Current Affairs 24 July 2020

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 24 July 2020, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2020 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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Top 25 Current Affairs of 24 July 2020

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

PM Narendra Modi Laid Foundation Stone for Manipur Water Supply Project

On 23rd July 2020, through video conferencing Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India laid the foundation stone of the Manipur Water Supply Project, under the Jal Jeevan Mission designed to provide Freshwater Household Tap connections(FHTCs) to the remaining households in the Greater Imphal Planning area, 25 towns and 16 districts of Manipur.
About Manipur:
Governor– Najma Akbar Ali Heptulla 
Chief Minister– N Biren Singh
Capital– Imphal
<< Read Full News >>

PM Modi addressed virtual India Ideas Summit 2020; India-US negotiating UAV co-development programme

i.On July 22, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address at the two days long (July 21-22) virtual India Ideas Summit 2020 which was hosted by US-India Business Council (USIBC) under the theme “Building a Better Future”. 
ii.The year 2020 marked the 45th anniversary of the formation of the Council.
iii.The US and India are negotiating a co-development programme for the air-launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), between US Air Force research labs, Indian Air Force (IAF), India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and an Indian start-up company.
<< Read Full News >>

Kakrapar Atomic Power Project’s Unit 3 in Gujarat: India’s First 700 MWe unit to Achieve Criticality

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited(NPCIL) announced that, Unit-3 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Project(KAPP-3), India’s First 700 MWe (megawatt electric) and indigenously developed Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor(PHWR) in Surat, Gujarat achieved its first criticality – initiation of controlled and sustained nuclear fission reaction on 22nd July 2020(Wednesday).
About Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited(NPCIL):
Chairman & Managing Director– Satish Kumar Sharma
Head Office– Mumbai, Maharashtra
<< Read Full News >>

India to Have 60% Renewable Energy by 2030: R K Singh at Webinar On Energy Transition 

Raj Kumar Singh, Minister of State(MoS)(IC) Power and New & Renewable Energy stated that India will have around 60% of the installed capacity of the electricity generation from renewable resources by 2030, in the webinar on Energy Transition at the second pre-event hosted by The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2021 in collaboration with Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) India on 21st July 2020.
About Ministry of Power and Ministry of New & Renewable Energy(MNRE):
Minister of state (IC)– Raj Kumar Singh
About TERI – The Energy and Resources Institute:
Director General– Dr Ajay Mathur
Headquarters– New Delhi
<< Read Full News >>

Jitendra Singh Launched Restructured Scheme for PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2020 and Web Portal Virtually

i.Jitendra Singh,Minister of State  for Prime Minister’s Office(PMO), Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space launched the restructured scheme for PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2020 and the web portal (www.pmawards.gov.in) through video conference.
ii.Purpose of restructuring– To recognize the performance of the District Collectors with regard to outcome indicators, economic development, peoples’ participation and redressal of public grievances.
<< Read Full News >>

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India, Maldives signed contract for development of Geydoshu Mas Plant in Maldives’ Maradhoo and Hulhudhoo

i.On July 22, 2020, India and Maldives inked an agreement to set up Geydoshu Mas Plant (Neighbourhood Fish Processing Plants) at two islands in the Addu city of Maldives namely Maradhoo and Hulhudhoo. 
ii.The Contract signing ceremony was held in Addu City, which attended virtually Maldives’ Foreign Secretary Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed, High Commissioner of India to the Maldives Sunjay Sudir, along with other members of Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign affairs.
iii.This agreement is first in the series of “Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects through local bodies” in Maldives at a total cost of $5.5 million.
About Maldives:
Capital– Male
Currency– Maldivian rufiyaa
<< Read Full News >>

Turkmenistan became 25th country with Observer Status in World Trade Organization

i.On July 22, 2020, Turkmenistan became the 25th country who was granted observer status in the World Trade Organization (WTO) enabling the nation to establish permanent residence at WTO headquarter in Geneva, Switzerland and monitor it’s proceedings. 
ii.Turkmenistan also became the last former Soviet republic to establish formal ties with the trade body. 
iii.This observer status was granted during the 5th virtual session of WTO General Council which was held from WTO headquarters and attended by representatives of its member-states.
About World Trade Organization (WTO):
Director-General– Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo (Retire on August 31, 2020)
Members– 164 countries and 25 Observer nations
<< Read Full News >>

