Current Affairs Today 14th July 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 14th July 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

  1. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) are to set up the IFSC Banking Unit at Gujarat International Finance Tec City, GIFT city in Gandhinagar Gujarat.
  2. Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced an investment of Rs. 75 thousand crore in India over the next 5 to 7 years through ‘Google for India Digitisation Fund’ to help accelerate country’s digital economy
  3. Industry body FICCI has projected the Indian economy to contract by (-) 4.5 percent in 2020-21, as per its latest Economic Outlook Survey released on 12 July 2020.
  4. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has informed on 12th July 2020 that a new Utility Tool has been launched that will facilitate the Banks and Post Offices across the country with the accurate TDS rate (Tax Deduction at Source) applicable on cash withdrawals.
  5. The Ministry of Railways has announced mission mode with the goal of transforming Indian Railways into Green Railways by the year 2030.
  6. NHAI has approached all IITs, NITs and reputed Engineering Colleges to collaborate and adopt nearby stretches of National Highways on voluntary basis as part of Institutional Social Responsibility.
  7. Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for various new economic corridor projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore in Haryana in a web based function .
  8. Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal has accorded approval to set up 3 new medical colleges in the State and also to start DM Cardiology course at Pt. B.D Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak.
  9. Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Girish Chandra Murmu e-inaugurated 10 power projects worth Rs. 19.51 crore and laid foundation stones for 07 others costing Rs. 30.35 crore to boost power sector in Kashmir.
  10. Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Girish Chandra Murmu has e-inaugurated 15 important infrastructural projects of School Education Department to boost education sector.
  11. Uttar Pradesh government has expanded the ambit of the emergency police helpline number 112, and linked fire, ambulance, railway police and disaster relief services with it.
  12. A Comprehensive exercise for mapping of crops under each of the Rythu Bharosa Kendra (RBK) in the state has begun in Andhra Pradesh from 13th July 2020.
  13. 13th July 2020 marks the 206th Birth Anniversary of Bhanubhakta Acharya, he was the first writer to translate the Great Epic of Ancient India- Ramayan from Sanskrit to Nepali. Bhanu Jayanti is also celebrated across the state of Nepal on 13th July every year.
  14. India handed over outdoor fitness equipment for 61 islands across Maldives under a cash grant of 8 million US dollars.
  15. The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism organised its Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week 2020 from 6-10 July 2020.
  16. NITI Aayog presented India’s second Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2020.
  17. As per the data from the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the United States remains as the top trading partner of India during the Financial Year 2019-20.
  18. National Medicinal Plants Board, NMPB and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources signed an MoU to to conserve the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Genetic Resources
  19. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief, Kailasavadivoo Sivan has named for Von Karman Award 2020 by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).
  20. Chief Minister Darpan website and mobile app prepared for monitoring Chhattisgarh Government’s ambitious Suraji Gaon Scheme and other flagship schemes, has been awarded “Elites Excellence Awards-2020” at the national level.
  21. Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami has honoured with Paul Harris Fellow recognition by Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Chicago.
  22. Vidhu P. Nair has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Turkmenistan.
  23. Indian Foreign Service officer, Rudrendra Tandon has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Afghanistan.
  24. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Hemang Amin as its interim chief executive officer (CEO).
  25. The Indian army is to acquire hand-launched, remotely controlled unmanned aerial vehicle Raven from the US and state-of-the-art Israeli Spike Firefly.
  26. West Indies won the first international cricket match since the sport’s return after the coronavirus outbreak by defeating England.
  27. IIT Kanpur has developed an Ultraviolet (UV) sanitizing product named SHUDH.
  28. Bengaluru based, VNIR Biotechnologies, a spinoff by Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) has launched indigenous fluorescence probes and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mix for RT-PCR detection of COVID-19.
  29. Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF) have introduced a skin friendly, moisturizer-based hand cleansing Gel, RCF SAFEROLA.
  30. In Bihar, AIIMS, Patna has started human trial of Corona virus vaccine on 10 volunteers selected by hospital authority.

