1 President Draupadi Murmu appointed Justice N. Kotishwar Singh and R. Mahadevan as judges of the Supreme Court
President Draupadi Murmu has appointed Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice R. Mahadevan as judges of the Supreme Court . Justice N. Kotiswar Singh is currently the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh , while Justice R. Mahadevan is a judge of the Madras High Court . The Ministry of Law and Justice said that the appointment will be effective from the day the judges assume their respective charge.
2 One Scientist, One Product scheme started
On July 16 , a program was held in New Delhi on the 96th foundation day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) . In this, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan launched the One Scientist, One Product scheme . Here 323 varieties of 56 crops including cereals, oilseeds, fodder crops and sugarcane were launched. These crops include 289 climate-friendly varieties and 27 bio-enhanced varieties. All 5,521 scientists of ICAR were given the target of presenting one product, one technology, one model, one concept. This scheme will run for 5 years, in which teams of scientists will research all varieties of crops. ICAR was established on 16 July 1929 in New Delhi.
3 World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2024 inaugurated
For the first time in India, the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting is being held in New Delhi from 21-31 July 2024. As an integral part of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee and in the framework of UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme, Ministry of Culture is hosting the 2024 World Heritage Young Professionals Forum. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology, a sub-office under the Archaeological Survey of India is hosting the Young Professionals Forum on the theme ‘World Heritage in the 21st Century : Capacity Building of Youth and Exploring Opportunities ’ from 14 to 23 July 2024 in New Delhi .
4 Rajiv Kumar again became DGP of West Bengal
On July 15, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appointed Rajiv Kumar as the state’s Deputy General of Police (DGP) . He will replace Sanjay Mukherjee , who was transferred to the post of DG (Fire). Rajiv Kumar was the DGP of Bengal from December 2023 to March 2024. He was transferred by the Election Commission during the Lok Sabha elections in March 2024. After the elections, he has been reinstated as DGP by the West Bengal government. He was the Kolkata Police Commissioner from February 2016 to February 2019. Rajiv has served as Additional DGP of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
5 IMF raises India’s economic growth forecast for FY 2024-25 by 20 points to 7%
The International Monetary Fund-IMF has raised India’s economic growth forecast by 20 points to seven percent in the financial year 2024-25 . Earlier in April, the IMF had raised India’s GDP forecast by 30 points to six point eight percent. The IMF said that the growth forecast in India has been raised amid better prospects for private consumption, especially in rural areas. With this, India has become the world’s fastest growing economy. On the other hand, the IMF’s global growth forecast remains unchanged at three point two percent for the year 2024 and slightly more than three point three percent in 2025. For China too, the IMF has revised the growth rate to 5 percent for 2024, but it has said that China’s GDP will slow down to four point five percent in 2025. The decline is expected to continue to three point three percent in the medium term till the year 2029. The Reserve Bank of India also, in its latest monetary policy meeting, raised its GDP forecast for the current fiscal year to 7.2 per cent for 2024-25 from 7 per cent earlier.
6 Philippines selected to host Board of Loss and Damage Fund
The Philippines has been chosen to host the board of the UN-negotiated Loss and Damage Fund , marking another step toward providing financial assistance to countries to recover and rebuild from the effects of global warming. Last month, the World Bank’s board approved a plan for the bank to serve as the fund’s interim host for four years.The Loss and Damage Fund Board, during its second meeting in Incheon, South Korea, unanimously decided to name it the Loss and Damage Fund (FRLD), and also decided that the Philippines will be the host country for the operation of the fund.The Loss and Damage Fund Board is composed of 26 members from the Parties to the Convention and the Paris Agreement, including 12 members from developed country Parties and 14 members from developing country Parties.
7 President Paul Kagame elected President of Rwanda for the fourth time
According to Rwanda ‘s National Election Commission , President Paul Kagame has won the country’s presidential election for the fourth time by securing 99 percent of the vote . By late evening on July 15, 2024, 79 percent of the votes had been counted. Paul Kagame, who has ruled the country as president since 2000, also won the last presidential election in 2017 with 99 percent of the votes. The final official result of the 2024 presidential election is expected to be announced on or before July 27. Paul Kagame has been elected for a new five-year term.
8 Folk Festival Harela
Harela festival is celebrated with great pomp in Uttarakhand . The folk festival Harela is a message of the arrival of Sawan (Sawan 2024) . Harela is a folk festival of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand , which is associated with nature. Harela festival is especially celebrated in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand . When the Sun God enters Cancer (Surya Gochar in Kark Rashi), the festival of Harela is celebrated. This year Harela festival was celebrated on 16 July 2024. Uttarakhand is called Shivbhoomi, because here is Kedarnath Jyotirlinga and Lord Shiva’s in-laws’ house.
9 UP government will run tree plantation campaign to increase farmers’ income
The Uttar Pradesh government has launched an initiative to increase the income of the state’s farmers by encouraging them to participate in tree plantation campaigns and earn carbon credits . Under this initiative, the Yogi Adityanath government will launch a massive tree plantation campaign in the state on July 20, 2024, with a target of planting 36.50 crore saplings . In fact, the central government has announced to enable the country to have ‘net zero carbon emissions’ by 2070. That is, by this time the country will get almost 100 percent of its energy through green energy and the carbon emissions generated due to the use of biofuels will be eliminated.
10 Bihar’s first transgender sub-inspector created history
In a historic achievement, Maanvi Madhu Kashyap and two other transgender persons have created history by becoming the first transwoman sub-inspectors in the Bihar Police . Despite facing rejection and discrimination from coaching centres, Kashyap grittily cleared the Bihar Police Subordinate Selection Commission (BPSSC) exam. Her success is an important milestone for transgender rights and representation in law enforcement.
11 Indian sand artist Sudarshan wins gold medal at International Sand Sculpture Championship
Renowned sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik won the Golden Sand Master award at an international championship held in Russia on July 12. The International Sand Sculpture Championship was held from July 4-12 at the iconic Peter and Paul Fortress in St Petersburg. 21 master sculptors from across the world participated in the event. Sudarshan Patnaik (born 15 April 1977) is an Indian sand artist from Puri , Odisha . In 2014, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, for his sand art on the beach.
12 Jio Financial Services will become a core investment company, RBI approves
Jio Financial Services has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to convert from a non-banking financial company (NBFC) to a core investment company (CIC) . Following the announcement, the company’s shares rose over 2% on the NSE. Jio Financial Services had applied to the RBI to change its status to a CIC in November 2023. The approval allows the company to organize its business verticals, such as lending, asset management, and insurance, into separate subsidiaries under the CIC structure.
13 Paytm Payments Bank appoints Arun Bansal as its new CEO
Paytm Payments Bank , a subsidiary of One97 Communications (OCL), has appointed Arun Kumar Bansal as its new managing director and chief executive officer (CEO). Bansal, a former IDBI Bank executive director, resigned from IDBI Bank following RBI’s approval of his appointment. In his resignation letter, Bansal sought relief from his services on or before June 25, as Paytm Payments Bank’s former chief director and CEO, Surinder Chawla, was set to retire on June 26.
14 World Youth Skills Day 2024
World Youth Skills Day , celebrated every year on July 15 , was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. The day serves as a global platform to highlight the importance of equipping youth with the necessary skills for employment, dignified work, and entrepreneurship. During the 2024 celebration, the theme “ Youth Skills for Peace and Development ” takes center stage, highlighting the critical role of youth in promoting peace and encouraging sustainable development.