NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. DG Rakesh Pal appointed as 25th Director General of Indian Coast Guard:
DG Rakesh Pal has been appointed as the 25th Director General of the
Indian Coast Guard. He was conferred with Tatrakshak Medal in
2013 and President Tatrakshak Medal in 2018 for his successful
service and also holds the recognition of being the First Gunner of ICG. He
has commanded all classes of ICG ships namely; ICGS Samarth, ICGS Vijit,
ICGS Sucheta Kriplani, ICGS Ahalyabai, and ICGS C-03, two Coast
Guard bases of the forward area in Gujarat - Okha & Vadinar.
2. Nivruti
Rai appointed as Managing Director & CEO of Invest India: Nivruti Rai joined as the Managing Director & CEO of
Invest India on July 2023. She has received a special award called
the "Nari Shakti Puraskar" for her outstanding achievements
in the field of technology. The Board of Invest India is chaired by Shri
Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, DPIIT. Invest India is well acknowledged for
its contributions and instrumental role in executing the Government’s
flagship initiatives like Make in India, Startup India.
3. President
Droupadi Murmu to inaugurate 'Festival of Libraries 2023': President of India, Droupadi Murmu would inaugurate the ‘Festival
of Libraries 2023’, to be held on 5th - 6th August 2023 in New Delhi. Aims: To
facilitate the formulation of action-oriented policies for the development
of Model Libraries in India, right down to the village and community levels The
launch of a crowd-sourced Directory of Libraries, the signing of a
Tripartite MoU between 3 libraries, and the release of Cursive
Writing Books in the 22 vernacular languages
4. Regional
Office of Universal Postal Union gets inaugurated in New Delhi: Devusinh Chauhan and Masahiko Metoki inaugurated the Regional
Office of UPU in New Delhi. India would undertake UPU’s technical assistance
activities in the South Asia region. India announced a contribution of USD
2,00,000 for four years towards the UPU’s Development and Technical
Assistance activities. Aims: To support capacity
building, infrastructure development, and other essential activities to
strengthen the postal sector in the region.
5. Culture
Ministry and Indian Navy sign an MoU to revive shipbuilding method: To revive the ‘stitched shipbuilding method’, the Ministry of
Culture and the Indian Navy signed an MoU. Aims: To revive the
maritime memory and instill a sense of pride in India's rich maritime
heritage among its citizens and to promote cultural memories among
the Indian Ocean littoral countries. Construction: By stitching wooden
planks together rather than using nails, offered flexibility and
durability, making them less susceptible to damage from shoals and sandbars.
6. Cognizant,
Max Life Insurance to launch innovation and development centre: Cognizant Technology Solutions in collaboration with Max Life
Insurance Co. Ltd launched an innovation and development centre in
Chennai. Aims: To drive product innovations, enhance
customer experiences, and lead operational excellence for Max Life. Cognizant
will use expertise in consulting and emerging technologies,
including artificial intelligence, automation, and cloud transformation to
further enhance the digital experience for customers, as per a release.
7. Indian
Building Surpasses Pentagon To Become World's Largest Office: Surat Diamond Bourse, a building in Surat has surpassed the
Pentagon (headquarters of the US Army) to become the world’s largest office. Surat
is known as the world’s diamond capital, where 90% of the precious stones are
cut. Diamond Bourse was designed by Delhi-based Morphogenesis and is
based on the concept of Panchtatva, the five elements of nature – water,
fire, air, earth, and sky. The building will be officially inaugurated by
Narendra Modi in November 2023.
8. Chachin Grazing Festival celebrated in Arunachal
Pradesh: The Chachin grazing festival was
celebrated with great enthusiasm by local graziers in the Tawang region
near Bumla Pass, Arunachal Pradesh. The festival featured a medical camp for
aiding local graziers and a veterinary camp for their yaks. The two-day event
held at Chachin saw enthusiastic participation from Graziers from all over
Tawang region. Chachin and other traditional grazing areas, near Bumla Pass have
historically served as the backbone of the local Monpa lifestyle that is
largely dependent on nomadic herding – a primitive form of subsistence farming
– as means of livelihood. The event showcased the rich pageantry of Monpa
culture. Nearly 100 graziers and their herds of yaks attended the event from
nearby villages.
9. Lucknow University unveils ‘heritage point’: Lucknow University has unveiled a
“heritage point” at its zoology department, featuring bricks from
the 19th century and a 100-year-old wooden log. The items mark the
university’s centenary year. The log, extracted from a mango tree on the
campus, is also over a century old, according to scientists. A stone plaque
next to the heritage point documents the university’s historical progression. The
university’s vice chancellor inaugurated the heritage point, which aims to
display the rich heritage of the institution to students Featuring some bricks
that were exclusively moulded in the early 19th century, and a 100-year-old
wooden log that clearly exhibits the annual rings formed around it.