NEWS IN DETAILS

BANKING & FINANCE

HSBC to set up IFSC Banking Unit at GIFT city in Gandhinagar

  • The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) is to set up the IFSC Banking Unit at Gujarat International Finance Tec City, GIFT city in Gandhinagar Gujarat.
  • The world’s largest financial services organization HSBC has got in-principle approval from the GIFT SEZ Authority to set up an IFSC Banking Unit -IBU at GIFT City, subject to other Regulatory approvals.
  • The proposed commencement of the IBU by HSBC marks a significant development in India’s IFSC business.
  • It also proves GIFT’s mettle as a globally competitive international financial center.

Benefit from GIFT:

  • GIFT IFSC Banking Units have played a pivotal role in the development of IFSC in India by providing dollar financing to Indian corporate.
  • As per available data, GIFT IFSC has contributed around 11 percent of total financial services exports of India. Apart from banking, insurance and international exchanges in GIFT-IFSC have also seen an upward trajectory in their business.

Extra Shots

HSBC:

  • Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
  • CEO: Noel Quinn
  • Founder: Thomas Sutherland
  • Founded: 3 March 1865, Hong Kong

GIFT City: Gujarat International Finance Tec City located on the banks of the Sabarmati River and is around 12 km from Ahmedabad International Airport and is India’s first operational smart city and international financial services centre. It was promoted by the Gujarat government as a green field project.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Google to invest Rs. 75,000 crore in India over next 5 to 7 years

  • Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced an investment of Rs. 75 thousand crore in India over the next 5 to 7 years through ‘Google for India Digitisation Fund’ to help accelerate country’s digital economy.
  • He made this announcement during the sixth annual edition of the “Google for India” virtual event.

The investments will focus on four key areas of India’s digitization:

  • Enabling affordable access and information to every Indian in their own language,
  • Building new products and services relevant to India’s unique needs,
  • Empowering businesses as they continue to embark in digital transformation,
  • Leveraging technology and Artificial Intelligence for social good in areas like healthcare, education and agriculture.

Extra Shots:

Google

  • CEO: Sundar Pichai
  • Founded: 4 September 1998, Menlo Park, California, United States
  • Parent organization: Alphabet Inc.
  • Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States
  • Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin

FICCI survey predicts India’s GDP to contract by 4.5% in FY21

  • Industry body FICCI has projected the Indian economy to contract by (-) 4.5 percent in 2020-21, as per its latest Economic Outlook Survey released on 12 July 2020.
  • The minimum and maximum GDP growth estimate stood at (-) 6.4 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively, for FY21.
  • The downward revision is due to the halt in economic activities amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown.

Extra Shots:

FICCI:

  • Headquarters location: New Delhi
  • Founded: 1927
  • Founders: Ghanshyam Das Birla, Purshottamdas Thakurdas
  • Type of business: Trade Association

CBDT launches a new Utility Tool for Banks and Post Offices for Proper Implementation of Finance Act 2020

  • The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has informed on 12th July 2020 that a new Utility Tool has been launched that will facilitate the Banks and Post Offices across the country with the accurate TDS rate (Tax Deduction at Source) applicable on cash withdrawals.
  • The utility tool can be accessed by the Banks and Post Offices by visiting the web portal- ‘incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in’.
  • The Utility Tool is available under the name’ Verification of Applicability u/s 194N’ on the portal.
  • The Utility Tool was developed based on the Data of Cash Withdrawal from across the country that has suggested that large amounts of cash were withdrawn by Individuals who had never filed income tax returns.

Extra Shots:

CBDT:

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is the authority vested with the responsibility of the administration of laws related to direct taxes through the Department of Income Tax.

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Indian Railways to become Green Railway by achieving net-zero carbon emission

  • The Ministry of Railways has announced mission mode with the goal of transforming Indian Railways into Green Railways by the year 2030.
  • It has taken a number of major initiatives towards mitigation of global warming and combating climate change.

