Current Affairs July 29 2019

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INDIAN AFFAIRS

Parliament passes Finance Bill 2019 and Appropriation Bill 2019
Parliament has passed the Finance Bill 2019 and Appropriation Bill 2019.
i. Finance Bill 2019: It gives effect to the financial proposals of the Central Government for the financial year 2019-20.
ii. Appropriation Bill 2019: It seeks to authorize payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2019-20.
iii. Changes: The government brought changes related to the taxation with an aim for building new India where there is transparency, less government, and more governance.
iv. Cess on petrol and diesel: It was hiked by two rupees per litre. It was justified by the Finance Minister Nirmal Sitharaman that the government has maintained inflation at the lowest level for the last five years and the hike would not add any significant burden on prices.
v. Other Hikes: 2%TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) on cash withdrawal of more than Rs 1 crore from banks and 10% customs duty on newsprint.
vi. Corporate tax: It was brought down from 30% to 25% as it had decided in 2014 and over 90% of the companies come under this tax rate.
vii. Direct taxation: Amendments were made to 7 acts in the Finance Bill which are largely for ease of living and to make sure that equity in redistribution takes place.
About Ministry of Finance:
♦ Headquarters: New Delhi
♦ Founded: 29 October 1946

Average Monthly Income per Agricultural Household has estimated Rs. 6426: Agriculture ministry
On July 26, 2019, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar stated that the average monthly income per agricultural household from all sources is Rs. 6,426 in the country based on the Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) during its 70th round (January 2013-December 2013).
Key points:
i. Since 2013, NSSO, the nodal agency for conducting surveys and collecting data has not conducted any survey on income per agricultural household.
ii. In April 2016, The Government had constituted an inter-ministerial committee to examine the issues relating to doubling of farmers’ income and recommend strategies to achieve that goal.
iii. In September 2018, the Committee has submitted its Report to the Government & it considered the estimates of agricultural household’s income obtained from NSSO 70th round unit-level data as the base level income. The Committee has kept 2015-16 as the base year.
Agriculture Ministry:
♦ Founded: 1947
♦ Headquarters: New Delhi
♦ Minister of State: Parshottam Rupala
About NSSO:
♦ Founded: 1950
♦ Headquarters: New Delhi

“Pink coaches” introduced for women by the Northeast Frontier Railway zone
As a new initiative that would enhance the security of women, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NRF) zone has introduced pink-colored SLRcoach (second Class -cum- Luggage-cum Guard’s Coach) for women. NRF Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) PranavJyoti announced that these pink coaches will help women passengers to identify their coach during rush hours. Train operations
Railway Police Force (RPF) and ticket checking staff will be deployed by the railway authorities to stabilize the new system. Initially, a total of 8 trains in Rangiya district have begun the operations. They are-
i. 6 trains between New Bongaigaon and Guwahati
ii. 2 trains between Rangiya and Murkongselek.
Indian railways
♦ Section 58 of the Railways act 1989 provides earmarking of accommodation for female passengers in trains.
♦ Headquarters- New Delhi
♦ Employees- 13,08,000
♦ Headquarters- New Delhi
♦ Railway minister- PiyushGoyal
♦ Indian Railways is the world’s largest employer by number of employees.

5^th edition of Dharma-Dhamma conference held in Rajgir, Bihar
A two-day 5^th International Dharma-Dhamma conference was held at Rajgir International Convention Centre(RICC) in Rajgir, Bihar from 27 -28 July 2019 with the theme of “Sat-Chit-Ananda & Nirvana in Dharma-Dhamma Traditions”. Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Kiren Rijiju who was the Chief Guest inaugurated the conference. Key points:
i. Purpose: To address people about terror, violence and global warming prevalent in world & subjects of Sat (Truth) -Chit (Consciousness)-Ananda (Bliss) and Nirvana (Enlightenment)Dharma-Dhamma Tradition which are pivotal topics of Buddhism.
ii. Organizers: Nalanda University, Rajgir in collaboration with India Foundation (Centre for Study of Religion and Society), New Delhi organized the event.
iii. 2^nd Time: This conference was hosted in Rajgir for the 2^nd time after the previous 4^th edition.
iv. Participation: It saw the participation of around 250 distinguished scholars from 11 countries, including Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Korea, China and Maldives attended the event, which was inaugurated in the presence of in the presence of Sri Lanka’s Home Minister Gamini Jaiwickrama Perera, Bhutan’s Home and Culture Minister Lyonpo Sherub Gyeltshen, senior BJP leader Ram Madhav and Juna Akhada’s Awadheshananda Giri Ji Maharaj.
v.Benefits:  The conference act as a platform for Hindu and Buddhist thinkers to express their views & also benefit the international community as well.
About Bihar:
Capital: Patna
Chief minister: Nitish Kumar
Governor: Phagu Chauhan
National Park: Valmiki National Park

