Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 15th July 2024

 

National News 

1.NITI Aayog launches ‘NITI GearShift Challenge’ as part of E-FAST India initiative 

• NITI Aayog has launched the ‘NITI GearShift Challenge’ as part of the e-FAST India initiative. 
• This pioneering hackathon aims to foster innovative business models for the adoption of zero-emission trucks in India, addressing the nation’s pressing economic and environmental challenges. 
• NITI Aayog has also invited students, transport service practitioners, academics, and researchers to develop innovative business models that address financial, technical, and operational challenges in the adoption of electric trucks. 
• The program has garnered participation from e-FAST India knowledge partners, financial institutions, and industry forums. 
• The ‘NITI GearShift Challenge’ is being organised in collaboration with IIM Bangalore, Smart Freight Centre India, WRI India and other institutions. 

2.Product information made mandatory on bulk packages 

• The Department of Con- sumer Affairs has decided to amend the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 to ensure mandatory declaration of all information on pre- packaged commodities used for retail sale. The decision comes in the wake of information that packaged commodities above 25 kg are available for retail sale without mandatory declarations on the packages. 
• The Centre said on Sun- day that the amendment will bring clarity among manufacturers, packers and importers of packaged commodities of any quantity to make declarations if these are for retail sale. The rules, however, are not applicable to the packaged commodities meant for industrial or institutional consumers. 
• Promoting fairness "This revised provision will help in establishing uniform standards/requirements for packaged commodities, promoting consistency and fairness across different brands and products and will help consumers in making informed choices," the Centre said in the release. 
• The department has also invited comments from stakeholders on the amendments, which they can send up to July 29. The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 mandate decla- ration of information such as name and address of the manufacturer, packer and importer; country of origin; common or generic name of the commodity; net quantity; month and year of manufacture; maxi- mum retail price; unit sale price; best-before or use- by date; and consumer care details on all pre-packaged commodities. 
• Packages of commodi- ties containing quantity of more than 25 kg or 25 litres; cement, fertilizer, and agricultural farm pro- duce sold in bags above 50 kg; and packaged com- modities meant for indus- trial consumers or institu- tional consumers are exempted from this Rule. "It is observed that the packaged commodities above 25 kg are available for retail sale, which is not as per the intention to make all declarations on pre-packaged commodities meant for retail sale," the Centre said. 

3.NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) 

• Founded – 1st January 2015 
• Preceding – Planning Commission (15th March 1950) 
• Headquarters – New Delhi 
• Chairperson – Narendra Modi 
• Vice Chairperson – Suman K Bery 
• CEO – BVR Subrahmanyam 
• NITI Aayog comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry 

4.Central government announces launch of ‘Agri Fund for Start-ups and Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE)

 

• The Government of India is going to launch ‘Agri Fund for Start-ups and Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE), which will provide support to startups and agripreneurs through investments in sector-specific, sector-non-citizen and debt Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). 
• The announcement was made at a pre-launch stakeholder meeting held at the NABARD headquarters in Mumbai. NABVentures, a whollyowned subsidiary of NABARD, will be the manager of the AgriSure Fund. The fund is designed to operate for 10 years, extendable for two or more years. 
• The initiative aims to promote innovation and sustainability in India's agriculture sector by setting up a ₹750 crore Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF). The fund will provide both equity and debt support, specifically targeting high-risk, high-impact activities across the agriculture value chain. 
• The fund will be set up with an initial capital of ₹750 crore, of which ₹250 crore will come from NABARD and the Ministry of Agriculture, and ₹250 crore from other institutions. 
• The fund will focus on innovation in agriculture, enhancing the agricultural product value chain, building rural infrastructure, employment generation, and supporting Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). 
• It will also encourage IT-based solutions and machinery rental services for farmers. Underlining its commitment to promote innovation, NABARD also launched the AgriSure Greenathon 2024. The hackathon aims to address three key problem statements: "Smart agriculture on budget", which tackles the high cost of advanced farming technologies that hamper small and marginal farmers; "Turning agri-waste into profitable business opportunities", focusing on transforming agricultural waste into profitable enterprises; and "Technological Solutions Making Regenerative Agriculture", which aims to remove economic barriers to the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices. 
• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) was established in 1982. It is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. 
• PM Modi inaugurates Indian Newspaper Society Towers in Mumbai Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Indian Newspaper Society Towers at G-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra on 13 July 2024. Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said that the natural role of the media is to give rise to discussions on serious issues. 
• Emphasising on the role of media in India's development, PM Modi said, "The role of newspapers is very important in India's journey towards a developed country in the next 25 years. International News 