Highlights:

  • Indian Railways, as a part of mission mode, has planned to electrify All routes on Broad Gauge (BG) network by December 2023.
  • Indian Railways is currently focusing on the electrification of last-mile connectivity & missing links. Under this, 365 km of major connectivity work has been commissioned amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Indian Railways strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emission includes Railway Electrification, improve the energy efficiency of locomotives and trains and fixed installations, green certification for installations/stations, fitting bio-toilets in coaches and switching to renewable sources of energy, among others.

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Railways is a ministry in the Government of India, responsible for the country’s rail transport. The ministry operates the state-owned Indian Railways, an organisation that operates as a monopoly in rail transport and is headed by the Chairman of Railway Board.

  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Government department executive: Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman, Railway Board
  • Founded: March 1905
  • Officeholders: Piyush Goyal (Minister), Rajen Gohain (Minister of State)

NHAI to collaborate with IITs, NITs, reputed Engineering Colleges for improving highways

  • NHAI has approached all IITs, NITs and reputed Engineering Colleges to collaborate and adopt nearby stretches of National Highways on voluntary basis as part of Institutional Social Responsibility.
  • This is part of NHAI’s endeavor to provide world-class National Highways network.
  • The objective is to leverage the intellectual prudence of students and faculty towards improvement of road infrastructure ecosystem of the country.
  • The Institutes along with its faculty and students have better appreciation of local requirement, topography, and resource potential and these vital inputs can be utilized by NHAI during different stages of pre-construction, construction and operation of NH stretches.
  • This decentralized approach provides an opportunity to the students for hands-on-learning, option for internship and future areas of research.
  • Large numbers of IITs, NITs and Engineering Colleges have opted to join the scheme and NHAI officers have started mutual consultation with Directors of the interested Institutes.

Extra Shots:

NHAI:

  • Founded: 1988
  • Sector: Indian National Highway System
  • Purpose: Development and maintenance of national highways
  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Chairperson: Sanjeev Ranjan

Nitin Gadkari to inaugurate lay foundation stones for new economic corridor projects in Haryana

  • Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for various new economic corridor projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore in Haryana in a web based function .
  • Chief Minister Manohal Lal will preside over the function.

 The projects for inauguration include:

  • The 35.45 Km 4-Lane Rohna/Hasangarh To Jhajjar Section Of NH 334B Costing Rs 1183 Crore,
  • The 70 Km 4-Laning Of Punjab-Haryana Border To Jind Section Of NH 71 Costing Rs 857 Crore,
  • The 85.36 km 2-lane with paved shoulders Jind-Karnal Highway on NH 709 costing Rs 200 crore.

 The projects for foundation stone laying include:

  • The 227 km 6-lane access controlled Greenfield expressway from Ismailpur to Narnaul on NH 152D in 8 packages costing Rs 8650 crore,
  • The 46 km 4-lane Gurugram Pataudi-Rewari section of NH 352W costing Rs 1524 crore,
  • The 14.4 km 4-lane Rewari Byepass costing Rs 928 crore, the 30.45 km 4-lane Rewari-Ateli Mandi section of NH 11 costing Rs 1057 crore,
  • The 40.8 km 6-lane Narnaul Byepass on NH 148B, NH 11 and Narnaul to Ateli Mandi section of NH 11 costing Rs 1380 crore,
  • The 40.6 km 4-lane Jind-Gohana (Pkg 1, Greenfield alignment) of NH 352A costing Rs 1207 crore, the 38.23 km 4-lane Gohana-Sonipat section of NH 352A costing Rs 1502 crore,
  • The 40.47 km 4-lane UP-Haryana Border to Roha on NH 334B costing Rs 1509 crore.

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is a ministry of the Government of India that is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to road transport, transport research and in also to increase the mobility and efficiency of the road transport system in India.

