Current Affairs Weekly Updates – JULY Week I

In Current Affairs 2017
July 11, 2017

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AWARDS AND HONOURS

NAME OF THE AWARD	AWARD WINNER	KEY POINTS TO NOTE
Great Immigrants award	Adobe Chief Shantanu Narayen and former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy	For their role in helping advance the country’s society, culture and economy.
Indian of the year award	Preeti Shenoy	Award by the Brands Academy
Australia’s highest civilian award	Guruswamy Jayraman	He works as a senior accountant with Woollahra Municipal Council

APPOINTMENTS

NAME	DEPT/FIELD
Rajkiran Rai G	MD & CEO of Union Bank of India
Kewal Handa	Non-executive Chairman of Union bank
Melwyn Reg	MD & CEO of Syndicate Bank
Shamma Jain	Indian envoy to Greece
Ana Brnabic	First woman Prime Minister of Serbia
Achal kumar jyoti	India’s new chief election commissioner
R K Pachnanda	Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor	First female chief executive of Hong kong
Pradeep Kumar Rawat	Ambassador of India to the Republic of Indonesia
Sanjay Kumar	chief of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
N Chandrasekaran	Chairman of Tata Global Beverages Limited
Gowra Srinivas	President of Federation of Telangana & Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTAPCCI)
Sandeep Chakravorty	Indian Ambassador to Peru
John Joseph	Chief of GST intelligence agency
Saima Wazed Hossain	WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Autism in South Asia
Raninder Singh(Re-elects )	president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)

INDIAN AFFAIRS

Maximization of registration of eligible electors with the focus on left out eligible young citizens in the age group of 18-19. During the drive, the EC will remove names of registered dead electors, if any, from electoral rolls.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd has entered into a technology collaboration agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (KHI) of Japan for manufacturing of stainless steel coaches and bogies for metros
India has contributed $500,000 to the UN Peace building Fund, expressing hope that more funding by nations will boost efforts by the world body to build and sustain peace.
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has announced exemption of fees for its transgender students of all programmes.
Madhya Pradesh sets new Guinness World Record by planting over six crore saplings in 24 districts of Narmada basin in just 12 hours.
Telengana will have a separate budget for Agriculture from next year.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lays foundation of the India’s biggest Global Skill Park to be developed in Bhopal.
Vikrikar Bhavan’ the headquarters of Maharashtra government’s erst while Sales Tax department, was renamed as “GST Bhavan” as the new tax regime rolled out.
Entire Nagaland has been declared as “disturbed area” for six more months under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere without any prior notice.
President Pranab Mukherjee has approved the promulgation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, making it possible for kambala – a traditiional buffalo race – to be conducted.
The Karnataka government has launched the ‘Elevate 100’ scheme to identify and nurture innovative start-ups.
The Haryana government will set up an environment-friendly transportation system in Gurgaon on the pattern of Poland.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog, a city-based NGO, has been awarded the United Nations Development Programme’s Equator Prize for devising an ecologically sustainable agriculture model to combat the adverse impacts of drought.
The Ministry of Power launched a portal for optimum utilisation of domestic coal by independent power producers.
Goyal also announced the Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency (MERIT) app.
The environment minister has launched a month-long tree plantation drive to mark Van Mahotsav.
The United Forum of Bank Unions has decided to observe July 19, the 48th anniversary of nationalisation of major banks, as ‘Save public sector banks’ day.
India is ranked a high 23rd out of 165 nations in a global index that measures the commitment of nations across the world to cyber security.
The Odisha government today signed an Expression of Intent (EOI) with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to establish a High Performance Academy in Bhubaneswar.
India has declared itself free from Bird Flu (highly pathogenic Avian Influenza – H5N1 and H5N8) and notified it to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
July 25 will mark the celebration of Kanyashree Utsav the day will witness representatives from all corners of the state coming together to congratulate accomplished Kanyashrees, who will be felicitated by the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself.
Chhattisgarh has topped the list among all the states in the country for having issued over 43 lakh soil health cards (SHCs) to farmers in the past two years.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said there is strong possibility Chhattisgarh will become the country’s logistic hub following the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST).
A proposal to establish an exclusive university for Dalit students in Hyderabad is under active consideration of the state government.
Ahmedabad has been declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO, historians, urban planners and others hope that policy-makers will stop looking at heritage as a “burden”.
Punjab cabinet has approved the new transport policy to streamline the issuance of permits and licences across commercial and private transport vehicles.
Jigyasa, a student- scientist connect programme was officially launched in the national capital.
The external affairs ministry’s website will soon be available in Arabic too — after French and Spanish — in a bid to reach out to the Arab world following Prime Minister’s celebrated visit to Israel.
The government will set up ‘Garib Nawaz’ skill development centres in 100 districts of the country to offer employment-oriented training to the youth from minority communities.
The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM), under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Government of India, has launched a the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy 2016, a ‘Scheme for IPR Awareness – Creative India; Innovative India’.
President Pranab Mukherjee has launched digital initiatives – Swayam, Swayam Prabha and National Academic Depository – in New Delhi to push e-education in the country.

