1 Inaugural Session of Journey Towards Developed India
On July 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of ‘ Journey Towards Developed India ‘ at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi . PM Modi announced a grant of Rs 75,000 for each house under the Surya Ghar Yojana . Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized this conference. The conference outlined the government’s vision for the development of the country and the role of the industry in this effort. More than 1000 participants from industry, government, diplomatic community and think tanks and other sectors attended the conference. CII is a non-governmental, non-profit, industry led and industry managed organization of India. This organization is playing an active role in India’s industrial development process. CII was established in 1895, headquartered in Delhi.
2 Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched National Apprenticeship Training Scheme-NETS 2.0 portal
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme-NETS 2.0 portal in New Delhi and released Rs 100 crore as training amount through Direct Benefit Transfer . The scheme aims to democratize apprenticeship, fulfill youth aspirations and make them future-ready. Addressing the event, Mr Pradhan said that this platform will enable students to enhance their skills and qualify industry bodies. He said that under the scheme, Rs 4500 per month will be provided to the students during the apprenticeship period of six months to 18th month.
3 For self-reliance in the defense sector, 3 state-of-the-art testing facilities will be set up in Uttar Pradesh Defense Industrial Corridor
The Ministry of Defence has signed MoUs to set up test facilities in unmanned aerial systems, communications and mechanical and material sectors under the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor . On Tuesday (July 30) , an agreement has been signed with the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority to set up three state-of-the-art test facilities under the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor in New Delhi. Under this , one facility will be set up in Lucknow and two in Kanpur. It is worth mentioning that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had launched the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) in May 2020 with an outlay of Rs 400 crore, which aims to set up state-of-the-art test facilities in collaboration with private industry, central and state government, promote indigenous defence production, reduce imports and enhance self-reliance. At the same time, four test facilities were approved in Tamil Nadu and three in Uttar Pradesh to give impetus to the defence and aerospace sectors within the defence industrial corridors.
4 Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion (Amendment Bill)- 2024 passed by Uttar Pradesh Assembly
The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly has passed the Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion (Amendment Bill)- 2024. The amendments aim to make this Act more stringent by increasing the punishment . Earlier , the maximum punishment under this law was 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 50,000 . Under this bill, a provision of 3 to 10 years of punishment has been made for illegal religious conversion in the state. At the same time, a punishment of 7 to 14 years has been fixed for mass religious conversion and conversion with foreign funds. The bill also states that if the life or property of a person is endangered for religious conversion , or force is used or marriage is done for religious conversion or promise of marriage is made, then in such a case the period of imprisonment can be from 20 years to life imprisonment. The bill states that if a minor, woman or person is lured and human trafficking is done, then in such a case the punishment can be from 20 years to life imprisonment . The Uttar Pradesh government enacted the first law against illegal religious conversion in the year 2021 .
5 Iran: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari attended the swearing-in ceremony of President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran , the capital of Iran, yesterday . Shri Gadkari conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s best wishes to President Pezeshkian on assuming office.
6 Indian team won one gold, two silver and one bronze medal in 56th International Chemistry Olympiad
The Indian team has won one gold, two silver and one bronze medal in the 56th International Chemistry Olympiad. The competition was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 21st to 30th of this month. Devesh Bhaiya of Jalgaon, Maharashtra won the gold medal, while Avnish Bansal of Mumbai and Harshin Posina of Hyderabad won silver medals. Kashyap Khandelwal of Mumbai won the bronze medal. Professor Gulshanara Sheikh and Dr. Shraddha Tiwari were present as mentors of the Indian contingent. 327 students from 94 countries participated in the 56th International Chemistry Olympiad.
7 Sri Lanka will host the 83rd edition of the oldest sporting competition between India and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka will host the 83rd edition of the prestigious Madras-Colombo Regatta on August 3. It is the oldest sporting event between India and Sri Lanka. Participants from Madras Boat Club and Colombo Rowing Club will showcase their rowing skills . The event will be attended by a large number of spectators including dignitaries, sports enthusiasts and club members. The regatta will have 12 exciting events, including eight men’s and four women’s competitions. The winners of the men’s category will be awarded the prestigious Deepam Trophy, while the Adyar Trophy will be given to the women’s champion. The highlight of the regatta, the Boat Race Trophy will be awarded to the winners of the men’s senior four. In 2023 The Regatta was hosted at the Madras Boat Club in Chennai.
8 Manu-Sarabjot won bronze in pistol mixed
On 30 July, the pair of Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh defeated Korea 16-10 in the bronze medal match of the 10 meter pistol mixed team event . Manu has become the first Indian woman to win two medals in the same Olympic Games . Manu Bhaker had won the first medal bronze two days ago. She was third in the 10 meter women’s pistol event . India has got double medals in shooting after 12 years in the Olympic Games. Earlier, Gagan Narang and Vijay Kumar had won medals in the London Olympics 2012. Before Manu, an English athlete Norman Pritchard had won 2 medals in an Olympic Games. He won silver in 200 meter hurdles and 200 meter race in the 1900 Paris Olympics. This was India’s first Olympic medal in the Olympics.
9 Asia Cup 2025 will be played in India
On 29 July, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) gave the hosting rights of the next edition of the Men’s Asia Cup to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) . The Men’s Asia Cup 2025 will be held in India. In 2025, this tournament will be played in T20 format . India has got the hosting rights of Asia Cup after 34 years. 13 matches will be played in Men’s Asia Cup 2024. 6 teams India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will play in it. The last Asia Cup tournament was played in India in 1990-91, which was the fourth edition. Asia Cup 2023 was played in Sri Lanka, in which India won the title. Bangladesh has been given the hosting rights of Asia Cup in 2027. Asia Cup 2027 will be played in ODI format in Bangladesh.
10 Jiya set a world record by crossing the English Channel
On 29 July, Jiya Roy became the world’s youngest and fastest para swimmer to cross the English Channel . She crossed the English Channel between 28 and 29 July in 17 hours and 25 minutes. 16-year-old Jiya covered a distance of 34 km . She was part of a 6-member relay team from Mumbai to Goa . She swam across the Palk Strait from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka to Dhanushkodi in India . She set a world record by covering a distance of 29 km in 13 hours and 10 minutes . Jiya has become the world’s youngest and fastest female athlete to swim across the Palk Strait. Jiya Roy has also won medals in national and state open water sea-swimming championships.
11 Delhi Premier League 2024
On 29 July, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) announced the Delhi Premier League . The first season of the league will start in the second half of August 2024. A total of 40 cricket matches will be played in the T20 league. Of these, there will be 33 matches in the men’s category and 7 in the women’s category. On 28 July, 6 men’s teams were sold for Rs 49.65 crore in the franchise auction. The President of Delhi and District Cricket Association is Rohan Jaitley.
12 Former MP minister Arif Aqeel passes away
Former Madhya Pradesh minister Arif Aqeel passed away on 29 July . 72-year-old Arif was admitted to a private hospital in Bhopal for the past few days due to prolonged illness. Arif Aqeel was a 6-time MLA from Bhopal’s North Assembly constituency . Arif won for the first time as an independent MLA in 1990 and later joined the Congress. He won consecutively in the assembly elections of 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018. He was a minister in the Congress government of former CM Digvijay Singh (1996-2003). He also became a minister in the Congress government of former CM Kamal Nath in 2018-20.