Nicaragua becomes the 87th Country to sign the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement

i.On 23rd July 2020, The Republic of Nicaragua became the 87th country to sign the International Solar Alliance(ISA) Framework Agreement, an initiative to promote sustainable energy, led by India.
ii.H. E. Jaime Hermida Castillo, Permanent Representative to the UN of the Republic of Nicaragua, signed the Agreement at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, New York.
About International Solar Alliance(ISA):
Director General– Upendra Tripathy
Headquarters– Gurugram, Haryana
About Republic of Nicaragua:
President– Daniel Ortega
Capital– Managua
Currency– Nicaraguan Cordoba Oro (NIO)
<< Read Full News >>

Ravi Shankar Prasad Represented India in the G20 Digital Economy Ministers Virtual Meeting Hosted by Saudi Arabia

Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad represented India in the virtual meeting of the G20 Digital Economy Minister under the presidency Saudi Arabia.
About G20 or Group of Twenty:
Members– Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom (UK), United States (US), and European Union (EU). 
Spain is a permanent guest invitee to the G20 meetings.
Chairman– Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud 
Current Presidency– Saudi Arabia
<< Read Full News >>

BANKING & FINANCE

Airtel Payments Bank Partnered with NSDC to Skill Rural Youth for Financial Services Sector Jobs

i.Airtel Payments Bank Ltd has partnered with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to train and skill the youth in rural India.
ii.This will enable them to find employment opportunities and become entrepreneurs in the financial services sector. 
iii.The knowledge and training imparted to youth is to render financial and banking services more accessible to rural and semi-urban India. 
About Airtel Payments Bank:
Headquarters– New Delhi, India
Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Anubrata Biswas
About NSDC:
Headquarters– New Delhi, India
MD & CEO- Manish Kumar
<< Read Full News >>

Bank of Baroda Launched ‘Insta Click Savings Account’, 100% Paperless Digital Self-Assisted Online Savings Account

i.India’s third-largest public sector bank, Bank of Baroda(BoB) launched ‘Insta Click Savings Account’, a 100% paperless digital self-assisted online savings account. 
ii.It can be activated in real-time i.e; the customer can transact using the Baroda M Connect Plus application with the MPIN received on the mobile number. 
iii.It also offers an option to subscribe to a wide range of digital channels like mobile banking, Internet banking, UPI (unified payments interface), and debit card.
About BoB:
Headquarters- Vadodara, Gujarat
MD and CEO– Sanjiv Chadha
Non-Executive Chairman- Hasmukh Adhia
<< Read Full News >>

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

India’s GDP to contract by 6% in FY21: DBS 

i.As per the report of DBS(Formerly,  Development Bank of Singapore), Singaporean brokerage, India’s Gross domestic Product(GDP) will contract by 6%(-6%) in FY21 as the economy is yet to stabilise the COVID -19 infection curve and the due to the caseload in the economically key states. 
ii.This will affect the economy badly. In its earlier forecast, the brokerage had forecasted the growth as -4.8%.
<< Read Full News >>

CBDT launched revised Form 26AS; Details of Specified Financial Transactions included

i.In order to enhance the flow of information between taxpayers and tax authorities, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has launched a revised auto-generated Form 26AS namely “Annual Information Statement (AIS)” from this assessment year of 2020-2021 w.e.f. June 1. 
ii.The key difference between the new and old form is that the former will also reflect the details of “specified financial transactions (SFT)” i.e. all high-value transactions of individuals, companies, partnership firms, etc. which are filed with the tax department under Section 285BA of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
iii.The SFTs are included in the Part E of the improved Form 26AS.
About Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT):
CBDT, a part of the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance works as the policy making body for the Income Tax department. 
Chairperson– Pramod Chandra Mody
Headquarter– New Delhi
<< Read Full News >>

RIL becomes the 1st Indian company to reach Market Cap of Rs 13 lakh crore; Becomes 48th largest company in market cap globally

As stock market data, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) becomes the 1st Indian company to reach Market Capitalisation (m-cap) of Rs 13 lakh crore. It becomes the world’s 48th largest company by m-cap, ahead of Abbott Labs, Oracle, Chevron and Unilever. It also crossed the stock price of Rs 2000 for the 1st time. 