5. Oli to take oath as Nepal PM today 

• K.P. Sharma Oli was ap- pointed the Prime Minister of Nepal for a fourth term on Sunday. His swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. on Monday. Mr. Oli, 72, will be expected to provide political stability to the Himalayan nation. 
• He will succeed Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', who lost the vote of confi- dence in the House of Representatives on Friday.K. P. Sharma Oli, the leader of Nepal's largest communist party, was appointed Nepal's Prime Minister for a fourth term on Sunday to lead a new coalition go- vernment that faces the daunting challenge of pro- viding political stability in the Himalayan nation. 
• Mr. Oli, 72, succeeds Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Pra- chanda' who lost the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives Friday. on President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed Mr. Oli, Chairman of the Commu- nist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN- UML), as the new Prime Minister. 
• Mr. Oli became the Prime Minister with the support of the Nepali Con- +gress, the largest party in parliament. Mr. Oli's swearing-in ce- remony is scheduled to take place at 11 am on Monday. Mr. Oli now needs to secure a vote of confidence from parliament within 30 days of appointment ac- cording to the constitutional mandate. 
• Oli will a need a minimum of 138 votes in the 275-seat House of Re- presentatives (HoR). On Friday night, Mr. Oli staked his claim to become the next Prime Minister with the backing of NC president Sher Bahadur Deu- ba and submitted the signatures of 165 House of Representatives (HoR) members 77 from his Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) party and 88 from the Nepali Congress. (NC). 

6. China's private company Space Pioneer's 'ispace Hyperbola-1' rocket failed immediately after launch 

• A powerful rocket 'ispace Hyperbola-1' of China's private company Space Pioneer crashed after launch during ground testing due to structural failure. This destroyed three Yunyao-1 satellites for earthquake prediction and weather monitoring. 
• The Hyperbola-1 24 meter (79 feet) tall solid fuel rocket was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China's Gobi Desert. 
• Chinese rocket start-up Space Pioneer once again suffered a launch failure. The company said, "The first, second and third stages of the rocket flew normally, but an anomaly occurred in the fourth stage and the launch mission failed." Hyperbola-1, which can deliver a payload of 300 kg (661 lb) to a 500 km (311 mile) sunsynchronous orbit, was carrying Yunyao-1 weather satellites 15, 16 and 17 for Tianjin-based Yunyao Aerospace Technology Co. Yunyao Aerospace Technology had planned to launch about 40 satellites this year to complete its 90-satellite Yunyao-1 constellation by next year. 
• In 2019, Space Pioneer became China's first private rocket company to reach Earth orbit with the 'iSpace Hyperbola-1'. Problems ranged from a first-stage steering fin being damaged by falling insulation foam to a fuel leak in the second-stage altitude control system. 
• Space Pioneer, also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology, is a Chinese rocket that has been described as the most powerful in the country. 
• Space Pioneer is one of several private aerospace companies developing medium-lift, reusable rockets to help China assemble its own satellite constellations, equivalent to SpaceX's Starlink. 

