1 ICC declared Jaspreet Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana as ‘Player of the Month’ for June
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has declared Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah as the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for the month of June 2024. Recently , Jasprit Bumrah performed brilliantly in the T20 World Cup, taking 15 wickets in eight matches. He was also declared the Player of the Tournament. On the other hand, Indian women’s cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has been declared the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for June . She has achieved this feat by defeating England’s Maia Boucher and Sri Lanka’s Vishmi Gunaratne. She has been given this title for her brilliant batting performance against South Africa.
2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Conference to begin in New Delhi
The second conference of foreign ministers of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will begin in New Delhi . The Ministry of External Affairs said that Foreign Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will host the foreign ministers of BIMSTEC in this program. The ministry said that this conference will provide an opportunity for the members of this group to deepen cooperation in many areas including security, connectivity, trade and investment in the Bay of Bengal and coastal areas. The first BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers Conference was held in Bangkok , Thailand in July last year . BIMSTEC is a group of seven South and Southeast Asian countries for multifaceted cooperation.
3 Minister of State for Defence Shri Sanjay Seth launches GRSE Accelerated Innovation Promotion Scheme (GAINS- 2024)
Minister of State for Defence Shri Sanjay Seth launched the “ GRSE Accelerated Innovation Incentive Scheme (GAINS-2024) ” of Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata on July 10, 2024. It is an innovative scheme to find solutions to shipyard related problems and promote technology development by harnessing indigenously created and nurtured start-ups. It also enables MSMEs and start-ups to develop innovative solutions for further technological advancement. The initiative is in line with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Start-up India’ policies of the Government of India. ‘GAINS’ is a unique national scheme to encourage and enable MSMEs and start-ups to develop innovative solutions which can be implemented by GRSE for further technological advancement. It aims to achieve the objectives of self-reliance by leveraging the vast ecosystem of MSMEs and start-ups to address existing and emerging challenges in the ship design and construction industry.
4 Mutual Recognition Agreement between India and Taiwan for organic products
Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for Organic Products between India and Taiwan New Delhi . The implementation of MRA between India and Taiwan is a landmark achievement as it is the first bilateral agreement for organic products. The implementing agencies for MRA are Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India and Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan. Based on this agreement, agricultural products produced and handled organically in conformity with the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) are allowed for sale in Taiwan with an organic performance document (transaction certificate, etc.) issued by a recognized certification body under NPOP, including display of the “India Organic” logo.
5 IIMB to host ‘Lakshya 2K24’ to promote collaboration between defence establishments and industry representatives
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) will host ‘ Lakshya 2K24 ‘ in Bengaluru to promote collaboration between defence establishments and industry representatives . Its theme is – Diversity and the Future of Work . More than 50 defence personnel and industry practitioners have been invited to the Lakshya 2K24 event to be held on July 14 at the IIMB campus. It provides a platform for defence professionals and industry leaders to exchange ideas. It will discuss the integration of AI across sectors. Experts and thought leaders will engage in in-depth discussions on inclusive leadership, workforce transformation and the impact of technological advancements.
6 Mitra vans will be set up in 35 border districts of Uttar Pradesh
Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has announced a major initiative to establish ‘ Mitra Vans ‘ in 35 districts of the state sharing border with other states, Union Territories and Nepal . Under the Tree Plantation Public Campaign-2024, extensive tree plantation will be done to establish ‘Mitra Vans’ in these 35 districts. Along with ‘Mitra Vans’, special forests like ‘ Shakti Van ‘, ‘ Yuva Van ‘ and ‘ Bal Van ‘ will also be established in each district under Tree Plantation Public Campaign 2024. Uttar Pradesh Forest Department is the nodal agency for implementing the Mitra Van scheme under Tree Plantation Public Campaign-2024. During the tree plantation program, the Forest Department of Uttar Pradesh will coordinate with the representatives of the neighboring states, Union Territories and Nepal and involve them in this campaign. The Forest Department will also obtain the opinion of the representatives of the neighboring states, Union Territories and Nepal on the species of trees to be planted and ensure the availability of plant species in the forest division. Marking the place of plantation is the responsibility of the 35 forest divisions and they will also select the species of plants for plantation. The Forest Department has set a target of planting 35 crore saplings in 35 identified districts and this plantation has to be completed by July 20, 2024.
