National
1. Three new crime laws were put into effect in India on 1st July 2024. This was a big change in the country's legal system. The goal of these laws is to bring the current legal system up to date by replacing laws from the colonial era with ones that reflect Indian ideals and social norms.
2. India recently launched the "Fauna of India Checklist Portal," which is a major step toward protecting wildlife. This complete collection lists 1,04,561 species, making India the first country in the world to record all of its wildlife. The launch took place in Kolkata on the 109th Foundation Day of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
3. In Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, archaeologists found an ostrich nest that is 41,000 years old. This is the oldest known nest of its kind anywhere in the world. Assistant professor Devara Anil Kumar at MS University, Vadodara, led the group that found what used to be a nest that could hold 30 to 40 eggs, but only 9 to 11 egg shells were found.
4. According to Article 280 of the Indian Constitution, the 16th Finance Commission (FC) of India has started its work. This is to make sure that the combined fund is shared fairly among all levels of government, including local bodies. New changes, mostly the 73rd and 74th, have raised the standing of local governments within the federal system and told the Commission to look into ways to give panchayats and municipalities more money.
5. In recent developments within Uttar Pradesh (UP), the state government has passed the draft for the Uttar Pradesh Nodal Investment Region for Manufacturing (Construction) Area Bill (NIRMAN)-2024. This initiative, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is part of a broader strategy to uplift the state's economy to the one trillion dollar mark.
6. Hemant Soren was sworn in as Gov. of Jharkhand for the third time on 4th July 2024. Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan led the event at the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi, where the oaths were taken. Following the resignation of Champai Soren, who had briefly taken over as Chief Minister while Hemant Soren was in jail, Hemant Soren was reappointed.
7. The Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, spoke at the opening session of the Global IndiaAI Summit 2024 in New Delhi about how important Artificial Intelligence (AI) is to solving issues around the world. In order to control and use the potential of AI technologies, he stressed the need for a unified global approach. He said that individual countrie's efforts alone would not be successful.
8. The Assam government told its Border police on 5th July 2024, not to send cases of non-Muslims who came to India illegally before 2014 to Foreigners Tribunals (FTs). This comes after the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019, which gives non-Muslims who are fleeing oppression in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan a way to become citizens.
9. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) just recently said that there is no child labor in the mica mines of Jharkhand. The news was made at a big party in Koderma. It was a big step forward in the long-running fight against child labor in the area.
10. Rajasthan will be the first state in India to create a ten-year action plan specifically designed to improve road safety. Targeting a 50% drop in traffic accidents by 2030, this plan was backed by Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa in July 2023.
11. The second part of building the Viraat Ramayan Mandir in East Champaran, Bihar, has begun. This is a big step toward building what will likely be the biggest Ramayan temple in the world. This phase began on 9th July and comes after the first phase, which was finished successfully in just 10 months.
12. India's Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) set up the Committee on Digital Competition Law (CDCL) in February 2023 to look into whether digital markets need their own set of competition rules. After thinking about it for a year, the CDCL suggested adding an ex-ante regulatory system to improve the ex-post regulations of the Competition Act, 2002.
13. The MahaYuti government, which was run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), passed the Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Act on 11th July 2024. This law was meant to stop the spread of Naxalism in cities. The "urban naxal" law is the name given to this suggested law that has caused a lot of debate.
14. New research shows that India is fifth in the world when it comes to innovations in Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). India is behind China, the US, Republic of Korea, and Japan in terms of the number of GenAI patents it publishes each year. However, it stands out because of its fast yearly growth rate.
15. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is going to give her seventh Union Budget, which will happen during the monsoon months, a time of natural renewal. This event shows that India's government is stable and strong, and it especially shows how important it is for women to be in charge of making important decisions.
16. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, led the event to break ground on the Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel project in Mumbai on 13th July 2024. This Rs. 16,600 crore project is part of a bigger plan to improve Mumbai's infrastructure that will cost a total of Rs. 29,000 crores and will aim to make it much easier to move around and connect with other places in the city.
17. The Consumer Affairs Ministry wants to change the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. The goal of the change is to require that important information about pre-packaged goods sold in stores that are bigger than 25 kilograms or 25 liters be made public. The goal of this move is to get rid of the current exemption for bulk packages and give customers more information.
18. People in New Delhi are getting more and more excited about the upcoming Budget session. They think that the government will bring a bill to change the Insurance Act of 1938. 'Insurance for All by 2047' is the goal of this project, which will make a lot of big changes to the insurance industry to fit modern needs.
19. The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, passed in 2003, was meant to make the Indian government more responsible with its money and cut down on its debt. Its importance has been emphasized during economic problems, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the FRBM Act's usual fiscal goals were loosened to allow for more government spending.
20. The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, is set to launch India's first-ever toll-free national helpline for narcotics-related issues, termed MANAS (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra), or the Narcotics Prohibition Intelligence Centre. The launch is set to happen on 18th July during the seventh meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD).
21. The government of Madhya Pradesh recently gave the go-ahead to buy a new plane, a Challenger 3500 Jet Plane. To make it easier for VVIPs to get around, this choice was made with the help of Chief Minister Mohan Yadip. This change was made because the state's last plane, a B-200GT VT MPQ, was damaged in a crash landing at Gwalior airport in May 2021. The new jet is supposed to make transporting VVIPs within the state safer and more efficient.
22. India set up the National Quantum Mission in 2022 with a budget of Rs. 6,000 crore, which is about $0.75 billion. India is now one of only a few countries that is actively spending in quantum technology in order to use it to solve problems in energy, healthcare, and other areas.