  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Founded: July 1942
  • Headquarters: Parivahan Bhavan, 1, Parliament Street, New Delhi
  • Annual budget: 91,823 crores INR (US$13 billion, 2020-21 est.)
  • Ministry executives: Sanjeev Ranjan, IAS, Secretary; I.K. Pandey, Director General (Road Development) and Special Secretory to Government of India
  • Officeholders: Mansukh L. Mandaviya (Minister of State), Nitin Gadkari (Union Minister)

 STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Haryana CM accords approval to set up 3 new medical colleges in state

  • Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal has accorded approval to set up 3 new medical colleges in the State and also to start DM Cardiology course at Pt. B.D Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak.

The three Medical colleges are:

  • The medical college in district Sirsa would be set up on the land of Haryana Agricultural University, Sirsa
  • In district Kaithal, the medical college would be established in village Sarpankheri.
  • In district Yamunanagar, the medical college would be set up on a panchayat land.

Extra Shots:

Haryana:

  • Statehood Day: 1 November 1966
  • Capital: Chandigarh
  • Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
  • Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
  • National Park: Sultanpur National Park, Kalesar National Park

J&K LG e-inaugurates 10 power projects & lays foundation stones for seven others in Kashmir

  • Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Girish Chandra Murmu e-inaugurated 10 power projects worth Rs. 19.51 crore and laid foundation stones for 07 others costing Rs. 30.35 crore to boost power sector in Kashmir.

J&K LG e-inaugurates 15 important infrastructural projects of School Education Dept

  • Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Girish Chandra Murmu has e-inaugurated 15 important infrastructural projects of School Education Department to boost education sector.

Extra Shots:

Jammu & Kashmir:

  • Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
  • Lt Governor- Girish Chandra Murmu
  • National Parks: City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baltal-Thajwas WLS, Changthang Cold Desert WLS, Gulmarg WLS, Jasrota WLS, Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS etc

Uttar Pradesh: Emergency services linked to 112 helpline number

  • Uttar Pradesh government has expanded the ambit of the emergency police helpline number 112, and linked fire, ambulance, railway police and disaster relief services with it.
  • Now for any kind of emergency issues related to Government Railway Police, fire control, 108 ambulance and 1090 women powerline people can call on 112 directly.
  • The police response vehicles PRVs of 112 services had played an important role in providing assistance, medicine and food to the needy during lockdown and extended its services to senior citizens also with a special sawera campaign.

Extra Shots:

Uttar Pradesh:

  • Statehood Day: 24th January 1950
  • Capital: Lucknow
  • Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
  • Governor: Anandiben Patel
  • State formed in: 24 January 1950
  • Literacy Rate: 67.68%

Online Registration of Crops ‘E-Cropping’ Begins in Andhra Pradesh

  • A Comprehensive exercise for mapping of crops under each of the Rythu Bharosa Kendra (RBK) in the state has begun in Andhra Pradesh from 13th July 2020.
  • This will help in preparing the State Government from crop planning to e-marketing of the crop.
  • The officials of the Andhra Pradesh Governments Revenue and Agricultural Department have been tasked to jointly online register the details of crops sown by each farmer in the state.
  • Based on the data from the electronic crop registration, the Seeds for the crops will be provided or supplied.
  • Also, this data from the online registration will help the State Government in schemes and initiatives such as for providing interest-free loans, crop insurance, Rythu Bharosa, MSP- Minimum Support Price etc.
  • Under the online portal, details of Farmers such as the name of the farmer, details of his/her village, bank details, contact number, area of the land for farming, and the crop that the farmer will be cultivating will be asked from the farmer by the officials.

Extra Shots:

Andhra Pradesh:

  • Capital: Amravati
  • Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy
  • Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
  • Literacy rate: 67.4%
  • National Park: Sri Venkateswara National Park, Sri Venkateswara National Park, Papikonda National Park

13th July: Bhanu Jayanti celebrated in Sikkim

  • 13th July 2020 marks the 206th Birth Anniversary of Bhanubhakta Acharya, he was the first writer to translate the Great Epic of Ancient India- Ramayan from Sanskrit to Nepali. Bhanu Jayanti is also celebrated across the state of Nepal on 13th July every year.