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Democratic Republic of Congo to launch surveillance, vaccination training to tackle Ebola
The World Health Organisation(WHO) and the government of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have come together with a program to control the Ebola outbreak over the next six months by launching surveillance and vaccination training to the citizens of DRC. WHO’s emergency Operations Director Peter Graaf declared emergency in GOMA, which is a densely populated Eastern City bordering Rwanda following the confirmation of an Ebola case there.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Capital- Kinshasa
Currency- Congolese franc
President-  Felix Tshusekedi
Other names – DR Congo, DRC, DROC, Congo, East Congo, Congo-kinshasa
Official language– French

Bangladesh records highest level of Dengue cases in 18 years
According to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of Bangladesh, 10528 patients were infected with dengue and nearly 700 more people were reported with dengue infection across Bangladesh. It is the highest in 18 years. Dengue cases in Bangladesh were first detected in the year 2000.
Key Points:
i. 8 people were dead in the current spate of dengue outbreak.
ii. Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) data revealed that out of 800 beds in the medicine department, 561 were occupied by dengue patients as on July 27, 2019.
iii. In 2018, a total of 10,138 Dengue patients were hospitalised.
iv. 72 cases were reported in Dhaka division (except Dhaka city), 142 in Chittagong, 71 in Khulna, 40 in Rajshahi, 35 in Barisal and 13 in Sylhet division accounting for 373 cases.
v. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection. This may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rashes.
About Bangladesh:
♦ Capital: Dhaka
♦ Currency: Bangladeshi taka
♦ Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina

BANKING & FINANCE

An Account Aggregator platform “Sahamati” introduced to Solve Fintech’s Data Problem
Infosys co-founder and its former chairman Nandan Nilekani has introduced a new platform “Sahamati”  based on a new class of non-banking financial institutions called the account aggregator (NBFC-AA) model. This will work as consent brokers, which will take users permission to access their financial accounts, aggregate and organize all their financial information in one place. Key points:
i. The new application will help individuals and small businesses share their digital financial data with third-parties in a safe and secure manner.
ii. A user in the need of a loan will be able to quickly share bank statements and other details online required by lending institutions through their choice of preferred account aggregator (AA).
iii. It will be able to seamlessly obtain data from multiple service providers and deliver the same by consent-based channels to financial information users, eliminating the need for customers to physically visit multiple branches for their data.
iv. The RBI(Reserve Bank of India) approved a new class of Non-banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) to act as Account Aggregators in 2016.
v. Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA), and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in 2015 came together to allow related entities under their control to share data with user consent.
vi. RBI granted in-principle approval to 6 AAs so far including NESL Asset Data, Jio Information Solutions.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

7^th Economic Census began from Tripura
7^th Economic Census (EC) for the year 2019 which is conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) commenced from Tripura on July 29, 2019. It is held after a gap of 5 years. This is done to get a complete count of all economic units in India. After Tripura, it will be launched in Puducherry, and in other states and union territories in August and September, 2019.
Key Points:
i. Background: The previous Economic Censuses were conducted in 1977, 1980, 1990, 1998, 2005 and 2013. As per the Economic Census conducted in 2013, there were 58.5 million establishments employing around 131 million workers.
ii. Implementing Agencies: Common Services Centers (CSC) e-Governance Services India Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY), are the implementing agencies for the development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) platform system and conduction of fieldwork for the 7^th Economic Census.
iii. Method: 7^th EC will use technological interventions in the fieldwork and develop a nationwide Business Register for dynamic updation. The data will be collected through door to door survey of each household and commercial establishments under the provisions of Collection of Statistics Act 2008.
iv. Schedule: The fieldwork is expected to be completed by December and the results at the national level is expected to be available by March 2020.
v. Sector: EC is the only source of information on the unorganized sector in the country.
About EC:
It is the census of the Indian economy through counting all entrepreneurial units in the country which are involved in any economic activities of either agricultural or non-agricultural sector engaged in production and/or distribution of goods and/or services not for the sole purpose of own consumption.