23. The Union housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said that Madhya Pradesh is the best state in the Prime Minister SVANidhi scheme's "Best Performing State" category. The state's successful adoption of a micro-credit program to help urban street vendors is highlighted by this award.
24. Mohan Yadav, who is the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, recently launched the Lokpath Mobile App. The goal of this digital project is to quickly fix road problems that people report within seven days. The app was launched at a media event in the Bhopal state assembly building. It is a big step toward better road upkeep and accountability in the state.
25. India's electric vehicle (EV) industry is going to be affected by the Union Budget 2024 in a big way. It is the goal of the Narendra Modi government for 30% of all cars sold by 2030 to be electric. This goal will probably be helped by more money in the budget for growth and the spread of subsidy programs.
26. The city of Aizawl in Mizoram will be the fourth capital in Northeast India to have train service by July 2025. Currently, Guwahati, Agartala, and Naharlagun are all connected to the railway network. This makes it easier to get around the area.
27. The Indian government has made a 100-day health plan that includes U-WIN, an online platform for managing vaccines that aims to increase the number of children in the country who get vaccinated. U-WIN is about to go live across the whole country, building on the successful digital infrastructure that was set up during the Covid-19 vaccination program by CoWIN.
28. India has made great progress in protecting forests. From 2010 to 2020, 2,66,000 hectares of new forest will be added each year. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), this makes India the third country in the world in terms of forest area growth.
29. According to the Henley Passport Index, Singapore's passport is once again the most powerful in the world, granting visa-free entry to 195 amazing places. This position is a testament to Singapore's robust diplomatic network and its citizen's ease of movement around the world. India ranks 82nd, allowing visa-free entry to 58 countries.
30. As part of India's plan to improve its nuclear energy powers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a plan to build Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) in her Budget 2024 speech. In a big change to India's nuclear strategy, this effort is to work together with the private sector.
31. Nirmala Sitharaman, the Minister of Finance in India, presented the Union Budget on 23rd July 2024. In it, she highlighted the initiative taken by the government to build a "climate finance taxonomy." Through the implementation of this strategic shift, the goal is to increase funding for climate adaptation and mitigation, so making it easier for India to meet its climate pledges and transition to a greener economy.
32. Telangana's Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced in July 2024 that he would address unemployment by collecting data on job openings in all government offices every year by March. The goal of the project is to make hiring notices and processes easier.
33. India is going to open a National Maritime Domain Awareness Center (NMDAC) to fight new dangers in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The NMDAC will focus on terrorism, piracy, trafficking, and illegal fishing. There are already advanced talks going on, and the final deal should be signed early next year.
34. President Droupadi Murmu changed the names of Rashtrapati Bhavan's halls on 25th July, 2024. "Durbar Hall" became "Ganatantra Mandap" and "Ashok Hall" became "Ashok Mandap." This choice fits with a plan to highlight Indian cultural beliefs and show how important India is as a Republic.
35. India now has 5,47,283 towns that are Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF Plus). This was announced by the Jal Shakti Ministry. This project shows that the government is serious about making sanitation and waste management better.
36. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, recently launched India's 500th community radio station, 'Apna Radio 90.0 FM', in Aizawl. At the same time, he announced the winners of the 10th National Community Radio Awards. This event shows that the government is serious about using media to get more people involved in their communities.
37. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has approved the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority's (JNPA) project for a Rs. 284.19 crore agricultural processing and storage facility. This is part of a larger plan to improve India's export and import infrastructure for agricultural goods.
38. India will lead the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) from 2024 to 2025, taking over from China on 25th July 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand. India has made a big step forward in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate resiliency with this.
39. A report by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) on International Tiger Day reveals that Project Tiger in India may displace at least 5,50,000 Scheduled Tribes and forest dwellers. This is a significant increase in displacement compared to before 2021.
40. The first ceremony for the 'One DAE One Subscription' (ODOS) program took place at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. This initiative aims to improve access to scientific research for the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and its around 60 units.
41. Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, announced the launch of Ideas4LiFE at IIT Delhi. This initiative aims to collect innovative ideas that encourage environmentally friendly behaviors. Ideas4LiFE is set up to gather creative ideas and innovations online that can inspire people to live more sustainably.
42. During a ceremony honoring notable figures in the medical field, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his significant contributions to diabetology, diabetes care, and research. The event attracted medical professionals from across India and around the world. His substantial impact in the field has earned him respect both nationally and internationally.
43. Scientists at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in New Delhi have developed a new genome-editing system that is better and more accurate than current CRISPR technologies.
44. India's first sunken museum, located at the Humayun Tomb complex in Delhi, will have its grand opening on 29th July 2024. It will be open to visitors starting 30th July. The museum's launch aligns with the 46th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, which will be attended by Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Prince Rahim Aga Khan.
45. In July 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government introduced changes to the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, of 2021. These changes aim to make the law tougher and easier to enforce because there are concerns about illegal religious conversions, especially among vulnerable groups.
46. The Indian government has said that it will sign and approve the High Seas Treaty. The goal of this international deal is to protect marine biodiversity and make sure that ocean resources are used in a way that doesn’t harm the environment. The treaty, which was reached after almost 20 years of talks, is a plan to protect the high seas, which are places that are not controlled by any one country.