State News

7. Char Dham, Ram Temple under Maharashtra's pilgrimage scheme 

• The Maharashtra govern- ment has identified 139 re- ligious sites, including 73 from across the country and 66 from within the State, to facilitate free pil- grimages for senior citi- zens above 60 years, under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana. 
• A Government Resolu- tion detailing this scheme was issued on Sunday fol- lowing its approval by the State Cabinet last week. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had announced the scheme in the Legislative Assembly. Beneficiaries of this scheme will be selected by lottery from the applications received. 
• The pilgrimage sites include Vaishno Devi, Amar- nath, Golden Temple in Amritsar, Char Dham Ya- tra, Ram Temple in Ayodhya, as well as significant Buddhist and Jain sites. 8. Goa to host first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit, 2024 
• India will host the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit, 2024 (WAVES) in Goa from 20 to 24 November 2024. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India will host the summit which will be a landmark event for the media and entertainment industry worldwide. 
• At the curtain raiser event in New Delhi along with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Mr Vaishnaw said the media and entertainment world is going through a structural change and there is a huge use of technology in it. 
• WAVES will be a pivotal event shaping the future of India's media and entertainment industry. The size of the media and entertainment sector in India is estimated at $27.5 billion and the Government seeks to establish WAVES as a platform to spark ideas, foster conversations, facilitate knowledge exchange and forge meaningful collaborations with industry leaders from across the world. 

9. IIT Delhi and Prasar Bharati - ‘DDRobocon’ India 2024 

• IIT Delhi and Prasar Bharati will host a two-day robot competition ‘DD-Robocon’ India 2024 at Thyagaraj Stadium, Delhi from 14 July 2024. Over 750 students from over 45 colleges, institutes and universities across the country will participate in the event. 
• The winning team of DD-Robocon will represent India at the international Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Robocon 2024, which will be held in Quang Ninh, Vietnam. 
• DD-Robocon India aims to promote technical skill development, innovation and teamwork among engineering students by providing visibility and recognition in the field of robotics. 

10. Andhra Pradesh’s ‘APCNF Programme’ wins Portuguese ‘Gulbenkian Prize 2024’ 

• The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) Programme, run by the Andhra Pradesh government, has been awarded the prestigious Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity 2024. 
• APCNF shared the EUR 1 million prize with renowned US soil scientist Dr. Rattan Lal and SEKEM, an Egyptian network promoting biodynamic farming. 
• The announcement was made by jury chair and former Federal Chancellor of Germany Dr. Angela Merkel during a ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on July 11. 
• The Prize is established by the Portugal-based Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (CGF) and is awarded annually to individuals and organisations contributing to global food security, climate resilience and ecosystem conservation. 
• The three recipients of the award were selected from 181 nominations with nominees from 117 countries by a jury chaired by Dr. Angela Merkel, former German Chancellor and current Chair of the CGF Jury. 

11. Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) 

• The APCNF programme was launched in 2016 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to assist small farmers transition from chemical intensive agriculture to natural farming. 
• APCNF is implemented by Rythu Sadhikara Sanstha (RySS), also known as Farmers Empowerment Corporation, a non-profit organisation set up by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. 
• It is considered the world’s largest agroecology programme with over one million small farmers enrolled, practicing natural farming on 500,000 hectares in Andhra Pradesh. Retired Professor K Chokalingam from Tamil Nadu - Prestigious Hans von Hentig Award 
• Retired Professor of Victimology K Chokalingam from Tamil Nadu has been selected for the Hans von Hentig Award. Mr Chokalingam is being honoured for his significant contributions to the field of Victimology, and will reportedly be the first Asian and Indian to receive the award. 
• Mr Chokalingam was the founding member and head of the Department of Criminology, University of Madras. The Department of Criminology was established in 1983. He also served as the Vice Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University from 2001 to 2004. 
• Mr Chokalingam will be presented with the prestigious award during the 18th WSV International Symposium to be held at the Indian National Forensic Sciences University, Gujarat from September 1 to 5. 
• The award has been instituted by the World Society of Victimology (WSV), which has Special Category Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and the European Council. 
• The Hans von Hentig Award is named after the renowned German criminologist Hans von Hentig, who made significant contributions to the field of victimology in the mid20th century. 

