Bullet Express Current Affairs, July 2016

National

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) which forms part of the National Command Authority (NCA) has been added to the Second Schedule of the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005.

Haryana Government has launched Pashudhan Bima Yojana, an insurance cover scheme for cattle breeders in the state.

The Parliament has passed the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2016 after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.

The medium range surface-to-air missile missile (MR-SAM) developed jointly by India and Israel was successfully test-fired.

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has launched long-term monitoring studies project to document the effect of climate change on animal biodiversity in five Himalayan states.

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP).

The Union Cabinet has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC), Bhutan.

The first squadron of indigenously designed and manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas was inducted into Indian Air Force (IAF).

India’s first integrated Defence Communication Network (DCN) was launched by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in South Block, Delhi.

The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has launched Prashikshak- an online teacher education portal for District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs).

The Union Railway Ministry has launched Nivaran portal, an online system for redressal of service related grievance of serving and former Railway employees.

Kerala Government has banned electronic cigarette alias e-cigaretteas its use can cause various health issues, including cancer and heart ailments.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has inked a MoU with Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI) to check misleading advertisements in the food and beverages sector.

India’s largest food products marketing organization Amul has become the official sponsor of Indian contingent to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Punjab Government has launched Rapid Rural Police Response System (RRPRS) to ensure prompt and effective police response in 12,000 villages across the state.

Nineteen new Ministers of State (MoS) were inducted in the Union Council of Ministers in a major expansion.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) at Nhava Sheva in Raigad District of Maharashtra has become the first port in India to implement logistics data bank tagging system of containers.

The Union Cabinet has approved the Interest Subvention Scheme for farmers for the year 2016-17.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval to The High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016 to change names of the High Courts based on the nomenclature cities they are located.

Union Government has launched various projects under Namami Gange programme for cleaning of river Ganga and its tributaries from Haridwar, Uttarakand.

The Union Cabinet has approved a National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) for providing apprenticeship training to over 50 lakh youngsters in order to create more jobs.

The Union Cabinet has given its in-principle approval for setting up a Major port at Enayam near Colachel in Tamil Nadu.

The world’s largest Charkha was unveiled at the Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in New Delhi.

Kerala Government has proposed a Fat Tax on fast food items like burgers, pizzas, donuts and pasta etc. served in branded restaurants in a bid to discourage the junk food culture.

The Union Government has launched Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) portal (http://kvk.icar.gov.in). It was launched by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh in New Delhi.

India has set up an apparel training centre in Kaduna, Nigeria to support textiles industry of the West African country.

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that army and paramilitary forces cannot use excessive and retaliatory force during counter-insurgency operations in disturbed areas declared disturbed under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958.

Captain Radhika Menon became the first woman in the world to receive the Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea for the year 2016 from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IIT-Bombay and Madras to establish a bi-nodal ‘Centre of Propulsion Technology’ (CoPT) at the two institutions.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched a nationwide Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) to check child diarrhoeal deaths.

Indian Navy has commissioned INS Karna, an independent base of Marine Commandos (MARCOS) at Bheemunipatanam Naval Base, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

The first direct bus service between Pokhara (Nepal) and New Delhi (India) was launched to connect South Asia’s two important cities.

The Union Government has notified the UIDAI (Terms and Conditions of Service of Chairperson and Members) Rules, 2016 to give legal status to Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

The Supreme Court has ordered the restoration of former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki’s Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Union Cabinet has extended numerous facilities to persons from minority communities of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh namely Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Parsis and Christians staying in India on Long Term Visa (LTV).

INS India, the base depot ship of Indian Navy at New Delhi celebrated its 75th anniversary (Platinum Jubilee) on 13 July 2016.

The Union Government has recently constituted a high-level committee headed by Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian to tackle the shortage of pulses in India.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of 7290.62 crore rupees for the ongoing 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (HEP) in Bhutan.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the disinvestment of 15% paid up equity of National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC).

The Union Cabinet has approved the revival of three fertilizers defunct Fertilizer Units in Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for allocation of Twelve thousand crore rupees to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).

The Union Government has started the operation ‘Sankat Mochan’ to evacuate Indian citizens stranded in South Sudan’s capital Juba.

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully conducted proof firing tests of Armament system for 155 mm x 52 calibre New Advanced Towed Artillery Artillery Gun System (ATAGS).