International
1. South Korean activists sent posters and USB drives with South Korean media into North Korea in May 2024. This started the latest "balloon war" round between the two countries. The group called "Fighters for Free North Korea" did this, and North Korea responded by sending trash and maybe even manure-filled balloons back into South Korea.
2. Spain made a lot of progress in producing renewable energy in the first half of 2024. By the end of the month, almost 60% of its electricity came from green sources. The latest information from Redeia, the company that runs the national grid, shows that this goal was met thanks to more water plants and more solar capacity.
3. The current government of Afghanistan, the Taliban, took part in the UN Conference on Afghanistan for the first time. It took place in Doha, Qatar, on 30th June and 1st July 2024. This gathering is the third of its kind to try to open up communication between the rest of the world and Afghanistan. Notably, the session ended without making any big progress on the agenda that had been suggested.
4. On the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, archaeologists have found the world's oldest known cave picture with a date that can be trusted. This piece of art was found on the roof of Leang Karampuang cave. It was made at least 51,200 years ago. Figures that look like people and a wild pig are engaging in what looks like a scene from a story.
5. The Ganga Waters Treaty, which India and Bangladesh signed in 1996, will be discussed again. This pact, which is mostly about the fair sharing of water from the Ganga River, which both countries share, needs to be renewed in 2026.
6. Japan and the Philippines have signed a major security deal that will strengthen their military cooperation at a time when tensions are rising in the Indo-Pacific region. This new deal makes it easy for each country's military to enter the other's territory, which strengthens their strategic partnership.
7. The Heritage Foundation has come up with a big, controversial plan called Project 2025. It is meant to change the way the US government works in case Donald Trump runs for a second term. Much of the evidence points to close ties between Trump and the project's contributors, despite his claims that they are not connected.
8. Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece signed a strategic deal on 11th July. All three countries are members of NATO and the EU. This deal will make it easier for troops and weapons to move quickly across their lines, especially along NATO's eastern flank. Russia's aggressive invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has made people in NATO and EU countries even more worried about their safety, which makes this choice even more important.
9. The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) is a group of regional security experts who work together to solve naval security problems in the Indian Ocean. The CSC was created in 2020 by India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives as starting members. Its goal is to encourage member states to work together on security issues. Since then, Mauritius and, most recently, Bangladesh have joined the group.
10. The Philippines was recently chosen to house the board of the "Loss and Damage" fund. This is a big step toward helping people who have been hurt by climate change. This choice was made during talks at the United Nations, which were mostly about giving money to countries that are being hit hard by global warming. Following that, the World Bank agreed earlier that month to oversee this fund for four years temporarily.
11. India has been trying to become less dependent on the US dollar and lower its oil import costs by trading more with Russia in recent years. Trade between the two countries is supposed to reach $100 billion by 2030. However, after the war in Ukraine in 2022, the relationship changed, with India buying a lot more oil from Russia.
12. China has shown off a revolutionary passenger train made of only carbon fiber. This is a big step forward in high-speed rail technology. China is now even more of a world leader in this field thanks to this progress.
13. Germany has said it wants to slowly remove parts of its 5G network equipment that were made by Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE. This choice was made to protect national security and is part of a larger plan to make the economy less dependent on Beijing. The move is similar to what the European Union said about the security risks that could come from relying too much on Chinese technology.
14. With its recent membership, Ivory Coast became the 10th country in Africa to sign the UN Water Convention. This accession is very important because it makes it easier for everyone to work together to manage water resources better, which is especially important now that water shortages and the effects of climate change are getting worse in the area.
15. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) was created by the European Union as part of its larger plan to fight climate change and keep European businesses competitive. The main goal of CBAM is to stop carbon leakage, which happens when companies move output to countries with laxer rules on emissions.
16. There will be a lot of security problems at the 2024 Olympics in Paris because of the political unrest in France and around the world. These things could make it more likely that there will be violence and protests at the event, so strict security measures are needed.
17. Digital assets are being used more and more in cross-border transactions between Russia and China. This is mostly because traditional banking has been slow for a long time because of international bans. Qifa, a digital tool, has come up as a way to solve these payment problems by using cryptocurrencies to speed up transactions.
18. India and the US signed a deal on cultural property on 26th July 2024. The goal was to make it easier for them to work together to protect cultural heritage. Both countries have made a larger promise to return stolen artifacts and stop the illegal trade of cultural property, which includes this deal.
19. The Governments of India and the UK just started the Technology Security Initiative (TSI). The goal is to improve their strategic relationship as technology becomes more important for national security and economic growth. This project shows that people are serious about working together more on important and new technologies.
20. On 27th July 2024, UNESCO added the Sado gold and silver mines in Japan to its World Heritage List after South Korea withdrew its objections. This inclusion is significant due to the historical context of forced labor during World War II, where Korean laborers were conscripted to work under harsh conditions.
21. The Apple Vision Pro, launched in Australia, allows people to enter immersive online environments known as the metaverse. In these virtual spaces, users can experience various activities, but there are also risks, leading to the rise of 'metacrimes'.
22. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa signed a major climate change act into law in October 2023. This law tries to limit the amount of pollution big polluters can make and requires every municipality to make a plan for dealing with climate change. This makes South Africa’s efforts more in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.
23. On 29th July 2024, Turkey’s parliament approved a controversial law that allows for the euthanasia of some stray dogs. This decision has sparked a lot of debate and concern about animal welfare and how the government is handling the country's stray dog problem.