12. Arunachal Pradesh's 'Upper Siang Hydroelectric Project' being opposed 

• Two anti-dam activists from Arunachal Pradesh were taken into preventive custody ahead of Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's visit to the state. The activists said they only wanted to submit a memorandum to the minister about the controversial proposed Upper Siang Multipurpose Storage Project. 
• The Upper Siang Project is a proposed 11,000 MW hydroelectric project on the Siang River in Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The Siang originates near Mount Kailash in Tibet, where it is known as the Tsangpo. 
• It travels east for more than 1,000 km before making a horseshoeshaped bend around the high Namcha Barwa peak, and enters Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang. Further downstream, in Assam, the river becomes the mighty Brahmaputra. 
• In 2017, the government proposed to replace the planned 5,500 MW Siang Upper Stage-I and 3,750 MW Siang Upper Stage-II hydropower projects with a single, multipurpose project of higher capacity - the above-mentioned Upper Siang Project. 
• The project, to be constructed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), will create a 300-metre-high dam, which will be the tallest dam in the subcontinent upon completion. 
• According to a November 2022 report of the Central Electricity Authority, there are 29 hydropower projects (installed capacity of over 25 MW) in the Siang river basin with a combined installed capacity of 18,326 MW. The installed capacity of the proposed Upper Siang Project is about 60% of this figure. 

13. Gujarat's Palitana becomes world's first city to ban nonvegetarian food.

• Palitana, a city in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district, has made history by becoming the first city in the world to ban the sale and consumption of non-vegetarian food. Eating non-vegetarian food is illegal here. 
• This landmark decision marks a significant cultural and religious shift in the region, which reflects the strong influence of Jainism and its tenets. The ban in Palitana includes the sale and consumption of meat and the slaughter of animals for meat, making these acts illegal and punishable by law. 
• The move came after persistent protests by around 200 Jain monks who demanded the closure of around 250 butcher shops in the city. Their demonstrations demonstrated the religious and ethical beliefs held by the Jain community, which considers nonviolence a central tenet of their faith.
• Palitana is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Jains, earning it the nickname "Jain temple city". The city, nestled around the Shatrunjaya Hills, is home to over 800 temples, the most famous of which is the Adinatha Temple. 
• Following Palitana’s example, other cities in Gujarat, including Rajkot, Vadodara, Junagadh and Ahmedabad, have imposed similar rules. 
• In Rajkot, authorities issued orders preventing the preparation and public display of non-vegetarian food. 

14. 'Kharchi Puja Festival' organized in Tripura 

• The major festival Kharchi Puja was organized in the state of Tripura on 14th July 2024. This festival has been celebrated since the time of the erstwhile royal dynasty. Kharchi Puja is celebrated in the month of Ashadh. 
• Also known as the 'Festival of 14 Gods', this traditional event worships Chaturdasha Devta (located in the ancient Ujjayanta palace), who are the ancestral deities of the Tripuri people. During the festival, the Tripuri people worship their 14 gods as well as the Earth. 
• An important ritual in this festival involves the construction of Chaturdasha Mandap, which symbolizes the royal palace of the Tripuri kings. On the day of the puja, the 14 deities are taken to the "Saidra" river by members of the "Chantai" (royal priest). The deities are bathed in holy water and brought back to the temple. 
• The word 'Kharchi' is derived from two Tripuri words- 'khar' or kharta which means sin and 'chi' or si which means cleansing. Though the festival has its origins in the tribal community, it is celebrated by both tribal and non-tribal people of Tripura. Ratna Bhandar of Odisha's Jagannath temple opened
• The treasury of Lord Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, Ratna Bhandar has been opened on 14th July 2024 after a gap of nearly four decades to know about the precious jewels and stones present inside. 
• Ratna Bhandar was last opened in 1985 and the inventory of its jewels and other valuables was last made in 1978. The inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar in the 12th century Shree Jagannath Temple houses a collection of rarest jewels including diamonds, gold and precious gems. 
• The Odisha government has approved the proposal to open the storehouse. The precious ornaments of the siblings - Lord Jagannath and Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, donated over the centuries by devotees and erstwhile kings are kept in the Ratna Bhandaar of the 12th century temple. It is located within the temple and has two chambers - the Bhitar Bhandaar (inner chamber) and the Bahara Bhandaar (outer chamber). 