Bhanubhakta Acharya

  • Bhanubhakta Acharya was born in Nepal’s Tanahu district. He was born on 13th July 1813 (29th Day of Hindu Ashadh month). He received his education in Sanskrit initially from his Grandfather, later he moved to Varanasi to further continue his education in Sanskrit.
  • His translation of Ramayana in the Nepali language was one of the most notable contributions in Nepali Literature and also made Ramayana understandable for the Nepali speaking community across the world.

Extra Shots:

Sikkim

  • Statehood Day: 16 May 1975
  • Capital: Gangtok
  • Chief Minister: Prem Singh Tamang
  • Governor: Ganga Prasad
  • Literacy Rate: 81.42%

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

India hands over outdoor fitness equipment for 61 islands across Maldives

  • India handed over outdoor fitness equipment for 61 islands across Maldives under a cash grant of 8 million US dollars.
  • The equipments were formally handed over by Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Sunjay Sudhir in a ceremony at Male.
  • The installation of equipments would involve participation of all 61 island councils and further strengthen the idea of decentralization

Extra Shots:

Maldives (Capital/Currency): Male/ Maldivian rufiyaa

  • President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

United Nations organises 2020 Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week from 6-10 July 2020

  • The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism organised its Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week 2020 from 6-10 July 2020.
  • The theme of 2020 Counter-Terrorism Week was “Strategic and Practical Challenges of Countering Terrorism in a Global Pandemic Environment”.
  • This was the second edition of the UN Counter-Terrorism Week while the first time that the event was held virtually due to covid-19 pandemic.
  • Originally the second Counter-Terrorism Week was to take place from 29 June to 3 July 2020 at the UN Headquarters, New York, but due to the COVID-19 crisis the entire 2020 Counter-Terrorism Week was postponed.

Extra Shots:

United Nations

  • Secretary general: António GuterresTrending
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
  • Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
  • Official languages: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

NITI Aayog presented second Voluntary National Review of India at United Nations HLPF

  • NITI Aayog presented India’s second Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2020.
  • The HLPF is the foremost international platform for follow-up and review of progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Highlights:

  • The India VNR 2020 report titled “Decade of Action: Taking SDGs from Global to Local”.
  • VNR is presented by Dr.Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog and was released by Dr.Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Dr V.K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, and Smt. Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (SDGs), NITI Aayog.
  • VNRs are a critical component of the review of the progress and implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • The reviews are voluntary and state-led. The aim of the report is to facilitate the sharing of experiences, including successes, challenges and lessons learned
  • The HLPF annually meets in the month of July for eight days under the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN.

Extra Shots:

NITI Aayog

  • Website: niti.gov.in
  • Formed: 1 January 2015
  • Objectives: Foster involvement and participation in the economic policy-making process by the State Governments of India
  • Jurisdiction: Government of India
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Chairperson: Narendra Modi

UN HLPF: The United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is a subsidiary body of both the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Economic and Social Council responsible for the entire organization’s policy on sustainable development.

  • Founded: 9 July 2013
  • Headquarters location: New York, New York, United States
  • Formation: 9 July 2013; 6 years ago
  • Parent organizations: United Nations Economic and Social Council, United Nations General Assembly

RANKS AND INDICES

United States continues to be the Top Trading Partner of India in 2019-20

  • As per the data from the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the United States remains as the top trading partner of India during the Financial Year 2019-20.
  • This is the second consecutive Financial Year that the United States has become the top trading partner of India.

Highlights from the Data

  • The Bilateral Ties between India and the United States have increased marginally in 2019-20 Financial Year as Compared to the 2018-19 Financial Year.
  • In 2018-19 Bilateral Ties were at USD 87.96 billion, while in 2019-20 it was USD 88.75 billion.
  • India continues to maintain a trade surplus over the United States as the trade deficit of the United States in Financial Year 2019-20 was USD 17.42 billion.
  • In 2018-19 United States trade deficit was USD 16.86 billion.

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry administers two departments, the Department of Commerce and the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade. The head of the Ministry is a Minister of Cabinet rank.