24. South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has signed a new Climate Change Bill into law. This law requires big fossil-fuel industries to reduce their emissions and makes local governments create plans to adapt to climate change. This action shows South Africa’s dedication to the Paris Agreement, which aims to cut down greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Defence
1. The military of South Korea reported that North Korea fired off two ballistic missiles. This happened just one day after North Korea said it would react "offensively and overwhelmingly" to a new military exercise led by the US that included South Korea and Japan.
2. As a participant in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2024, the Indian Navy has made a strong statement in the world of military exercises. This exercise is the world's biggest international maritime warfare exercise, and it takes place in Hawaii with a huge group of troops from around the world.
3. Indian Military Technology Gets Better on Its Own in a historic move, the Indian Army recently got its first 4G mobile base station made in India. It was built by Signaltron in Bangalore. The purchase was made possible by the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) site, which shows that India has made big steps toward becoming self-sufficient in important technology areas.
4. Since Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's trip to India in June, the two countrie's military cooperation has come a long way. This visit paved the way for a stronger defense relationship between the two countries.
5. The 13th edition of Exercise Maitree is set to take place from 1st to 15th July 2024, in Tak Province, Thailand, marking the continuation of military cooperation between India and Thailand. This year's drill is special because it starts up again after a break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This shows how important it is for the military to work together and train together again.
6. The 16th "Nomadic Elephant" Joint Military Exercise will take place between the Indian Army and the Mongolian Army from 3rd July 2024 to 16th July 2024. They are going to do this military drill in Umroi, Meghalaya. The goal of the exercise is to improve the two force's ability to work together and communicate during semi-normal operations in semi-urban and mountainous areas, as directed by the UN.
7. Together with Solar Industries, the Indian Navy has created SEBEX 2, a cutting-edge bomb that is 2.01 times more powerful than TNT. This is a very important step forward for India's Defense Export Promotion Scheme.
8. North Korea announced that a test of a new tactical ballistic missile called the Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5, which is meant to carry a big 4.5-ton weapon, went well. The country's official news outlets said the rocket could hit its target accurately from up to 500 km away and as close as 90 km away.
9. After working together for a while, India and Russia have finished the first part of their joint venture to make AK-203 assault rifles. As part of the larger "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharaj Shakti Bharat" campaigns, this project shows a big step forward in India's ability to make defense products using technology and industry.
10. India recently got a new light tank called the "Zorawar." It is a big addition to their military and is meant to help them fight better in difficult terrains and at high elevations. India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the tech company Larsen Toubro worked together to make this new tank.
11. Lt. Gen. Shankar Narayan became the new head of the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi on 10th July 2024. In his long and successful career as a military doctor, this job is a big step forward. One of the most important hospitals in the Indian Armed Forces is the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), which is in New Delhi.
12. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will start "Exercise Pitch Black" on 12th July 2024. This is a major multinational aerial warfare practice that is held in Australia every two years. Over 140 planes from around the world are taking part in this year's drill, which is the biggest one in the 43-year history of the event. The India Air Force (IAF) has said it will take part in the drill, which will run from 12th July to 2nd August 2024, sending Su-30 MKI fighter jets.
13. Recently, China's defense ministry revealed that Russian and Chinese naval forces worked together to patrol the northern and western Pacific Ocean. As part of an annual plan to work together on military strategies, this is their fourth joint naval practice. The defense ministry made it clear that the patrols were not aimed at any other country and had nothing to do with the current political situation in the area or around the world.
14. On 14th July 2024, in Visakhapatnam, the prestigious Fleet Awards Function was held to honor the Eastern Fleet's tactical successes over the past year. As a result of its excellent performance and operational tasks, INS Delhi was named the Best Ship of the Eastern Fleet.
15. The government has allocated Rs. 6.22 lakh crore to the defence ministry, with a primary focus on capital acquisition amounting to Rs. 1.72 lakh crore, marking the largest budget allocation for defence in recent history. The capital outlay aims to improve the armed force's capabilities through the procurement of advanced weapon systems, including fighter aircraft, ships, submarines, drones, and specialist vehicles.
16. The Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system was successfully flight-tested by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on 24th July 2024. This test showed that India is getting better at protecting itself against ballistic missiles with lengths of up to 5,000 kilometers. This is a big step forward from the current Phase-I system.
17. The Indian Army has sent a group to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to take part in the multinational military drill KHAAN QUEST 2024, which will run from 27th July to 9th August 2024. The main goal of this practice is to improve the world's ability to keep the peace.
Business, Economy & Banking
1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has joined Project Nexus, a worldwide effort to make it easier for people to send money instantly across borders. To do this, Fast Payment Systems (FPSs) in different countries are linked together. In this plan, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India will link to the FPSs of Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. This is all part of the project.
2. Tata Group is still India's most valuable brand, with a value of US$ 28.6 billion, which is 9% more than the previous year. With this kind of progress, Tata is almost ready to become the first Indian brand to be worth more than $30 billion.
3. From 1st July, all credit card payments made through third-party apps must go through the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), which is what the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) wants. People with credit cards from big Indian banks will be affected by this restructuring. They won't be able to use platforms like CRED, PhonePe, Amazon Pay, and Paytm to pay their bills unless they are integrated with BBPS.
4. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has made a major financial move to support renewable energy by giving the ENGIE group a Rs. 1,460 crore loan. Using this money, a 400-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant will be built in Surendranagar, Gujarat. This program fits with India's big plan to build at least 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel energy output by 2030.
5. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has grown a lot in Gujarat during the fiscal year 2023-24, reaching a total of USD 7.3 billion. This is a 55% rise from the previous year, making the state, after Maharashtra, the second-highest receiver of FDI in India. Gujarat has gotten more foreign capital than Karnataka and Delhi combined. It is now only behind Maharashtra, which got USD 15.1 billion in the same period.
6. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has suggested that the unpopular "angel tax" on startups should be gotten rid of. This could be announced in the Union Budget. The DPIIT secretary stated that a proposal to get rid of the tax has been made. The goal is to make it easier for startups to get funding and make them more appealing to investors.
7. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan reached a deal on 12th July 2024, for a $7 billion loan program that will last for 37 months. The main goal of this Extended Fund Facility program is to help Pakistan, a country that has had a lot of economic problems, become more stable and grow in a way that benefits everyone.
8. On 22nd July, the Economic Survey 2023-24 will be released by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. This is the first day of the summer session of Parliament. This is not how things usually work; Economic Surveys usually come out on 31st January. But in election years, like 2024, there will be a shorter report before the interim budget.
9. Nirmala Sitharaman, the Minister of Finance in India, presented the Union Budget on 23rd July 2024. In it, she highlighted the initiative taken by the government to build a "climate finance taxonomy." Through the implementation of this strategic shift, the goal is to increase funding for climate adaptation and mitigation, so making it easier for India to meet its climate pledges and transition to a greener economy.
10. In the 2024-25 Budget, Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Minister, called for a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the agriculture sector. The goal of this DPI is to connect more than six crore farmers to a formal land registry system through a project called Agristack.
11. The long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax system underwent substantial modifications in the Union Budget for 2024-2025; most notably, the indexation advantage was eliminated. Taxpayers were confused and concerned about this choice, but the government clarified it and insisted that the adjustments would be beneficial in the majority of cases.
12. Pakistan is currently in talks with China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to reschedule over $27 billion in debt and other financial obligations. This step is crucial for Pakistan to secure a $7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and to ease financial pressures in its energy sector.
13. India aims to become a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047, the 100th anniversary of its independence. According to a plan by NITI Aayog, called 'Vision for Viksit Bharat @ 2047', the goal is to raise the average income per person to USD 18,000 per year. This plan is designed to help India avoid getting stuck at a middle-income level.
Science & Technology
1. As more people use mobile banking, they are enjoying never-before-seen levels of convenience when handling their money. But this change has also caught the attention of hackers who want to steal private user data. Promon, a cybersecurity company, recently found a new danger called "Snowblind" malware. This malware targets Android devices to steal banking information.
2. The Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) in Bengaluru has come up with a revolutionary solution, a fabric that kills insects. Pesticides that are based on organophosphates are neutralized by this cloth. This makes it safer for everyone to use, especially farmers who are often exposed to these chemicals.
3. Oran Knowlson, a teenager from the United Kingdom, has made medical history as the first person in the world to receive a brain implant designed to control epileptic seizures. A deep brain stimulation (DBS) implant, a new and innovative device, has made his life a lot better by cutting down on his everyday seizures by 80%.
4. A new technology called Meta 3D Gen, which was launched by Mark Zuckerberg's company Meta, lets you make 3D assets by following text prompts. This new technology, which came out on 2nd July, is meant to save a lot of time and make it possible to make hyper-realistic video games, movie effects, and other things.
5. A groundbreaking study recently found signs of Down syndrome in a Neanderthal child. This discovery not only helps us learn more about old diseases but also shows how caring Neanderthal societies were. The finding was made by studying the bones of a child that were found at Cova Negra in Valencia, Spain.
6. New research from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research has shown that the non-coding regions of DNA may contain cancer-causing genes. This goes against the old idea that these regions were just "junk." This big step forward opens the door to new ways of diagnosing and treating different kinds of cancer.
7. SpaceX plans to launch Polaris Dawn, a commercial space project that is coming up soon. It is a big step forward for civilian space travel because it has the first private extravehicular activity, or "spacewalk," and its crew is made up of only civilians.
8. In South Korea, this has never happened before a robotic government servant working for the Gumi City Council was found broken at the bottom of a flight of stairs. This event, which is now being called a "robot suicide," took place in late 2023. The robot, named "Robot Supervisor," was an important part of the council staff, just like the people who worked there. It even had a civil service ID and a 9-to-5 routine.
9. The Earth hit aphelion in July of this year. This is the point in its orbit where it is farthest from the Sun. This event happens once a year and marks an important but little-known part of how our planet's rotation works. Because their paths are elliptical, all of the planets in our solar system reach aphelion.
10. Four volunteers just finished an immersive Mars simulation at the Johnson Space Center in Houston as part of a new NASA project. While the mission officially finished on 6th July, it was a big step toward getting ready for human missions to Mars.
11. The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) and the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) have recently announced that they will be working together to make the seas safer by creating a new tool that can predict where ships will go. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two groups to make this project official.
12. NASA's GOLD satellite has recently been studying the ionosphere, an important part of Earth's atmosphere for long-distance communication. This layer, which is mostly made up of electrically charged plasma or gas, is very important for radio messages to travel.
13. Air India, which is owned by the Tata Group, just bought its first narrow-body plane with a new uniform. The color code for this Airbus A320 Neo is VT-RTN, and it got to Indira Gandhi International Airport on 7th July from Toulouse, France. This is an important step in Air India's continued process of change.
14. New information has been found about LHS 1140 b, an exoplanet 48 light-years away in the constellation Cetus. The team of foreign researchers was led by the Université de Montréal. Their study, which was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, suggests that LHS 1140 b may be a super-Earth that is probably full of water or ice. This goes against the earlier idea that it was a miniature Neptune.