15. Treasury of Jagannath temple in Puri opened after 46 years 

• As per 1978 inventory, the Ratna Bhandar has 128.38 kg of gold and 221.53 kg of silver ornaments; the ornaments in outer chamber have been shifted to a strongroom inside the temple complex 
• After 46 years of le- A gal battles, contro- versies, and de- bates, the Ratna Bhandar, or sacred treasury, of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri was opened on Sunday. "In accordance with the divine will of Lord Shree Ja- gannath, the Ratna Bhan- dar was opened today after 46 long years. I sincerely hope for the success of this monumental endeavour," Chief Minister Mohan Cha- ran Majhi said on X.
• The process took over four hours. Arabinda Ku- mar Padhee, chief admi- nistrator of the temple, said, "We have opened both chambers. Since the locks of the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar could not be opened, they had to be broken. We followed all the standard operating procedures given to us." 
• "We have shifted orna- ments of the outer cham- ber to a temporary stron- groom inside the temple complex. Subsequently, we have sealed the stron- groom. Though we saw al- mirahs and trunks contain ing jewellery in the inner chamber, the ornaments could not be shifted to another temporary stron- groom due to paucity of STOP Long wait: Special boxes being brought to the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri ahead of the reopening of the Ratna Bhandar on Sunday. 
• ANI time," said Mr. Padhee. "On another designated day, the remaining work will be completed. Inven- tory of the inner chamber's jewellery will be compiled at the same place following its renovation," he added. The work began at 1.28 p.m. on Sunday. After a series of rituals, two different teams entered the temple to oversee the opening of the sacred chambers. 
• They were joined by snake catchers, a medical team, and disaster response personnel. As per the inventory last made in 1978, the Ratna Bhandar comprising Bahar Bhandar (outer chamber) and Bhitar Bhandar (inner chamber) has a total of 454 gold articles with a net weight of 12,838 Bharis (128.38 kg) and 293 silver articles weighing 22,153 Bharis (221.53 kg). 
• These chambers con- tain the jewels of the three sibling deities Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Devi Subhadra. In 2008, the Archaeo- logical Survey of India, fol- lowing instructions from the Orissa High Court, per- formed a structural inspec- tion of the Ratna Bhandar but could not enter the inner chamber. For some reason, during its 24 years of rule, the Naveen Patnaik government had not made any attempts to open Ratna Bhandar although concerns were raised about its structural stability and safety of ornaments. 
• On July 4, a month after the declaration of the Lok Sabha election results, the Majhi government constituted a high-level commit- tee under the chairman- ship of former Orissa High Court judge Justice Biswa- nath Rath (retd.) to super- vise the process of cataloguing the valuables. The committee decided to open the Ratna Bhandar on Sunday and suggested different standard operating. 

Appointment News

16. The First Woman Chief Justice of Lahore Takes Oath 

• Justice Aalia Neelum took oath as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) of Pakistan, making her the first woman to be elevated as the court’s top judge. 
• Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan administered the oath of office to her. 
• Punjab province’s first woman Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also present in the oath-taking ceremony. 
• Justice Neelum, 57, stood third in the seniority list of judges of the LHC but the Judicial Commission of Pakistan headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa had decided to consider her nomination for the office of the LHC chief justice. 
• Born on November 12, 1966, Justice Neelum earned her LLB degree from the University of Punjab in 1995 and was enrolled as an advocate in 1996. 
• She was later enrolled as an advocate of the Supreme Court in 2008 and elevated to the LHC in 2013 before being sworn in as a permanent judge on March 16, 2015. 