India’s Current Account Deficit to remain steady at 16-17 billion dollars in the first quarter
According to Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency (ICRA), despite recent slowdown in Merchandise exports and imports, India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) is expected to remain steady at a range of 16-17 billion dollars or 2.3 % of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the first quarter.
i. The CAD is expected to widen from 63 billion to 68 billion dollars FY2020 (fiscal year/financial year 2020) and from 57.2 billion dollars in FY2019 while remaining steady at 2.1 % GDP.
Merchandise exports and imports
According to the recent data by ICRA, India’s Merchandise exports and imports contracted by 1.7% and 0.3% respectively in the first quarter  FY20 and are expected to grow by a meagre 2-3% and 4-5% respectively during FY20.
Trade deficit
The Merchandise trade deficit is expected to widen about 193 billion to 198 billion dollars in FY20 from 180 billion dollars in FY18 by ICRA.
ICRA
♦ It is an Indian Independent and professional investment information credit rating agency. It was originally named Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited (IICRA India).
♦ It was a joint venture between Moody’s and various Indian commercial banks and Financial Service companies the company changed its name to ICRA Limited and went public on 13 April 2017 with a listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.
♦ abbreviation- Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency
♦ Headquarters- Gurgaon, India.

Promoters get 90 days to retake company after insolvency proceedings begin: IBBI
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has notified that the promoters and other stakeholders will be given 90 days after the commencement of insolvency proceedings to re-take control of the company through agreements with creditors. It was proposed under Section 230 of the Companies Act 1956.
Key Points:
i. Limit of 1 year was specified for the liquidation from the date of commencement of insolvency proceeding.
ii. Section 230 of the Companies Act 1956 allows for promoters or any class of creditors of the company to reach a compromise or arrangement with other stakeholders of the company to take control of the company.
About IBBI:
♦ Headquarters: Connaught Place, New Delhi
♦ Founded: October 1, 2016
♦ Chairperson: Dr. M. S. Sahoo

Indian cities contribute 59%- 70% of India’s GDP: IDFC Institute’s Report on Reforming Urban India
According to IDFC Institute’s Report on Reforming Urban India, Indian Cities contribute between 59% and 70% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). They need urgent reforms in order to unlock their economic potential and transform the quality of life.
Key Points:
i. Focus: The existing cities suffer from neglect due to unacknowledged development. Therefore the focus should be made in recognizing the extent of urban growth, improve land utilization, empower urban local bodies and invest in public transport networks.
ii. Rate of Urbanization: India’s urbanization rate may be anywhere between 47% and 65%. Census 2011 had estimated that 31% of India was urban.
iii. Problems: India’s urban areas are unacknowledged. The existing towns and cities suffer from serious neglect. Air quality and congestion are worsening, house prices continue to soar, and amenities and services like clean water, public spaces, public transport, and solid waste management are severely deficient. The local bodies entrusted to govern cities do not have sufficient finances, expertise, or personnel to plan for and address these challenges.
iv. Staff-to population ratio: Indian cities are behind international peers on the staff-to population ratio. Janaagraha’s Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems reports that Mumbai has approximately 1,300 staff for every 1,00,000 citizens, compared to New York, which has about 5,000 employees per 1,00,000 citizens.
About IDFC Institute:
♦ IDFC stands for Infrastructure Development Finance Company.
♦ CEO: Reuben Abraham

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Priya Priyadarshini Jain facilitated with “Indian Women of Influence” award
Social entrepreneur philanthropist and eminent fashionista Priya Priyadarshini Jain was conferred with the prestigious “Indian Women of Influence” award at the House of Lords, The United Kingdom Parliament, London.i. She was also one among the others featured in the coffee table book on ‘50 most influential Indian women worldwide’ featuring top indian women like former Indian president PartibhaPatil, Nita Ambani, MP Caroline, HemaMalini, Shilpashetty.
Indian Women of Influence Awards
The award recognises the power of Indian women residing in different parts of the world and it is presented by the Barons of the UK parliament.