  • Departments: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Officeholders: C.R.Chaudhary (Minister of State), Piyush Goyal (Minister), Hardeep Singh Puri (MOS independent charge)

 AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

MoU Signed between National Medicinal Plants Board and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources

  • National Medicinal Plants Board, NMPB and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources signed an MoU to to conserve the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Genetic Resources,
  • Medicinal Plants are regarded as rich resources of traditional medicines and are being used for thousands of years in the health care system. India has rich diversity of medicinal Plants.
  • The conservation will be done at designated space of ICAR-NBPGR in long-term storage module in the National Gene bank and or at Regional Station for medium term storage module and acquire hands-on training on plant germplasm conservation techniques to the working group of NMPB.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

ISRO Chief K Sivan named for Von Karman Award 2020

  • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief, Kailasavadivoo Sivan has named for Von Karman Award 2020 by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).
  • The Von Karman Award is known as the highest distinction of the IAA. Dr K. Sivan is going to receive an award in March 2021 at Paris France.
  • Udupi Ramachandra Rao was the first Indian to receive the von Karman award.
  • The award was presented to him in 2005 and Dr Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan received the Von Karman award in 2007.

Von Karman Award:

  • The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) was also founded by Von Karman who was the first President of the organization which is committed to expanding the frontiers in space.
  • The Von Karman award was established in 1982 and is the premier award of the Academy.
  • It is given annually to recognize outstanding lifetime achievements in any branch of science without limit of nationality or gender.
  • The award honours the memory of the Academy’s founder and first President, a scientist of the highest international reputation.

Extra Shots:

ISRO:

  • Director: Kailasavadivoo Sivan
  • Headquarters: Bengaluru
  • Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
  • Founded: 15 August 1969
  • Subsidiary: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

Chhattisgarh awarded “Elites Excellence Awards 2020”

  • Chief Minister Darpan website and mobile app prepared for monitoring Chhattisgarh Government’s ambitious Suraji Gaon Scheme and other flagship schemes, has been awarded “Elites Excellence Awards-2020” at the national level.
  • Chhattisgarh has been awarded this honour by the country’s prestigious IT institution Elites Technomedia, New Delhi under the ‘Digital India initiative’.

Objective of the Darpan App:

  • The purpose of this website and mobile app is to directly monitor the flagship schemes of the Chhattisgarh Government from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and provide real-time information to the common citizens.

TamilNadu CM K Palaniswami honours with Paul Harris Fellow Recognition

  • Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami has honoured with Paul Harris Fellow recognition by Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Chicago.
  • The person recognised as the fellow will receive a certificate along with a lapel pin.
  • They are also eligible to buy a Paul Harris Fellow medallion.

APPOINTMENTS IN NEWS

Dr. Vidhu P. Nair appointed India’s next Ambassador to Turkmenistan

  • Vidhu P. Nair has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Turkmenistan.
  • Dr Nair, who is a 2002 batch IFS officer, is presently Director in the External Affairs Ministry.

Extra Shots:

Turkmenistan (Capital/Currency): Ashgabat/ Turkmenistan manat

  • President : Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow

Rudrendra Tandon appointed India’s next Ambassador to Afghanistan

  • Indian Foreign Service officer, Rudrendra Tandon has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Afghanistan.
  • He is presently serving as Indian envoy to ASEAN at Jakarta.
  • He will replace Vinay Kumar, who has performed admirably with the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan after striking a deal with Taliban insurgents.

Extra Shots:

Afghanistan (Capital/Currency): Kabul / Afghan afghani

  • President of Afghanistan: Ashraf Ghani.

Hemang Amin appointed as interim CEO of BCCI

  • The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Hemang Amin as its interim chief executive officer (CEO).
  • He will replace Rahul Johri who recently resigned as the chief executive officer (CEO) of BCCI and his resignation was accepted by the BCCI office-bearers.

