored the winning goal in 73rd min for
Mexico in the thrilling final.
Note: Capital of Mexico: Mexico
City; Currency of Mexico: Mexican peso.
3. Dutee
Chand bags Gold medal in 100-metres event at World Universiade: India's sprinter Dutee Chand (23-years) has clinched a
Gold medal in the 100-metre dash event at the World Universiade at Napoli in
Italy. She clocked 11.32 seconds as she led the race from start to finish. Del
Ponte of Switzerland won the Silver, while German Lisa Kwayie took home the
Bronze. With
the Gold, Dutee has become the first
Indian woman track and field athlete to win the coveted yellow metal at the
event. Now, she is the only second Indian sprinter to win a Gold in a global
event after 19-year old Hima Das. Hima Das had clinched the top spot in the
400-metres race in the World Junior Athletics Championships last year.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. UBS
pegs down GDP growth to 6.7%, rules out revival this year: According to Swiss brokerage firm UBS, India’s GDP
growth rate for FY20 (2019-20) predicted at 6.7%. This is 20 bps less than its
earlier prediction of 6.9%. As per UBS, India’s GDP growth rate in FY19 was
6.8%. The brokerage expects the Reserve Bank to ease the policy rate by another
75 basis points as against its previous forecast 25 basis points in FY20. The
lack of fiscal impetus in the budget opens the door for higher monetary easing
than market expectations.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1. BCC signs
MoU with BRICS chamber to promote trade:
The Bharat Chamber of Commerce and the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, New Delhi, signed an MoU for promoting trade and
investments between theBRICS countries and the eastern part of India.
Note: BRICS Headquarters: Shanghai,
China; President of BRICS: K V Kamath; Members of the
BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
OBITUARIES
1. Soumendranath
Kundu passes away: Former Bengal and
Railway leg-spinner Soumendranath Kundu passed away. Kundu was
conferred the CAB Kartick Bose life- time Achievement Award 2014. Kundu
took 127 wickets in 30 First Class matches between 1958-59 and 1968-69. He also
took 10 wickets in a match thrice.
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