The ruins of ancient Nalanda Mahavihara (also known as old Nalanda University) of Bihar has been included in the Tentative List of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.

Madhya Pradesh became the first state in India to have Happiness Department that will work as knowledge resource centre on the subject of happiness on the lines of Bhutan.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified India as Yaws, Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus free country.

The Lifeline Express, the world’s first hospital on a train of Indian Railways has completed 25 years of service to the poor and underprivileged masses of rural India.

The Union Government has launched Transforming India Website (www.transformingindia.mygov.in), a repository for sharing the impact of various governance initiatives with citizens in real-time.

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and US-based Bell Helicopter have signed a deal to jointly develop the helicopter market in India.

Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) in Sikkim has been named a world heritage site by the World Heritage Committee (WHC) of UNESCO.

The Indian Railways has initiated process to launch the Terrain Imaging for Diesel Drivers- Infrared Enhanced Optical and Radar Assisted (Tri-NETRA) system to avoid train accidents.

The Parliament has passed the Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016 to provide statutory status to the existing Regional Centre for Biotechnology in Faridabad, Haryana.

India’s first e-court (paperless court) was opened at High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad which is the common high court for the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The Supreme Court has accepted major recommendations of Lodha Committee on reforms in BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), the world’s richest cricketing body.

The Rajya Sabha unanimously passed Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012.

The NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog has signed Statement of Intent (SoI) with tech giant Intel India to set up Atal Tinkering laboratories (ATL) under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).

The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post-facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Switzerland for cooperation in skill development.

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of the Air Services Agreement between India and Mozambique.

The Union Cabinet has apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Tunisia for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Digital Economy.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for introducing amendments to the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

The Union Cabinet has approved The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 to protect transgenders from discrimination.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval for construction of a new dry dock within the existing premises of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for establishment of new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval for installation of Ghatampur Thermal Power Project (GTPS) in Ghatampur, Uttar Pradesh.

The Union Cabinet has approved the incorporation of Sagarmala Development Company (SDC) to give a push to port-led economic development under ambitious Sagarmala project.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched National Electoral Roll Purification (NERP) 2016 across the country.

The 2016 motto of the ECI is No voter to be left behind. The NERP 2016 programme aims to improve health of electoral rolls (ERs) and optimize the polling station (PS) location and area.

India has been ranked a low 110th out of 149 countries on Sustainable Development index (SDI).

The Lok Sabha has passed the National Institute of Technology, Science, Education and Research (Amendment) (NITSER) Bill, 2016.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and revival of fertilizer factory plant in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated the Petrapole Integrated Check Post (ICP).

The Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has constituted a committee to prepare guidelines for desiltation of Ganga River.

Kerala Government has launched Kochi Water Metro project, the first ever Water Metro project in the country.

The India’s first Green Rail Corridor was inaugurated on the 114-km long Rameswaram-Manamadurai stretch in Tamil Nadu.

The Union Government is planning to redraw Red Corridor by reducing the number of Maoist (LWE: Left wing extremism) affected districts by about a fifth.

The Lok Sabha has passed Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2016 or opening six new IITs.

The Union Government has approved nearly 1,600 crore rupees for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) under skill development initiative Himayat programme.

Parliament has passed the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has setup a seven-member expert committee for exploring the other possible alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons.

The Union Government has issued notification for the implementation of 7th Pay Commission.

The Union Cabinet has approved Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between India and Cambodia to boost trade and business.

The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new AIIMS at Bhatind, Punjab under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

The Council of Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) was ranked world’s 12th best government institution out of 746 institutions.

The Lok Sabha passed the Lokpal and Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2016 without discussion.

Train passengers booking their tickets online through the IRCTC website will be able to opt for travel insurance cover from September for a premium of just one rupee.

The Lok Sabha has passed comprehensive Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2015 to curb domestic black money.

International

The first-ever meeting of BRICS Employment Working Group (BEWG) was held in Hyderabad, Telangana from July 27 to 28, 2016.

China has successfully launched its second Shijian-16 series satellite for space research and experiments.

The first meeting of the BRICS Working Group on Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency began in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

The second anti-drug working group meeting of heads of anti-narcotics agencies of BRICS countries began in New Delhi to discuss issues related to narco-terrorism and money laundering.