15. New studies published in the journal Nature have proven that the Omega Centauri star cluster has an intermediate-mass black hole. This group of galaxies, which is only 18,000 light-years away, is now the nearest huge black hole known to our solar system.
16. Scientists have recently found a hidden microcontinent in the Davis Strait, west of Greenland. They have named it the Davis Strait proto-microcontinent. This finding shows how complicated tectonic movements have changed the Earth's geological structure over time.
17. A fascinating picture of a "bejeweled" cloud of light around a quasar was recently taken by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This picture has sparked a lot of interest in the astronomy community. This picture shows an "Einstein ring," which is made up of four bright spots around the halo of quasar RX J1131-1231, which is about 6 billion light-years away in the constellation Crater.
18. The Medical Devices Information System (MeDevIS), which was just released by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a major step forward in healthcare around the world. This online tool, which anyone can use, aims to improve how medical devices are given out and used around the world.
19. At Sakthikulangara fishing harbor in Kerala, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) found a new species of deep-water dogfish shark. They named it Squalus hima. This new finding, which was published in the journal Records of the ZSI, helps us learn more about the different kinds of life that live in the Arabian Sea. Spurdogs are a type of dog in the genus Squalus, which is in the family Squalidae.
20. Recent studies have shown that "extreme solar particle events," which are very rare but can have big effects on Earth, could be dangerous. Protons are thrown out into space by the sun in these events, which happen about once every thousand years. The most recent one was recorded in 993 AD. When they reach Earth, they pose a major threat.
21. The introduction of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine in Cote d'Ivoire was a big step forward in the fight against malaria around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) approved the vaccine last year, and this is the first time it has been given to everyone in the country.
22. Scientists have recently proven a cave on the Moon near the Sea of Tranquility, not far from where the famous landing in 1969 took place. The cave is an important find in lunar exploration because it could be used as a home for astronauts.
23. OpenAI has released GPT-4o mini, a new AI model that is more accessible to a wider range of people and costs less. There is a lot of competition in the AI area right now, especially from big names like Google and Meta.
24. The biggest storm in our solar system, the Great Red Spot (GRS) on Jupiter, is getting smaller right now. Some scientists think that this change might be linked to fewer small storms that normally help keep the GRS running. The GRS is a huge high-pressure storm in Jupiter's southern hemisphere that was first seen in the middle 1600s.
25. Asia's first Pre-clinical Network Facility for health study was opened in Faridabad, Haryana by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology. This building is part of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and its goal is to make studies better in case of an epidemic.
26. Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have made great progress in understanding the biochemistry of the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV). They have focused on the p30 protein, which is very important for the virus to enter animals. The goal of this work is to come up with successful ways to control the disease, such as vaccines.
27. NASA has made big strides in its study of exoplanets by confirming six new ones, bringing the total number of them to 5,502. This is an important step toward knowing the universe and the possibility of life beyond Earth. Poltergeist and Phobetor, the first exoplanets found orbiting the pulsar PSR B1257+12 in 1992, marked the start of the trip.
28. The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) won the best technology award at the 96th Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for its cutting-edge work in horticultural studies. Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan gave this award to him in New Delhi.
29. In July 2024, Minghao Nie from the University of Tokyo showcased a face mold covered in human skin tissue as part of groundbreaking research. This work aims to enhance the realism of robotic faces by incorporating living tissue that can express emotions, such as smiling.
30. Rogue waves, much bigger than the waves around them, have historically been very dangerous to ships and structures. Mathematicians at the University of Maryland have recently made progress that led to the creation of an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can use data from 172 ocean buoys to predict these dangerous waves.
31. Recent research published in Nature Geoscience has uncovered the production of a novel form of oxygen, dubbed "dark oxygen," on the deep-ocean floor-challenging long-standing scientific beliefs about oxygen production on Earth. Traditionally, it was believed that oxygen on Earth was primarily generated by photosynthetic organisms like plants and algae. This study shows a different way to get air in places with no light, like on the ocean floor.
32. China's Chang'e-5 lunar probe safely returned soil and rock samples from the Moon in 2020. These samples showed small amounts of water. A group of scientists wrote about this important discovery in the peer-reviewed magazine Nature Astronomy.
33. Meta's latest AI model, Llama 3.1, has reportedly outperformed leading competitors like OpenAI in various performance benchmarks, sparking interest in open source AI's evolving role in the tech landscape. Open source AI is a term for artificial intelligence technologies that are available to everyone under open source licenses, whether they want to use them for business or pleasure.
34. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) are going to work together on the Ramses project, which will focus on the asteroid Apophis, which is going to pass close to Earth in 2029. This project shows how more people around the world are working together to study objects close to Earth.
35. India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) said in July 2024 that it wanted to improve 6G technology that was already in the country. The project aims to create "Cell-Free" 6G Access Points by working with IIT Roorkee and IIT Mandi. This will help shape the future of mobile communication.
36. The Oropouche virus, which is mostly spread by midges and mosquitoes, has killed its first people in Brazil. The health ministry of Brazil stated that two women younger than 30 years old died in Bahia. People are now more aware of the virus, which has signs similar to dengue fever. The Oropouche virus was first found in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955.
37. OpenAI has released SearchGPT, which is a challenge to Google's long-time reign as the best search engine. The goal of this AI-powered search tool is to improve the user experience by giving them information and results from the internet in real-time.