17. Gogoi reappointed Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha 

• Gaurav Gogoi, the three-term Con- gress MP for Jorhat in Assam, will continue to be the party's deputy lead- er in the Lok Sabha, while senior Kerala MP Kodikun- nil Suresh will continue as the party's chief whip, the party announced on Sunday. Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi constituted its lea- dership team for the Lower House ahead of the Budget session beginning on July 22, and has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to inform him of these decisions.
• She appointed Vi- rudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore and Kishanganj MP Mohammad Jawed as the party's whips. All India Congress Com- mittee general secretary and MP K.C. Venugopal an- nounced the appoint Post retained: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi speaking in the Lok Sabha during a Parliament session in New Delhi, ANI ments on X. 
• "Guided by LoP Rahul Gandhi ji, the Congress and INDIA par- ties will energetically champion the people's causes in the Lok Sabha," Mr. Venugopal said. Mr. Gogoi expressed his gratitude to Ms. Gandhi, Congress president Malli- karjun Kharge, and Mr. Gandhi for their trust and faith in his abilities. 
• "Our aim will be to raise the voice of the people of India inside Parliament and strengthen democracy," Mr. Gogoi said. Mr. Tagore said that together, the new team would champion the people's causes with re- newed vigour. A controversy had erupted in the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha when Mr. Suresh, an eight- term MP, was not appointed pro-tem Speaker. Seven-term Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab of the BJP was named for the post. 

18. Bajaj Electricals appoints Vishal Chadha as COO of its Consumer Products Division 

• Bajaj Electricals Ltd has appointed Vishal Chadha as Chief Operating Officer of its Consumer Products Division. 
• Chadha has been in General Management roles since 2016, first at Snapdeal where he was the Chief Business Officer, followed by a brief stint at Reliance Brands before joining Kohler as Managing Director-India and South Asia where he ran the entire India business, per the regulatory filing.
•  He has experience across FMCG, consumer devices, and e-commerce. 

19. Robert Ravi appointed as the CMD of BSNL 

• The government has appointed Robert Jerard Ravi as the new BSNL Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) for a period of six months. 
• Ravi is currently appointed as deputy director general, standards, research and innovation at the department of telecommunications (DoT). 
• He will hold additional charge as CMD BSNL, CMD MTNL, and CMD BBNL. 
• Ravi will replace PK Purwar, whose tenure is expiring on July 14. Purwar assumed charge as BSNL CMD in July 2019. 

About Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) 

• Founded- 15 September 2000 
• Founder- Government of India 
• Headquarters- New Delhi 
• CMD – Robert Jerard Ravi 

20. Paytm Payments Bank appoints Arun Bansal as new CEO 

• Paytm Payments Bank, an associate entity of One97 Communications (OCL), which operates the Paytm brand, has appointed Arun Kumar Bansal as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). 
• Bansal is a former IDBI Bank executive. He resigned from his position as the executive director and head of treasury (on contract) at IDBI Bank. 

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector 

• CFO of Quant Mutual Fund – Shashi Kataria (replace Harshal Patel) 
• ED of Oriental Insurance Company Ltd – Rashmi Bajpai & Amit Mishra
• ED of GIC Re – Hitesh Ramesh Chandra Joshi & Radhika C.S 
• ED in National Insurance Company Ltd – Prasad C.G & T. Babu Paul 
• ED in United India Insurance Company Ltd – Sunita Gupta 

21. K.P. Sharma Oli sworn in as Nepal’s Prime Minister 

• K P Sharma Oli was sworn in as Nepal’s Prime Minister for the fourth time. 
• The leader of Nepal’s largest communist party was appointed Nepal’s Prime Minister by President Ram Chandra Paudel to lead a new coalition government that faces the daunting challenge of providing political stability in the Himalayan nation. 
• Oli, 72, succeeds Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ who lost the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives leading to the formation of the new government headed by Oli. 
• He became the Prime Minister with the support of the Nepali Congress, the largest party in Parliament. 
• Oli now needs to secure a vote of confidence from Parliament within 30 days of appointment according to the constitutional mandate. Oli will need a minimum of 138 votes in the 275-seat House of Representatives (HoR). 