BANKING AND FINANCE

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed USD 10 billion supports for infrastructure building and immediate development needs of less-developed states in the country.
FINO Payments Bank has commenced operations as a payments bank with effect from 30th June 2017 according to the Reserve Bank of India.
The Reserve Bank stated the ongoing accelerated reform initiatives like Goods and Sevice Tax and continuing political stability will push the economic growth scale to 7.3 per cent in terms of Gross Value Added -GVA in the current fiscal year (2017-18).
ICICI Bank has said the joint venture agreement between it and Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd has been terminated ahead of the IPO of ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company — a JV between the two entities.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India has signed a USD 220 million loan deal for improving connectivity as well as transport efficiency and safety on the State Highways in Rajasthan.
Yes Bank, India’s fourth-largest private sector bank have signed an MoU in London with Santander to promote India-UK trade and business opportunities.
Domestic android-based mobile operating system Indus OS on Wednesday announced a partnership with Yes Bank to launch an OS-integrated UPI payment platform.
Nepal SBI Bank, a subsidiary of the State Bank of India, has launched its fully automatic digital banking services in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.

BUSINESS AFFAIRS

Reliance Jio has launched the Asia-Africa-Europe (AAE-1) submarine cable system.
Mid-sized microfinance institution Svatantra Microfin is looking at doubling its loan disbursals to ₹800 crore by 201
The National Multi-Commodity Exchange (NMCE) has decided to merge with the Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX), creating the third-largest commodity exchange in the country.
An international body which focuses on climate policies has ranked The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) among the top think tanks in the world.
Reliance Jio on 29 June 2017 announced the launch of the Asia-Africa-Europe (AAE-1) submarine cable system.
Siemens has opened its first digital factory in India, also the third globally after one each in Germany and China, as the industrial conglomerate pitches smart facilities to small and medium scale enterprises in the country.

ECONOMY NEWS

The Goods and Services Tax Council lowered the rate on fertiliser from 12% to 5% and on tractor parts from 28% to 18%. The decision was taken on the eve of the mega launch of GST.
The Financial Stability Board (FSB), an international body for global financial system, has placed India in the league of countries that are ‘compliant or largely compliant’ on implementation of priority area reforms.
Retirement fund body EPFO has inked pacts with five banks for collections of provident dues and to make retirement payments.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

A 14-day joint military training exercise between India and Thailand started in Himachal Pradesh. The joint exercise of the Indian Army with the Royal Thailand Army commenced at Bakloh in Chamba district.
India and Israel have signed seven agreements to increase cooperation in key sectors like space, agriculture and water conservation after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held in-depth talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Malabar naval exercise involving Indian, American and Japanese navies will kick start on July 10 in the Bay of Bengal, amid China’s growing military assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.
India and Bangladesh have decided to construct a bridge over Mizoram’s Khawthlangtuipui river to facilitate trade and improve communication between the two neighbours.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

The lower house of the German Parliament voted to legalize same-sex marriage after a brisk but emotional debate.
After China’s Nanjing city became the first Asian city to be getting a vertical forest (by 2018), China is building a forest city – Liuzhou Forest City – which will boast urban settlements and vertical forests.
Iran plans to sign a new contract to develop its giant South Pars gas field with France’s Total and China’s CNPC.
Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education was held on 5th July, 2017 at Beijing, China.
BEIJING DECLARATION ON EDUCATION adopted in the 5th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education in Beijing, China, on July 5th, 2017.
The G20 forum is being held from 7-8 July in Hamburg, Germany. This will be the 12th G20 summit and the first time it has been hosted by Germany.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

NASA successfully launched its Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket — after 11 recent unsuccessful attempts.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test-firing the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) from ITR Chandipur, off the Odisha Coast.

SPORTS

WINNER	TITLE	SPORT/ VENUE
Ritika Thaker	women’s singles Ivory Coast International tournament	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Ritika Thaker Simran	women’s doubles Ivory Coast International tournament	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Germany	2017 FIFA Confederations Cup	Held in Russia
Jehan Daruvala	FIA Formula 3 European Championship race	Nuremberg circuit, Europe
Pankaj Advani	Asian snooker championship	Held in Chandigarh
Manpreet kaur, Govindan laxmanan (Gold)	ASIAN athletics championships	Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas	2017 Austrian Grand Prix	─
Harinder Pal Sandhu	2017 Australian Open title	─
Atthaya Thitikul	Professional golf event	Fourteen-year-old amateur

OBITUARY

NAME OF THE PERSON	FIELD
Ravinder Randev	Journalist

IMPORTANT DAYS

DATE OBSERVED	DAY OBSERVED	Theme / Purpose
July 1	National Doctor’s Day	To respect the Most Famous and great Physician Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy of India
July 1	Chartered Accountants’ Day (India)	The Institute of Chartered Accountants in India was founded that day
1^st Saturday of July	International Day of Co-operatives	Co-operatives ensure no one is left behind
July 2	World Sports Journalists Day	Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive, AIPS was founded on July 2, 1924 during the Summer Olympics in Paris.
July 6	World Zoonoses Day	To emphasize and bring the problem awareness amongst people, and teach them to take right action.
July 7	World Forgiveness day	It was created in 1994 by the Christian Embassy of Christ’s Ambassadors.