38. On 26th July, SpaceX and NASA announced they would send Crew-9 to the International Space Station (ISS) as early as 18th August. This comes after the Federal Aviation Administration gave the go-ahead for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, which had been stopped because it failed in the middle of its flight.
39. On 29th July 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a new project to speed up the development of vaccines for bird flu in poorer countries. This project will use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. An Argentinian company, Sinergium Biotech, is leading the effort by developing H5N1 bird flu vaccine candidates.
40. NASA has announced that the launch of the NISAR satellite, a joint project between the U.S. and India, will be delayed until after February 2025. This delay is due to ongoing work on the satellite's large deployable antenna and specific needs related to its orbit.
41. SpaceX is preparing to launch its Polaris Dawn mission on 19th August, which is an important milestone for space tourism. This mission will feature Jared Isaacman, a billionaire from the fintech industry, who will make history by being the first private individual to conduct a spacewalk. The launch was initially planned for 31st July but it was delayed.
Government Schemes
1. The Indian government's NITI Aayog recently started the Sampoornata Abhiyan, a development program. It was held in Manzgam Block, Kulgam. A lot of people from local government and schools were there to launch this program. Through the saturation of key development indicators, the project wants to change Manzgam from an Aspirational Block to an Inspirational Block.
2. New parts of the Telecommunications Act were recently made public by the UK government. They are meant to make the processes for optimizing and regulating the use of the telecommunications space easier. Some important parts of the Act, like sections 6-8, 48, and 59(b), went into effect today. This piece of legislation goes along with other parts that have been in effect since 26th June and are meant to bring the telecommunications industry up to date and make it more efficient.
3. India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) released draft rules for the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) on 4th July. The goal is to improve and expand efforts to connect people to the Internet, especially in rural, remote, and poor urban areas. This plan changes the current Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) by moving money to help make phone services more accessible and broad.
4. A huge building project worth 72,000 crore is being closely examined on the Great Nicobar Island because of what people think are its possible effects on the environment, the law, and morality. As part of the project, services like an international airport and a trans-shipment port will be built.
5. The NITI GearShift Challenge was started by NITI Aayog and several well-known schools and groups. This project is part of the larger e-FAST India program, which aims to get more zero-emission trucks (ZETs) used in India. The goal of the challenge is to encourage people to come up with new ways to run businesses that could make it easier for electric cars to be used in India.
6. Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy led the launch of the Vriksharopan Abhiyan 2024 at Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) in Dhanbad on 25th July 2024. This project is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" program and took place in 300 places in 47 districts across 11 coal- and lignite-rich states.
Awards & Honours
1. According to reports, Sujata Saunik is the first woman in Maharashtra history to be named Chief Secretary. In a ceremony on 30th June, she officially took over from Nitin Karir in this important position. She was previously the Additional Chief Secretary (Home). Elected Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis both agreed on Sujata Saunik's election.
2. On 1st July 2024, Elisa de Anda Madrazo of Mexico took over as head of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The appointment, which is good until June 2026, is a big change in the way this important global financial watchdog is run. During her presidency, she plans to make it easier for people around the world to fight financial crimes and terrorist funding.
3. Antonio Costa, who used to be the prime minister of Portugal, has been chosen to be the next President of the European Council. This is the second most important job in the European Union (EU). In Brussels, the council made this surprising choice, picking Costa even though he wasn't on the first list of candidates.
4. Sopna Kallingal, an agriculturist from Kallingal Plantation in Thrissur, was recently honored with the prestigious Spice Award 2024. The ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research gave her this award to recognize her outstanding work in business diversification and integrated crop management.
5. After the recent general election, Rachel Reeves became Britain's first woman finance minister. This came after the Labour Party badly lost to the Conservatives. At age 45, her selection comes at a crucial time for the country, which is having economic problems.
6. The recent election of Masoud Pezeshkian as President of Iran is a big change in politics, showing how his personal honesty and progressive ideas come together. A former heart surgeon and health minister, Pezeshkian was chosen even though few people went to the polls, which shows that most people don't trust politicians. However, he has a strong personal following because of his character and desire for unity.
7. The Labour Party won a huge majority in the recent government elections, which means that Keir Starmer will be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The Conservative Party was thrown out, and Labour won 410 of the 650 seats. This was a big improvement from the previous election when they did very poorly.
8. On 7th July, Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine broke the world record for the highest jump by a woman. The old record had stood since 1987. In the Paris Diamond League, she reached an amazing height of 2.10 meters.
9. Ramaswami is a Democrat who used to work as an expert in voting security. He is very different from the current candidate, Shawn Still, who is a Republican and is part of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Senator Ossoff's support for Ramaswami contrasts his dedication to election security and Still's claimed role in tampering with the 2020 election results.
10. The 15th Agriculture Leadership Awards Committee found that Maharashtra is the best state for farming in 2024. This award, given by Justice P. Sathasivam, recognizes Maharashtra for making big steps forward in new ways of farming and improving rural areas.
11. The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, a high citizen award from Russia, was recently given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Vladimir Putin gave this award to the group. The award is given to Modi in recognition of his outstanding contributions.
12. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently appointed Prof. (Dr.) Soumya Swaminathan is in charge of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP). This volunteer, unpaid job shows how much she cares about public health and India's efforts to fight tuberculosis (TB).
13. Prime Minister Narendra Modi now has more than 100 million followers on the social media site X. This makes him the most followed world leader on this site. With this important accomplishment, he stands ahead of other famous people around the world, such as US Vice President Joe Biden and Pope Francis.