About Nepal 

• Capital- Kathmandu 
• Currency- Nepalese rupee 
• President– Ram Chandra Paudel
• Prime minister– – K.P. Sharma Oli (replace Pushpa Kamal Dahal) 

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President 

• President of Lithuania – Gitanas Nausėda 
• President of Iran – Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf 
• PM of the United Kingdom – Keir Starmer;58th (replace Rishi Sunak) 
• PM of Netherlands – Dick Schoof 
• President of Slovakia – Peter Pellegrini 

Sports News

22 . Argentina won Copa America 2024 defeating Colombia

 

• Defending champions Argentina has won the Copa America 2024 final at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida after defaeting Colombia. 
• It is a Argentina’s record 16th Copa America title. With this victory, Argentina secured its third consecutive major title, following the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup, matching Spain’s achievement of winning the 2008 and 2012 European Championships alongside the 2010 World Cup. 
• Additionally, Argentina ended Colombia’s 28-game unbeaten streak, which had lasted since a February 2022 loss to the Albiceleste. 
• Lautaro Martinez’s goal was his fifth of the tournament, cementing his position as the top scorer and earning him the Copa America 2024 Golden Boot. 

23. Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon Men's Singles, 2024 for the second time in a row 

• Carlos Alcaraz of Spain retained his Wimbledon title by defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-2, 6-2, 7- 6 in the final of the Wimbledon Men's Singles, 2024 at the All England Club on 14 July 2024. 
• Alcaraz has now become only the sixth man to win the French Open and Wimbledon consecutively. The 21-year-old Alcaraz is the youngest player to win the men's singles at Wimbledon and Roland Garros in the same year in the Open Era. Carlos Alcaraz won his fourth Grand Slam title. 
• Djokovic, 37, missed out on an eighth Wimbledon title and a record 25th major title overall. The Serbian player has 7 Wimbledon titles to his name. Roger Federer has won the most Wimbledon titles with 8. He failed to win his 8th Wimbledon title.
•  Carlos was awarded the trophy by Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales after winning the men's singles final. 
• Carlos made his ATP main draw debut at the 2020 Rio Open at the age of 16. In 2021, Alcaraz became the youngest person to reach the US Open quarterfinals in the professional era. 
• In women's singles, Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic won the Wimbledon 2024 women's singles final against Jasmine Paolini of Italy. Krejcikova won her second Grand Slam title. 
• The Championships 2024 were played over 14 days from 1 to 14 July 2024. It has been held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. Wimbledon is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, the others being the Australian Open, French Open and US Open.
• Men's Doubles - Britain's Henry Patton and Finland's Harri Heliovaara won their first Grand Slam title by defeating Australia's Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson 6-7(7) 7-6(8) 7-6(11-9) in a thrilling Men's Doubles Final at Wimbledon. 
• Women's Doubles - American Taylor Townsend won her first Grand Slam title as she and Czech partner Katerina Siniakova defeated Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand's Erin Routliffe in the Wimbledon Women's Doubles Final. 

24. Saudi Arabia to host first ‘Olympics Esports Games’ in 2025 

• Saudi Arabia and the International Olympic Committee have announced a 12-year agreement to host the new esports Olympics in the oil-rich kingdom starting from 2025. 
• This is a natural next step for our young athletes, our country and the global esports community,” said Prince Abdulaziz, who also heads the Saudi national Olympic committee. 
• The IOC said last month it planned to launch video gaming Olympics to try to attract and retain young fans and audiences. 
• Saudi Arabia and the International Olympic Committee have announced a 12-year agreement to host the new esports Olympics in the oil-rich kingdom starting from 2025. 
• This is a natural next step for our young athletes, our country and the global esports community,” said Prince Abdulaziz, who also heads the Saudi national Olympic committee. 
• The IOC said last month it planned to launch video gaming Olympics to try to attract and retain young fans and audiences. 