Former International tennis player Vidisha Balyan from Uttar Pradesh wins Miss Deaf World 2019 title
21-year-old Vidisha Baliyan from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh became the first Indian, crowned Miss Deaf World 2019 which was held in Mbombela, South Africa. She is a former International tennis player who represented India in the Deaflympics.Mr. Deaf World 2019 was won by South Africa’s Phumelela Mapukata
Miss Deaf World
♦ It is a beauty pageant award managed by the Miss & Mister Deaf World, a non-profit organisation ever since 2001
♦ Official language- International Sign Language
♦ First Miss Deaf World- Viktoriaprytychenko from Ukraine

Sudarsan Pattnaik, a sand artist, awarded People’s Choice Prize at Boston International Sand Art Championship 2019
On July 28, 2019, A sand artist from Puri, Odisha, Sudarshan Pattnaik was awarded People’s Choice Prize at the Boston International Sand Art Championship 2019. He sculpted the sand art based on the global issue of plastic pollution with a message inscribed “Stop plastic pollution, Save our Ocean”. He received the People’s Choice medal from Revere Beach Partnership Board Member Adrienne Sacco-Maguir.Key Points:
i. He participated in the 2019 Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, which was held from July 26-28, 2019.
ii.15 sculptors had participated in the competition.
iii. In 2017, he had won the jury prize gold medal at the Xth World Sand Sculptures Championship in Moscow, Russia.
iv. He was awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India in 2014.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS

Fagu Chauhan, a six-time member of the UP Assembly, sworn as new Governor of Bihar
On July 29, 2019, Fagu Chauhan, a six-time member of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, was sworn in as the 29^th Governor of Bihar replacing Lal Ji Tandon who has taken charge as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh. Oath taking ceremony was administered by Chief Justice of the Patna High Court Amreshwar Pratap Shahi at the Raj Bhavan in Patna in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and other leaders.About Bihar:
♦ Capital: Patna
♦ National Parks: Valmiki National Park
♦ Wildlife Sanctuaries: Barela Jheel Salim Ali Bird WLS, Bhimbandh WLS, Gautam Budha WLS, Kusheshwar Asthan Bird  WLS, Pant (Rajgir) WLS, Udaipur WLS, Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin WLS etc.

Anandiben Patel sworn-in as Uttar Pradesh governor
On July 29,2019, Anandiben Patel took oath as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh(UP). Govind Mathur, the Chief Justice of the UP High Court administered her the oath of Office and Secrecy at Raj Bhawan in Lucknow, UP. Outgoing Governor Ram Naik also attended the swearing-in ceremony. Key points:
i. Ms. Patel was previously serving as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
ii. President Ram Nath Kovind had appointed her as the new Governor of UP on July 20, 2019.
iii. This is the first time that UP gets a woman Governor as Anandi Ben Patel since its inception in 1950. Sarojini Naidu was the first Governor in 1947 but the state was then known as the United Provinces.
About UP:
♦ Capital: Lucknow
♦ Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath
♦ National Park: Dudhwa National Park
♦ Wildlife sanctuaries: Bakhira WLS, Chandraprabha WLS, Bhimrao Ambedkar, Hastinapur WLS, Kaimur WLS, Katerniaghat WLS, Kishanpur WLS.

Special secretary in RAW, IPS officer VK Johri has been appointed as the new BSF DG
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that has Home Minister Amit Shah as its member, has appointed IPS officer V K Johri as the next Director-General of the Border Security Force (BSF). He is currently the special secretary in the external Intelligence Agency, Research Analysis Wing (RAW) and will take over as the BSF Director General from incumbent Rajni Kanti Mishra.
♦ V.K.Johri is also appointed as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Ministry.
BSF
♦ It is the primary border defence Organisation of India.
♦ Motto- Duty Unto Death
♦ Headquarters- New Delhi
♦ Founded-  Shri K F  Rustamji
♦ Founded- 1 December 1965

Pune Lok Sabha member& BJP MP, Girish Bapat appointed as chairman of the estimates committee
On July 27, 2019, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has appointed Pune Lok Sabha member Girish Bhalchandra Bapat as chairman of the estimates committee, which is one of the three financial standing committees of the parliament apart from the public accounts committee(PAC) and committee on public undertakings.
Key points:
i. The members of estimates committee include Danish Ali, Dayanidhi Maran, PP Choudhary, KC Patel, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Dilip Ghosh, and Kamlesh Paswan.
ii. This is the 1^st time the member from Maharashtra head the committee, that is tasked with making suggestions about alternative policies to bring about efficiency and economy in administration.
iii. The committee also reviews reports submitted by the CAG(Comptroller and Auditor General of India) and the latter assists it in the assessment of government schemes and projects.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