• Globally, Saudi Aramco is the company with the highest market cap of $1.7 trillion, followed by Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet.
• Reliance is the 10th highest m-cap company in Asia. China’s Alibaba Group is ranked 7th globally.
• The United States listed Reliance Jio among the companies that are becoming “Clean Telcos”(who reject doing business with tools of the Chinese Communist Party’s surveillance state, like Huawei)

Key Info:
i.RIL is India’s  most valuable listed company, the second-placed TCS has a market capitalisation of Rs 8.2 lakh crore, followed by HDFC Bank at Rs 6.2 lakh crore.
ii.It has added Rs 10 lakh crore to its m-cap in the last six years , of which Rs 4 lakh crore were added in the last 10 months,
iii.It’s m-cap had crossed USD 150 billion on June 19, 2020. In total, RIL has added USD 25 billion in market valuation within a month.
Highlights
i.The aggregate m-cap of RIL stands at Rs 13.17 lakh crore or USD 176.4 billion.
ii.RIL’s  partly paid-up shares listed separately have a m-cap of Rs 46,702.88 crore. 
iii.RIL’s partly paid-up shares crossed the Rs 1,100 level for the first time.
About RIL
Headquarters– Mumbai,Maharashtra
CEO– Mukesh Ambani
Recent Related News:
i.Pune-based Mylab becomes the 1st Indian firm to make diagnostic test kits for coronavirus.
ii.Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), becomes 1st company to begin the supply of BS-VI fuel across country.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS      

Mukesh Ambani, fifth-richest Man in the World with Net Worth $75 billion: Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman & CEO Mukesh Ambani (63), became the world’s fifth-richest man in the world with an estimated wealth of 75 billion USD, according to the real-time ranking of billionaires by Forbes. 

• Mukesh Ambani is just behind Mark Zuckerberg net worth of 88.3 billion USD.
• He sustains as the wealthiest Indian 
• He is the only Asian Tycoon in the elite list of the world’s top 10 richest people as of July 2020.

Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List; Top three:

Note – The list will be updated regularly on every trading day.The above mentioned above is written based on July 22, 2020.

Recent Related News:

1. Mukesh Ambani became 9th richest in the world: Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
2. RIL Becomes India’s 1st Firm to Hit Rs 11 Tn Market Cap on June 11, 2020 after Valuing at Rs 11.15 tn; Mukesh Ambani became world’s 9th richest.

 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS          

DG of RPF, Shri Arun Kumar, nominated as the Vice-Chairman of the UIC, security platform

i.On July 23, 2020, the DG of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) Shri Arun Kumar, has been nominated as the Vice -Chairman of the Security platform of the Paris – based Union UIC from July 2020 to July 2022. 
ii.This was intimated by the DG (Director General) of UIC (Union Internationale Des Chemins/International Union of Railways) Mr. Francois Davenne, to the Chairman of Railway Board, Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav.
iii.The decision was taken during the 96th UIC General Assembly.
iv.Arun Kumar will take over the Chairman of Security Platform from July 2022 to July 2024, after two years of tenure as Vice Chairman.  
Highlights:
i.Arun Kumar, 1985 – batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer will be working at UIC with members, China, Japan, Russia and the European countries. 
ii.India has future projects on international rail linkages to Russia. 
iii.RPF organized UIC Security Conferences in 2006 and 2015 in New Delhi
Significance: 
i.The international North-South Transport Corridor is 7,200 Km long ship, road, and rail route moving freight between India, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Central Asia and Europe. 
ii.The UIC is the global platform for railway systems working on interoperability, developing common technical standards for railways across the world and strengthening what is called “rail diplomacy”.
About UIC
Headquarters – Paris, France
Membership countries – 194 members
Chairman – Mr. Gianluigi Castelli  (Previous: Mr. Renato MAZZONCINI 2017-2018)
President and CEO – Mr. Ali Ihsan Uygun
Director General – Francois Davenne (UIC)
About RPF
Headquarters – New Delhi, India
Minister responsible – Mr. Piyush Goyal, Union Minister-Railways