7 Former Chief Justice UU Lalit to head VC appointment committee in Bengal
The Supreme Court has appointed former Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit as the chairman of the search and selection committee for the appointment of vice-chancellors in all state-run universities in West Bengal . A division bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Vishwanathan passed the order on July 9, 2024. The two-judge bench passed the order on a special leave petition filed by the West Bengal government under Article 138 of the Constitution. The state government’s petition challenged the Calcutta High Court’s June 28, 2023 order which held that there was no illegality in the appointment of vice-chancellors of 13 state-run universities by the state governor C V Anand Bose. The governor is the chancellor of state universities.
8 indigenous Zorawar tanks will be inducted into the Indian Army by 2027: DRDO
According to Dr. Sameer Kamath, Chairman of Defense and Research Development Organization (DRDO) , the indigenously developed light tank Zorawar is expected to be inducted into the Indian Army in 2027. DRDO hopes that all the necessary tests will be completed successfully, and the tank will be inducted into the Indian Army in 2027. Dr. Sameer Kamath said this after the testing of the tank started in Hazira, Gujarat . The Zorawar tank is being designed and developed by DRDO with its main partner being private sector company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) . After the bloody clash between the Indian Army and the Chinese Army in Galwan, Ladakh in June 2020, the Government of India approved the development of a light tank for the Indian Army in March 2022. Within two and a half years of government approval, DRDO has designed and developed the prototype of the tank. The prototype of the tank is being tested extensively in Hazira, Gujarat.
9 ‘One India – One Ticket’ initiative has been launched to improve passenger travel in the National Capital Region
To improve the travel of passengers in the National Capital Region, ‘One India – One Ticket ‘ initiative has been started. Under this initiative, passengers can now book QR code based tickets of Delhi Metro Rail from Indian Railways , IRCTC website and mobile app. The full version of this facility will be launched soon. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has said that under this initiative, passengers can book metro tickets 120 days in advance. These tickets will be valid for four days from the date of travel. However, only single journey can be made on the ticket. For the launch of this initiative, an agreement has been signed between Delhi Metro Rail Corporation , Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited and Center for Railway Information System .
10 President Draupadi Murmu unveiled the trophies of Durand Cup Tournament 2024
President Draupadi Murmu unveiled the trophies of the Durand Cup Tournament 2024 at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan . These include Durand Cup, President’s Cup and Shimla Trophy . On this occasion, the President said that football is one of the most popular sports in the world. He wished all the players participating in the Durand Cup Tournament 2024. The 133rd edition of the Durand Cup will begin on 27 July 2024. The final of Asia and India’s oldest club-based football tournament will be played at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata, West Bengal on 31 August 2024. The matches of the 133rd Durand Cup will be held in Kolkata, Kokrajhar (Assam), Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) and Shillong (Meghalaya).
11 Indian para shooters Rubina Francis and Swaroop Unhalkar have secured quota for Paris Paralympics
Indian para shooters Rubina Francis and Swaroop Unhalkar have secured quota for Paris Paralympics under ‘ wildcard ‘ (bipartite rule). This has increased the number of para shooters in these games to 10. Indian Paralympic Committee had requested for a wildcard place for Rubina in women’s 10m air pistol SH1 and Swaroop in men’s 10m air rifle HH1 event . Rubina and Swaroop, gold medalists of Hangzhou Asian Games last year and world number two, have been performing consistently in international competitions, due to which Indian para shooters decided to request for a wildcard place.