14. The Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity was given to the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) project in 2024 for its work on sustainable farming in India. This award shows how important Andhra Pradesh is to eco-friendly farming around the world.
15. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was re-elected and will serve for another five years. 401 votes from the European Parliament supported her election, showing a large group of people who agree with her in the face of ongoing global problems.
16. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) chose Vinay Mohan Kwatra to be India's new ambassador to the United States on 19th July 2024. He took over for Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who retired in January 2024. This news comes at a time when Kwatra is getting ready to start his new job.
17. On 21st July 2024, US President Joe Biden revealed that he was dropping out of the race for president. This came after a lot of talk and pressure from well-known Democrats. Concerns about Biden's age and ability were raised by his recent debate performance against Republican Donald Trump. This made party members less confident in his campaign.
18. Prahlad Chandra Agrawal, an eminent Indian astrophysicist, was awarded the COSPAR Harrie Massey Award 2024 at the 45th COSPAR scientific Assembly in Busan, South Korea, on 15th July 2024. The award recognizes his important contributions to space science and gives him the name of a minor planet 20064 Prahladagrawal.
19. Nita Ambani has been re-elected unanimously to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for a second term, just days before the Paris Olympics. This news shows how important she is to supporting sports in India and strengthens India's growing presence on the world stage of sports.
20. In honor of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, the Grevin Museum in Paris has ordered personalized gold coins with his picture on them. This recognition makes him the first Bollywood actor to receive such an honour at the museum. Shah Rukh Khan is famous all over the world. His figure is honored in wax statues in the US, the UK, France, and India, among other places. The new addition of gold coins to the Grevin Museum makes his reputation in the entertainment business even stronger.
21. Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in Visakhapatnam were recently praised by the Town Official Language Implementation Committee (TOLIC) for their work to promote Hindi. The "Rajbhasha Gaurav Samman" awards for 2023-24 were given out at an event put on by NTPC.
22. The Dr. C. Narayana Reddy National Literary Award has been given to the famous Tamil author Sivashankari. The Sushila Narayana Reddy Trust made the statement to honor her important contributions to Tamil literature. The award will be presented to her on 29th July during the 93rd birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. C. Narayana Reddy at Ravindra Bharati in Hyderabad.
23. On 10th August, during the 142nd IOC Session in Paris, Abhinav Bindra, the iconic Indian shooter and first individual Olympic gold medalist from India, will be awarded the Olympic Order for his significant contributions to the Olympic Movement. This ceremony is scheduled one day prior to the commencement of the 33rd Summer Olympic Games.
Sports
1. India's cricket team won the T20 World Cup, beating South in a historic win. It was their first title in 13 years. It hit the effects in an exciting final that took place in Barbados. This win was extra meaningful because it marked the retirement of some important players and a big change in the team's direction.
2. Anand beat Jaime Santos Latasa 3-1 in the finals to win his 10th title at the Leon Masters in Spain. Anand has been a world chess winner five times. Anand's long-lasting dominance in international chess is shown by this victory in Leon.
3. Gautam Gambhir has been named as the new head coach of the Indian men's cricket team by Jay Shah, who is the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The news was shared on social media, with a note about how well Gambhir knows current cricket and how many different kinds of experiences he has had with the game.
4. In a recent change in the Indian sports government, Gagan Narang, a famous shooter who won an Olympic bronze medal, took over from M. C. Mary Kom as the Chef-de-Mission for the Indian team at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The reason for this change is that Mary Kom quit for personal reasons.
5. The IIT Madras Center of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA) just recently announced a plan to make India the world's most important chess hub. The news was shared at the "Sports Tech Start-Up Conclave" in New Delhi.
6. At the ISSF Junior World Cup in Porpetto, Italy, Indian shooter Sabeera Haris won third place in the women's trap category. It was an amazing sports event. With this win, India added another medal to its collection at this important event.
7. India's Kush Maini achieved a significant milestone by winning his first Formula 2 Sprint Race at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The victory came after the winner was disqualified, allowing Maini to claim the top spot on the podium.
8. Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), told the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on 20th July that the BCCI would be giving Rs. 8.5 crore to help pay for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. India's success at the Games will be improved by this financial help.
9. On 20th July, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) appointed Manolo Marquez as the new head coach of the Indian men's football team. He will officially assume the role after the conclusion of the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) season.
10. In a remarkable display of skill and precision, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh has secured a bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the Paris Olympics. This victory is particularly notable as it marks the second bronze for Manu Bhaker at the Paris Olympics, making her the first Indian to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympic Games since Independence.
11. Sri Lanka secured their first-ever Women's Asia Cup title on 28th July, defeating the defending champions India in front of an ecstatic home crowd. This victory marks a significant milestone in Sri Lankan women's cricket history and ends India's long-standing dominance in the tournament.
12. 16-year-old Jiya Rai from Mumbai has set a new world record as the youngest and fastest para-swimmer to cross the English Channel. Suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jiya completed her 34-kilometer swim from Abbot's Cliff in England to Pointe de la Courte-Dune in France in 17 hours and 25 minutes on 28th - 29th July 2024.
13. India is set to host the 2025 men's Asia Cup in the T20 format, which will be a warm-up for the T20 World Cup scheduled for 2026. This decision comes after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) issued an Invitation for Expression of Interest (IEOI).
References:
jagranjosh.com
gktoday.in
business-standard.com
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