The second BRICS Youth Summit was held in Guwahati, Assam from 1st July 2016 to 3rd July 2016.

India is going to host meet of the heads of anti-narcotics agencies of BRICS nations to discuss issues related to narco-terrorism and money laundering.

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Mauritius in the field of Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Mozambique on Drug demand reduction and related matters.

India and Mozambique have signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in areas of drug trafficking, pulse trading and sports.

India and South Africa have signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and agreements in four areas of bilateral co-operation.

India and Kenya have signed seven agreements to deepen and expand cooperation in a wide range of areas.

These agreements were signed in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi.

PM Narendra Modi visited Kenya on the fourth and last leg of his four-nation tour of Africa viz. Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.

India and Tanzania have signed five agreements to accelerate bilateral ties between both nations.

Bangladesh and India have signed an agreement for the construction of a 1,320 megawatt (MW) coal fired power plant near Sundarbans.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in Hague, the Netherlands has rejected China’s claims to economic rights across large swathes of South China Sea.

Peru has declared Zika outbreak as a health emergency across the northern half of the country after 102 people were infected with the virus.

The eleventh edition of Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM11) or ASEM2016 began in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

The theme of the Summit is Partnership for the Future through Connectivity.

The eleventh edition of the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM11) or ASEM2016 has issued Ulaanbaatar Declaration.

Pakistan has decided to return to an international tribunal to settle a dispute with India over sharing waters of the Kishenganga and Ratle rivers.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN cultural agency added nine new sites on its World Heritage List. Decision in this regard was taken at the 40th session of The World Heritage Committee meeting in Istanbul, Turkey.

With these inclusions, the recorded sites on the World Heritage now stand at 981 which include both cultural and natural wonders.

India and Japan have signed a Social Security Agreement (SSA) and will come into force on 1 October 2016.

Turkey has declared three-month state of emergency after a failed military coup to overthrow the democratically elected government. Announcement in this regard was taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a meeting with Cabinet ministers and top security advisers in Ankara.

Brazilian scientists have identified Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito infected by the Zika virus as another type of Zika-transmitting mosquito.

China has completed the production of the world’s largest amphibious aircraft dubbed as the AG600. It was unveiled by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) in the southern port city of Zhuhai.

The BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue was successfully concluded in Patna, Bihar. Delegates of BRICS countries &ndash Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa had attended the meeting.

The Solar Impulse 2 has become the first aircraft to circle the globe using solar energy after landing in Abu Dhabi on the last leg of its journey.

Business and Economy

India has signed a defence deal with United States worth over $1 billion to purchase four additional Poseidon-8I (P8I) long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

The Union Government has decided to enhance financial powers of its Ministries, Departments for appraisal and approval of Non-Plan Schemes or Projects.

The World Bank (WB) Group has signed an agreement with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to provide more than 1 billion dollars to support India’s solar initiatives.

In the recently released bi-annual Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2016 of World Bank Group, India ranked 35th among 160 countries.

Telecom-to-energy conglomerate Reliance Industries (RIL) and India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) have signed Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement to set up payments bank.

India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has signed an agreement worth 4,200 crore rupees ($625 million) with the World Bank to support its grid connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (GRPV) programme.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union (EU) has created significant uncertainty.

The State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) at IIT Bombay to promote innovation by start-ups in the financial sector.

Mahindra Aerostructures, a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra have bagged a Tier 1 supplier contract to supply airframe parts for Airbus’s AS565 MBe Panther helicopter.

India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a 100 million dollars loan agreement for irrigation projects, drainage system and water management in Vennar sub-basin of Cauvery delta in Tamil Nadu.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up an inter-regulatory Working Group to study the regulatory issues relating to Financial Technology (Fintech) and Digital Banking in India , the inter-regulatory Working Group will be headed by RBI’s Executive Director Sudarshan Sen and consist of 12 members.

The Union Commerce Ministry has launched an e-marketplace portal for online purchase of goods and services by various central government ministries and departments.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has signed seven unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers to reduce tax litigation. With this, CBDT has so far entered into 77 APAs.

The fourth tranche of the Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) scheme opened for subscription. SGB is government securities denominated in grams of gold.