10. Cement Manufacturers Association elects Neeraj
Akhoury as its president: Managing Director of Shree Cement, Neeraj Akhoury has been
elected as the new President of the Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA).
While JSW Cement Managing Director Parth Jindal has been appointed as Vice
President of CMA. Both were unanimously elected at the Extraordinary General
Meeting of CMA. Akhoury, who has 30 years of experience in the steel and cement
industries, takes over from UltraTech Cement’s Managing Director K C Jhanwar. CMA
represents almost 80 percent of the total installed cement capacity in India.
11. 20 July – National Moon Day: National Moon Day, also known as the Space
Exploration Day, is observed on July 20 every year to commemorate the
anniversary of the United States’ first crewed mission to the moon, and the
landing of astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on moon on July 20, 1969. Theme
2023 – Lunar Exploration, Coordination and Sustainability On this day, the
spaceflight Apollo 11 that carried Neil Armstrong and the pilots Buzz Aldrin
and Michael Collins landed on the moon for the first time. The grand Apollo 11
was a mission that became a reality eight years after the national goal was
announced by then US President John F Kennedy. Armstrong was the commander of
the mission while Buzz and Collins were the lunar module pilots. The
celebration behind the day is not only about the landing on the moon but also
about the progress made by mankind towards lunar exploration so far. In 1971,
President Richard Nixon proclaimed National Moon Landing Day on July 20, two
years after the man’s first moon landing. However, it was not followed by a
resolution. In 2019, President Donald Trump proclaimed July 20 as the 50th
Anniversary Observance of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing, but no National Moon Day
was declared.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India
to host ASEAN Countries Conference on Traditional Medicines: India would host the ASEAN Countries Conference on Traditional
Medicines in New Delhi In this conference, 10 ASEAN
countries including Cambodia, and Vietnam will participate in
it. Aims: To strengthen the platform between India and ASEAN
countries to share their best practices and draw a roadmap for future
cooperation in the field of Traditional Medicines. AYUSH has the potential for
expansion of ‘Act East Policy’ in traditional systems of medicine.
2. Union
Minister Parshottam Rupala inaugurates International Symposium: Parshottam Rupala, UM of Fisheries,(AH&D) inaugurated an
International Symposium on Sustainable Livestock
Transformation at NDDB, Anand under the Agriculture Working
Group of G20. Aims: To promote insightful discussions and
collaborations to ensure a more efficient and sustainable future for the
global livestock sector. “Vasudaiva Kutumbakam” is the
signature theme of India’s G20 Presidency.
3. Meta
collaborates with Microsoft to launch Llama 2 AI language model: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, the company is partnering with
Microsoft to introduce AI large language model’s next generation and
make technology known as Llama 2. It will be available
for research and commercial use, enabling developers and
businesses to hold the next generation of generative AI tools. Meta had
already released the first iteration of Llama(Large Language Model
Meta) in February 2023.
4. India will host global food regulators summit: The Global Food Regulators Summit 2023 has been organized
in New Delhi. This is for the first time that a meeting like this is
organized as a G20 event. In this high-profile meeting, food regulators from
over 40 countries participated along with representatives from 30 International
Organizations and 25 International Research Institutes and universities. The summit
was organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under
the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Summit will provide
a valuable platform to the participants to deliberate on a cohesive network on
Food Safety and Regulatory aspects, effective understanding of compliance
requirements and mutual exchange of best practices, experiences and success
stories on food safety norms and regulations. This is the first time the summit
is being held outside Rome, Italy. The Global Food Regulators Summit will bring
focus on the crucial aspect of food safety, which needs as much attention as
food security.
5. Henley Passport Index 2023- India ranked 80th; topped
by Singapore: Singapore has
overtaken Japan to become the most powerful passport in the world in 2023,
according to the latest Henley Passport Index. Those who possess a
Singaporean passport can visit 192 countries visa-free. Japan that dominated
the top spot for five years, now ranks third on the list along with Austria,
Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea and Sweden. Citizens of these
countries can visit 189 countries visa free. The US, which once topped the
ranking nearly a decade ago, slid two places to eighth place with 184
destinations listed as visa free, the same as Lithuania. Indian passport
holders can now enter 57 countries visa free or get a visa on arrival as India
has gone up five positions to be in the 80th spot. The UK jumped two places to
fourth position with 188 visa-free countries accessible, a position it last
held in 2017. Afghanistan stands at the bottom of the ranking, its passport
holders can visit just 27 destinations without a visa. Just above sit Iraq with
a score of 29 and Syria with 30, rounding out the three weakest passports in
the world.