Important day 

25. 15 July – World Youth Skills Day 

• World Youth Skill Day is celebrated every year on July 15. 
• This day recognises the importance of youth skills development to address the global challenges of unemployment and underemployment. 
• Theme 2024 – Youth Skills for Peace and Development 
• The United Nations General Assembly declared July 15th as World Youth Skill Day in December 2014. 

26. 15 July – Social Media Giving Day 

• Social Media Giving Day is observed every year on 15 July. 
• Social Media Giving Day is an annual event that promotes generosity and charitable giving by leveraging the power of social media. 
• It was founded by Givver.com, a non-profit organisation that has been raising cash through Twitter since 2013. It was first observed in 2013. 
• Chris Sommers, the inventor of Givver.com, is also the founder of the famous American restaurant chain Pi Pizzeria. 

Miscellaneous News 

27. When trees and trade flourished along the southern Silk Route

• A recent publication by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) documents the flora and landscapes of one of the oldest trading routes of South Asia the Silk Route, meandering through Kalimpong and Sikkim in the eastern Hi- malayas and going to Lhasa in Tibet. 
• The book, A Southern Silk Route: Sikkim and Ka- limpong Wild Flowers and Landscapes, not only doc- uments 1,137 flowering plants, a host of butterflies, insects, birds, and mammals but also the historical significance of the route and the link between botany and politics of the region. A key flowering plant documented in the publication and found along the Silk Route is the Windam ere palm (Trachycarpus la tisectus). It is a wild palm The Windamere palm was a key flowering tree found along the route. 
• SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT species which is facing the threat of extinction with only a few trees left in the Kalimpong region. Rhododendron niveum, the State tree of Sikkim, is endemic to the eastern Hi- malayas and found in the Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctu- ary along the Silk Route. 
• A threatened balsam species, Impatiens sikkimensis, and Daphne ludlowii, which was used to make paper for Buddhist manuscripts, are also among the important flora found along the route. Scientists involved in the publication have documented several such species along the 210-km route from Siliguri in Darjeeling to Kalimpong, Nathu La, and Gangtok. 
• Rajib Gogoi, the lead author of the book and head of the Sikkim Hima layan Regional Centre, said the idea for the book came while working on an envi- ronmental impact assess- ment of a road in Sikkim. "We realised that it was the road which was used in ancient times as the Silk Route. 
• The trade between medieval Bengal and Lhasa was carried out along mul- tiple routes. The shortest of all these routes from India to Lhasa was the one through Sikkim and Kalim- pong. The merchandise reached Tamralipti (now Tamluk) port in Bengal and was relayed through sea route to Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and the far East," Mr. Gogoi said. History of botany 
• The publication also throws light on the history of botany in the country by highlighting the contributions of British botanist J.D. Hooker. He studied the flora of Sikkim as early as in 1848 and his major contribu- tions include the discovery of 32 species of rhododendrons in the State. 
• "The botanic history of Sikkim is also connected with the politics of the re- gion as these botanists opened Sikkim, a little- known Himalayan King- dom, to the world. Later, in 1903-04, Col. Francis Younghusband led the first expedition to conquer Tibet by any European Army along the same route," said J.H. Franklin Benjamin, another author of the BSI publication. 

Banking and finance News 

28. Punjab National Bank launches ‘Safety Ring’ to enhance internet and mobile banking security 

• In view of the rising incidence of cyber frauds, Punjab National Bank (PNB) has introduced the ‘Safety Ring’ security feature. This optional mechanism provides an additional layer of protection against unauthorised access, aimed at minimising potential financial losses for users of its internet and mobile banking services. 
• ‘Safety Ring’ allows customers to set daily transaction limits for term deposits (TDs), specifically for online closure or overdraft facilities. 
• This limit is defined by the customer and acts as a protective measure across all digital channels, preventing TDs from being closed, withdrawn or used for overdrafts beyond the set limit. 
• Once implemented, ‘Safety Ring’ ensures tighter control over digital transactions, enhancing overall security for PNB’s internet and mobile banking users.