Seven Indian companies have made it to the latest Fortune 500 list of the world’s biggest corporations in terms of revenue.

Homegrown e-commerce giant Flipkart acquired online fashion portal Jabong through its fashion unit Myntra.

Verizon Communications Inc said it would buy Yahoo Inc's core internet properties for $4.83 billion in cash to expand its digital advertising and media business, in a deal that ends a lengthy sale process for the fading Web pioneer.

The Finance Ministers from the Group of 20 (G-20) major economies have pledged to boost the global economy, which is showing a weak recovery.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for raising foreign shareholding limit from current 5% to 15% in Indian Stock Exchanges.

Sports

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has selected Muttiah Muralidaran, Karen Rolton, Arthur Morris and George Lohmann to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Argentina women’s team has won the 2016 Champions Trophy title of Hockey by defeating Netherlands.

The Union Sports Ministry has granted recognition to Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced temporary lifting of suspension on it.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton from Great Britain has won the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix title of Formula One.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu became the first Indian football player to play in UEFA Europa League.

Ace Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth (World no 33) has won the 2016 Canada Open Grand Prix Badminton title in the men’s singles category.

Para swimmer Niranjan Mukundan has won eight medals at the recently-concluded IWAS (International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports) U-23 World Games held in Prague, Czech Republic.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton from Great Britain has won the 2016 British Grand Prix title of Formula One.

The 2016 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament held from 27 June to 10 July 2016.

It was the 130th edition of the championships and the 49th edition in the Open Era.

The tournament had taken place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom.

Portugal has won the 2016 UEFA European football championship (Euro Cup 2016) by defeating host France.

India’s Chess Grand Master Harika Dronavalli has won the Fide Women’s Grand Prix trophy in Chendu, China.

Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Saurav Ghosal have won the 73rd Senior National Squash Championship in men’s and women’s single categories respectively.

Indian test team captain Virat Kohli became the first Indian captain to score a double century outside India.

He achieved feat after scoring 200 runs against West Indies on second day of the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium in Antigua, North Sound.

Indian shooter Manavaditya Rathore has won the trap bronze medal in the Champion of Champions match at the Junior World Cup in Porpetto, Italy.

28-year-old Inderjeet, the reigning Asian Champion, tested positive for a banned steroid and he has been informed by National Anti-Doping Agency.

Top Indian wrestler Narsingh Yadav failed a dope test after he was tested positive for a banned substance steroid.

Awards

Four Indian-Americans have been honoured with prestigious Great Immigrants: The Pride of America Award 2016.

President Pranab Mukherjee presented the Dr BC Roy national awards for 2008, 2009 and 2010 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

South African writer, filmmaker and photographer Lidudumalingani has won the 17th edition of prestigious Caine Prize 2016.

President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the 51st Jnanpith Award on renowned Gujarati writer and litterateur Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari at a function in New Delhi.

Nigerian journalist and presenter Didi Akinyelure has won the second BBC World News Komla Dumor Award.

Renowned Music Director and singer Bapi Lahiri was honoured with Mahanayak award by the West Bengal Government.

The Kerala Tourism has won two Gold Gongs at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Awards in recognition of its trend setting marketing initiatives.

Renowned violinist Avasarala Kanyakumari from south India was selected for the prestigious 2016 Sangita Kalanidhi Award.

Two Indians, social activist Bezwada Wilson and musician TM Krishna, have won the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award 2016.

New Appointments

Rodrigo Duterte was sworn in as the 16th President of Philippines. He will have tenure of six years.

Noted scientist M V Dhekane has assumed the office of Director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy has sworn in as the acting Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.

Sanjay Gupta has been appointed as chairman and managing director (CMD) of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL).

Sushila Karki has become the first woman Chief Justice of Nepal after taking oath of office and secrecy at a special programme organised at the Presidential Residence, Sheetal Niwas.

Technocrat D Rajkumar was appointed as the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL).

Conservative party leader Theresa May (59) became Prime Minister of United Kingdom after meeting Queen Elizabeth II.

The Union Government has appointed senior IPS officer Ashok Patnaik as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID).

KVR Murthy was appointed as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of the Jute Corporation of India Limited (JCIL).

Senior IAS officer Rakesh Kumar Chaturvedi has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Pema Khandu (36) of Congress Party was sworn in as the 10th Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.