6. US’s largest reptile sanctuary wants to import
gharials from India: The United States’ largest reptile bank based in Arizona has
applied to the federal government to import six gharials and another equal
number of mugger crocodiles from Tamil Nadu, which it argued would help
preserve these endangered species. The Phoenix Herpetological Society has
applied for permission in this regard to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Phoenix
Herpetological Society has requested a permit to import three male and three
female captive-bred gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) and three male and three
female captive-bred mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris kimbula and
Crocodylus palustris) from Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in Tamil Nadu.
7. 20 July – World Chess Day: World Chess Day is observed every year
on 20 July. The game of chess offers important opportunities to contribute
to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the
Sustainable Development Goals, including strengthening education, gender
equality, and social inclusion International Chess Day was announced in 1996 by
UNESCO to commemorate the establishment of the International Chess Federation,
commonly known as FIDE by its French acronym.
· FIDE was founded in Paris, France, and currently has its headquarters in
Switzerland.
· FIDE is an international body responsible for connecting various
international chess federations and acts as the governing body for
international chess competitions.
· FIDE was recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 1999.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Harmehar,
Sanjana win silver in skeet mixed team at ISSF Junior World.: Harmehar Singh Lally and Sanjana Sood won a silver
medal in the skeet mixed team event at ISSF Junior World
Championships, in Korea. Indian duo lost their match with the Italian duo
of Andrea Galardini and Sara Bongini. China is at the
top with six gold, eight silver, and four bronze medals. India stayed
in second place on the medals table with four gold, four silver and
three bronze medals. Italy is in the third spot with two gold, one
silver and three bronze medals.
2. Indian
Team won bronze medal at Asian Surfing Championship 2023: At the Asian Surfing Championship 2023 held in Maldives,
the Indian Surf Team earned the bronze medal. In this
championship, 18 countries from Asia participated. The Surfing
Federation of India sent a team consisting of 4 senior male surfers and 2
surfers in the Under 18 category.5 out of the 6 surfers representing India were
from Tamil Nadu. Arun Vasu: The President of the Surfing Federation of
India
3. Keerthana upstages Anupama for World U-21 snooker
title: Keerthana Pandian defeated fellow Indian
Anupama Ramachandran in the final to emerge as the IBSF World
under-21 women’s snooker champion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bengaluru’s
Natasha Chethan made it a memorable outing for the Indians by claiming the
bronze medal. Natasha lost 1-3 to the eventual winner in the last-four stage,
while Anupama had outclassed Hong Kong China’s Chan Wai Lam 3-0 in the other
semis.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI
cancels banking license of United India Co-operative Bank Bijnor: The license of United India Co-operative Bank Limited, Bijnor
has been revoked by the Reserve Bank of India. The bank is not allowed to
continue its banking operations, which include taking deposits and returning
deposits. Result: The bank will stop functioning, and all depositors will be
eligible to receive up to Rs 5 lakh as a deposit insurance claim from
the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation.
2. ADB retains India’s growth forecast at 6.4% for the
current fiscal: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has retained
India’s economic growth forecast at 6.4 percent for the current financial year
(2023-24). ADB has set growth forecast at 6.7 percent for India for the next
financial year (2024-25). The ADB noted that inflation is expected to continue
to fall, and is expected to approach its pre-pandemic levels as fuel and food
prices decline The bank forecasted 3.6 percent inflation this year for
developing economies in Asia, and 3.4 percent in 2024. India’s economy grew by
7.2 percent in the 2022-23 fiscal ended in March 2023.
3. Simplifai launches world-first generative Al tool for
insurance: An Al automation solutions
provider, Simplifai has launched Simplifai Insurance GPT a
world-first custom-built GPT tool, fuelled by the company’s revolutionary
no-code Al-powered platform. With Insurance GPT, Simplifai has strengthened its
end-to-end business process automation capabilities, providing enriched
communication between insurers and their customers through the power of
generative AI – delivering fast, concise, and accurate responses in a secure
way. While several insurance product providers have merely begun to integrate
ChatGPT or Google Bard into their services, Simplifai’s InsuranceGPT large
language model (LLM) is the first to be trained specifically on information
directly relevant to the insurance sector.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Ami Bera receives Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award: An Indian-American physician-turned-politician, Ami Bera has received the Champion of Healthcare Innovation Award for his contributions to making high-quality care affordable and accessible in the US. Bera the longest-serving Indian-American serving in the US Congress, was among those facilitated during the council’s Innovation Expo held here last week. Bera served as Chief Medical Officer for Sacramento County in California before being sworn in as a congressman in 2013 and has represented Sacramento County in the US House of Representatives since then. He is currently a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Non-proliferation. He is also a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.
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