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS       

CCI Approved Acquisition of Krishnapatnam Port Company Limited by Adani Ports and SEZ Limited  

The Competition Commission of India(CCI)  has approved the acquisition of Krishnapatnam Port Company Limited(KPCL) by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited(APSEZ). The proposed combination envisages acquisition of equity shareholding and full management control of KPCL by APSEZ
Key Info
i.APSEZ is a customer-facing integrated port infrastructure services provider. Currently it is present across 10 domestic ports in six maritime states of Gujarat, Goa, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha. It manages the logistics chain
ii.KPCL is a developer and operator of the deep water port at Krishnapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in accordance with the concession agreement on Build-Operate-Share-Transfer basis with the Government of Andhra Pradesh for a period of thirty years.
Note– APSEZ informed that it will acquire 75% stake for a total consideration of Rs 13,572 crore from the CVR Group in January 2020.  The balance stake will be held by the CVR Group.
About KPCL:
Headquarters– Nellore, Andhra Pradesh
Group Chairman– C.Visweswara Rao 
Managing Director– C.Sasidhar
About APSEZ
Head Office– Ahmedabad, Gujarat
CEO– Karan Adani
Recent Related News:
i.CCI approved BP Global’s proposed 49% acquisition of Reliance BP Mobility Limited.
ii.CCI approved proposed acquisition of 100% shares and control of Tech Data Corporation by Tiger Midco LLC.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

China Launches Tianwen-1: China’s First Rover Mission to Mars

i.On 23rd July 2020, The Tianwen-1, China’s first fully homegrown Mars Mission, was launched by Long March 5 Rocket from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan Island at 12:41 a.m. EDT (0441 GMT).
ii.The Tianwen-1 is carrying the duo of an orbiter and a lander or rover; this combination of craft was never launched towards mars.
About China:
President– Xi Jinping
Capital– Beijing
Currency– Renminbi
<< Read Full News >>

SPORTS

ISL becomes 1st league in South Asia and 7th in Asia to join the World Leagues Forum

The Hero Indian Super League (ISL) joins the World Leagues Forum (WLF), the association of Professional football leagues. It is the first league from South Asia and seventh in Asia to join the WLF.
The Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga are also part of the association of Professional football leagues and also the most supported leagues by the people. 
Highlights:
i.In 2014, when ISL begun, India has been raising its standard to achieve world class standard, claimed by The Founder and chairperson of Football Sports Development limited (FSDL), Mrs. Nita Ambani 
ii.Jerome Perlemuter, the General Secretary of the World Leagues Forum welcomed the joining of ISL to WLF. 
About WLF:
Chairman – Enrique Bonilla (LIGA MX)
General Secretary – Jerome Perlemuter (from April 2017)
Members – 42 members.
About ISL: 
First season began 12 October 2014. 
Co-promoters – Reliance, Star India and supported by the All India Football Federation (AIFF)
Champions: 

BOOKS & AUTHORS

The book titled “The Pandemic Century”, by British Medical Historian Mark Honigsbaum

“The Pandemic Century, A History of Global Contagion from the Spanish Flu to Covid-19”, by the british medical historian Mark Honigsbaum covers 10 outbreaks in the past 100 years, dating from the Spanish Flu (1918) to the present day Coronavirus (2019). The book is published by Penguin Publishers.
About “The Pandemic Century”:

• The book combines science history, medical sociology and front-line reportage in expressing the history of Global Contagion.
• Other Outbreaks in the Book: Pneumonic plague, Parrot fever, SARS, Ebola, Zika.
• The book has won: A Financial times best book of the year.