Senior IAS officer Guruprasad Mohapatra was appointed as Chairman of Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Indian actor, model, television personality Rohit Khandelwal won the prestigious 2016 Mr. World title.

Malcolm Turnbull was sworn as Prime Minister of Australia for second term after a narrow victory in the federal election. He became the 29th Prime Minister of the country.

Senior IAS officer Ajay Bhushan Pandey was appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

BJP Lok Sabha member Ganesh Singh was appointed as Chairman of the Joint Committee of Parliament (JCP) to examine provisions of the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill, 2015.

Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra (18) has created history by becoming first Indian Junior athlete to create a World Record in Junior athletics Championship.

Former Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) official Dr. Budha Rashmi Mani was appointed as Director General (DG) of National Museum.

Death

Eminent author and social activist Mahasweta Devi passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal after a multi-organ failure. She was 91.

Noted Tabla maestro Pandit Lachu Maharaj passed away in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh due to cardiac arrest. He was 73.

Renowned sculptor and painter KG Subramanyan passed away in Vadodara, Gujarat following a brief illness. He was 92.

Renowned Marathi literary scholar Dr. Ramchandra Chintaman Dhere passed away after prolonged illness in Pune, Maharashtra. He was 86.

Noted music director Om Prakash Sonik passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra after a brief illness. He was 77.

Pakistani philanthropist, social activist, humanitarian and ascetic Abdul Sattar Edhi passed away after a long battle with kidney disease. He was 88.

Legendary playback singer Mubarak Begum passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra after a prolonged illness. She was 80.

Noted Indian hockey player Mohammed Shahid passed away due to multiple organ failure in Gurugram, Haryana. He was 56.

Legendary modern Indian artist Syed Haider Raza passed away in New Delhi following a prolonged illness. He was 94.

Distinguished agricultural scientist Dr. Neelamraju Ganga Prasada Rao passed away in Hyderabad, Telangana following a brief illness. He was 89.

Science and Technology

The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has announced that India Meteorological Department (IMD) will use supercomputer to forecast India’s annual summer monsoon.

The World Hepatitis Day is being observed every year on July 28 around the globe to spread awareness about viral hepatitis.

Scientists for the first time have found clear evidence that the thinning in the ozone layer above Antarctica is starting to heal.

Researchers from the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium have built a super-sensitive electronic nose comprising of chemical sensors metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has given its approval to extend New Horizons mission to investigate a mysterious object deep in the Kuiper Belt.

NASA’s Juno spacecraft has successfully entered into the orbit of Jupiter on 4th July 2016 and started orbiting solar system’s most massive planet.

The second unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), India’s largest nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu became operational.

India’s first Centre of Excellence on Internet of Things (CoE&ndash IoT) was launched in Bengaluru, Karnataka by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM).

Majority of glaciers in India including Gangotri are retreating (melting) at varying rates ranging from 5 to 20 metre per year due to global warming.

Researchers from Laval University based in Quebec City, Canada are going to conduct the world’s first Zika vaccine test on humans.

Social networking giant Facebook’s Internet drone named ‘Aquila’ has passed first full-scale test.

Scientists have planned to undertake field trials of three new strains of oil-degrading bacteria in Kochi, Kerala.

The Union Ministry of Science and Technology has launched Solar Power Tree, an innovative way to generate electricity by harnessing maximum solar energy in a limited space.

Scientists are working towards storing digital data in the base sequence of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid).

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands has ruled against Antrix Corporation in the case with Devas Corporation over sharing of spectrum on satellites.

Special Days

July 29 was designated as the International Tiger Day at the Global Tiger Summit in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 2010.

The World Population Day is observed across the world on July 11 to attention on the urgency and importance of population issue.

The World Youth Skills Day is observed globally on 15 July every year to raise awareness about the importance of investing in youth skills development.

Every year Nelson Mandela International Day (also known as Madela Day) is observed across the world on 18 July to mark birth anniversary of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Current Affairs 30th July, 2016
Current Affairs Round Up Bullet Points, June, 2016 Current Affairs Round Up Bullet Points, May, 2016

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Comments ( 1 )

  1. K Shovit
    8 years ago
    Can we get bullet points in PDF.