Extra Shots:

BCCI:

  • President: Sourav Ganguly
  • Secretary: Jay Shah
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founded: December 1928
  • Vice president(s): Mahim Verma
  • Sponsors: BYJU’S, Paytm, Nike, Dream11, Hyundai Motor Company, Ambuja Cements

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Indian Army to acquire Raven and Spike Firefly

  • The Indian army is to acquire hand-launched, remotely controlled unmanned aerial vehicle Raven from the US and state-of-the-art Israeli Spike Firefly.
  • The aim is to add lethality to its ground infantry apart from long-range precision artillery shells with a range of over 40 kilometres.

Highlights:

  • The first batch of acquisition comprises 4-6 jets are likely to touch down in India on 27 July.
  • Indian Army is set to acquire 200 pieces of RQ-11 UAV. RQ-11 UAV can fly up to 10 kilometers at an altitude of 500 feet and speed up to 95 km per hour. It will help infantry troops conduct reconnaissance of the battle theatre ahead and placement of enemy troops.
  • The Spike Firefly can deliver a precision strike on enemy troops hiding within a range of 1 kilometre.
  • It has the ability to locate a target and will be called back if the target has moved beyond ranger.
  • It is developed under a joint venture (JV) of Israeli company- Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel’s Ministry of Defence.

Extra Shots:

Indian Army:

  • Founded: 1 April 1895, India
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Commander-in-Chief: President Ram Nath Kovind
  • Transport: HAL Dhruv
  • Role: Ground warfare

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

West Indies win first cricket test match against England by four wickets

  • West Indies won the first international cricket match since the sport’s return after the coronavirus outbreak by defeating England.
  • Jermaine Blackwood top-scored with 95 as West Indies overcame an early wobble to win by four wickets in the final session of the 5th and final day of the match.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS

IIT Kanpur develops UV sanitizing device ‘SHUDDH’ to make your room COVID free

  • IIT Kanpur has developed an Ultraviolet (UV) sanitizing product named SHUDH.
  • SHUDH can assist in killing the spread of corona virus at the highly prone places such as hospitals, hotels, malls, offices and schools.
  • Initial testing has proved that the device at its full operation can disinfect a 10×10 squared feet room in about 15 minutes.
  • Smartphone operated Handy Ultraviolet Disinfection Helper that is SHUDH has six UV lights of 15 Watts each that can be individually monitored from a distance.
  • The on/off, speed, and location of the product can be controlled remotely using your available smartphone while installing an android application.

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IIT Kanpur

  • Founded in: 1959
  • Director: Abhay Karandikar

VNIR Biotech launches fluorescence probes & PCR mix for RT-PCR detection of COVID-19

  • Bengaluru based, VNIR Biotechnologies, a spinoff by Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) has launched indigenous fluorescence probes and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mix for RT-PCR detection of COVID-19.

Highlights:

  • The molecular probes developed by VNIR Biotechnologies will be used in COVID-19 test kits in the country.
  • PCR based test kit has three critical components, the oligos, enzymes and molecular probes.
  • The molecular probes used in COVID 19 tests, are currently, only imported.
  • VNIR has innovated synthesis protocols for molecular probes, which will be useful for PCR based COVID-19 testing.
  • The company is in the process of filing for the protection of its process innovation.
  • VNIR’s Research and Development effort in line with the Make-In-India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat missions of the Government of India are meant to contribute to self-reliance in COVID-19 testing.

MISCELLANEOUS

Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd. introduces skin friendly, moisturizer based hand cleansing Gel

  • Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF) has introduced a skin friendly, moisturizer-based hand cleansing Gel, RCF SAFEROLA.
  • The gel contains Iso Propyl Alcohol and Aloe Vera extract.
  • RCF has fixed the price for its hand cleansing gel at 25 rupees for 50 millilitre and 50 rupees for a 100 millilitre bottle.

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Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF)

  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founded: 6 March 1978
  • CMD: U. V. Dhatrak
  • Subsidiaries: RCF HM Construction Solutions Pvt Ltd, Rajasthan Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd

AIIMS Patna starts human trial of Corona virus vaccine