Recent Related News:

1. National Book Trust, India of MHRD to launches ‘Corona Studies Series’ books to provide relevant reading materials for all age-groups for the post-Corona readership needs.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Broadcasting Day 2020 – July 23

i.23rd July of every year is observed as the National Broadcasting Day across India to commemorate the first ever radio broadcast aired in India on 23rd July 1927 from the Bombay Station of a private company, the Indian Broadcasting Company.
ii.The first broadcast in India in June 1923, by the Bombay Radio Club, the Calcutta Radio Club was established.
About All India Radio(AIR):
Motto- Bahujan Hitaya, Bahujan Sukhaya
Principal Director General– Ira Joshi
Headquarters– New Delhi
About Ministry of Information and Broadcasting(MIB):
Union Minister– Prakash Javadekar
<< Read Full News >>

January 6 2020: World Day of War Orphans

The World Day of War Orphans was observed on January 6 every year to address the war orphans as it has become a growing worldwide humanitarian and social crisis. The day was initiated by   the French organization, SOS Enfants en Détresse. 

Note: According to UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund), there are roughly 153 million orphans worldwide.

March 9 2020: International commonwealth day

The commonwealth day 2020 was observed on March 9. It was celebrated on the 2nd Monday of March every year. Earlier the day was observed on May 24 as British Empire day since the late 19th century, later based on the request of Canadian government, the day was shifted to the 2nd Monday of March in 1977. 

The 2020 theme is ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’.

2021: International Year of Fruits and Vegetables

On December 2019, The United Nations designates the year 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables based on the request of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to create awareness about the increasing loss and waste in fruits and vegetables and their negative impacts on the global economy and also to acknowledge the nutritional and health benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables

Note: As per FAO estimation, 14 percent of the world’s food gets lost from the point of harvest to the retail level.

STATE NEWS

GEDCOL and NHPC signed MoU to develop floating solar power projects in Odisha

On July 20, 2020, The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) through video conference with The Green Energy Corporation of Odisha Limited (GEDCOL) to develop floating solar power projects with a total capacity of 500 Megawatts (MW) in the state of Odisha. The first phase work of the project starts by March, 2022. 
Highlights:
i.The projects will be implemented by the JVC (Joint Venture Collaboration) in various reservoirs of Odisha under Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPPs) scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.  
ii.The total estimation of the project will be Rs. 2,500 crores. 
iii.The incubation period for convincing each SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) will be around 7 – 8 months and the completion period will be around 18 months. 
Facts on Odisha Renewable Energy
i.The MoU helps to achieve the target of 2,200 MW solar and 550 MW of non-solar energy source, set up by the Odisha Renewable Energy Policy, 2016. 
ii.The present energy is divided as 362 MW of solar and 77MW of non-solar energy source. The GRIDCO is further attaining 75 MW solar and 150 MW of wind power. 
iii.The state requires 1,000 MW from Solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) and 1,000 MW from Non-Solar RPO converted to RPO to meet the target of 2000 MW target set by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. 
About the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Headquarters – New Delhi, India
Minister – Mr. Raj Kumar Singh, Lok Sabha Constituency – Arrah, Bihar State.  (Ministry of State – Independent Charge for power and New & Renewable Energy) (Previous: Mr. Piyush Vedprakash Goyal)
About NHPC
Headquarters –  Faridabad, Haryana
Chairman and Managing Director – Mr. Abhay Kumar Singh (Previous: Mr. Balraj Joshi)

AC GAZE

CIPET gets NABL accreditation for testing, certification of PPE kits

Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET) ,Bhubaneswar, Odisha, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dept of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, has received  National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation for Testing and Certification of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kit.

Note: The headquarter of NABL is Gurugram, Haryana

First-ever container ship “MV Shejyoti” from Kolkata via Chattogram port reaches Agartala

The first-ever container Ship “MV Shejyoti “ from Kolkata (West Bengal) via Bangladesh’s Chattogram port has reached Agartala (Tripura), was flagged off by Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) Mansukh Mandaviya on July 16, 2020. Click here to Know more

https://affairscloud.com/shipping-minister-mansukh-mandaviya-virtually-flagged-off-1st-container-ship-from-kolkata-port-to-agartala-via-chattogram-port-bangladesh/

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