IAF receives 1^st batch of 4 AH-64E Apache Guardian Attack helicopters from the US
On July 27, 2019, Indian Air Force (IAF) has received 1^st batch of 4 of total 22 AH-64E Apache Guardian Attack helicopters from US (United States)aerospace major Boeing at Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
An additional four Apache helicopters will arrive next week, and these 8 helicopters will be then moved to Pathankot Air Force Station, Punjab for their formal induction by the IAF in September 2019.
Key points:
Order:  In September 2015, IAF had signed a contract with US Government and Boeing for purchasing 22 AH-64E  Apache helicopters.
Apache helicopters:
About: It is one of the most advanced multi-role combat helicopters in the world, and is flown by the US Army. It has advanced weapons systems and night-fighting features.
Manufacturer: It is developed and manufactured by the world’s largest aerospace company, Boeing. It has delivered more than 2,200 Apaches to customers around the world and India is 14^th nation to select it for its military.
Features:

• The Apaches are armed with stinger air-to-air missiles, Hellfire Longbow air-to-ground missiles, guns, and rockets. It has joint digital operability, improved survivability, and cognitive decision-aiding.
• ii. The helicopter has the capability to carry out precision attacks at standoff ranges and operate in hostile airspace with threats from the ground.

Importance: The ability of this helicopter to transmit and receive battlefield picture, to and from weapon systems through data networking makes it a lethal acquisition. This attack helicopter will provide a significant edge to Indian armed forces in future joint operations in support of land forces.
About IAF:
♦ Founded: 8 October 1932
♦ Headquarters: New Delhi
♦ Chief of the Air Staff (CAS): Birender Singh Dhanoa
About Boeing:
♦ CEO: Dennis Muilenburg
♦ Headquarters: Chicago, US.

WHO recommends the use of innovative anti HIV drug Dolutegravir (DTG)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the use of anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) drug Dolutegravir (DTG) as the preferred first-line and second-line treatment for all populations, including pregnant women and those of childbearing potential. It will help more countries to improve their HIV policies.
Key Points:
i. Initial studies highlighted a possible link between DTG and neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain and spinal cord that cause conditions such as spina bifida) in infants born to women using the drug at the time of conception.
ii. New data from two large clinical trials comparing the efficacy and safety of DTG and Efavirenz (EFV) in Africa have now expanded the evidence base. The risks of neural tube defects are significantly lower than what the initial studies may have suggested.
iii. In 2019, 82 low and middle-income countries reported to be transitioning to DTG-based HIV treatment regimens.
iv. DTG is more effective, easier to take and has fewer side effects than alternative drugs. It has a high genetic barrier to developing drug resistance.

Pakistan will send its first man to space in 2022
On July 25, 201, Pakistan informed that it will send its first astronaut to space in 2022 using China’s satellite launching facilities. The selection process of the astronaut for the space mission will commence from February 2020.
Key Points:
i. Pakistani Air Force will play a lead role in the selection process for the space mission.
ii. Pakistan’s National Space Agency SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) was set up in 1961. The first communication satellite was launched 50 years later with help from a subsidiary of China Aerospace and Technology Corporation.
About Pakistan:
♦ Currency: Pakistani rupee
♦ Capital: Islamabad
♦ Prime Minister: Imran Khan
♦ President: Arif Alvi

North Korea successfully test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its East coast
North Korea successfully test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast. They were fired from mobile launch vehicles.
Key Points:
i. The first short-range missile, launched from Wonsan, a coastal town east of the capital, Pyongyang, flew 430 kilometers (267 miles), reaching a height of 50 kilometers (31 miles) before landing in waters between North Korea and Japan.
ii. The second missile flew 690 kilometers (430 miles).
About North Korea:
♦ Currency: Pyongyang
♦ Capital: North Korean won

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SPORTS

2020 Tokyo Olympics will feature Table Tennis Mixed Doubles event
For the first time in the Olympic Games’ history, Table Tennis Mixed Doubles event added in a new Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games. Manika Batra to pair with Sharath Kamal for mixed doubles spot in Tokyo Olympics.Key points:
i. Table tennis had appeared at the Summer Olympics in eight previous occasions beginning with the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
ii. The 2008 Games in Beijing, China saw men’s &women’s singles and team events.
ITTF:
i. The International Table Tennis Federation(ITTF) is the governing body for all national table tennis associations.
ii. Founded: 1926
iii. Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
2020 Tokyo Olympics :
♦ Schedule: 24 July 2020 – 9 August 2020
♦ Host city: Tokyo, Japan
♦ Stadium: New National Stadium

Max Verstappen wins 2019 Formula 1 German Grand Prix
Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (Dutch) of won 2019 Formula 1 German Grand Prix. It was his second win for the year 2019.
i. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel won the second place and Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat finished third.
ii. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes finished 11th.

Bhakti Kulkarni retains the title at 46^th National Women Chess Championship 2019
Defending champion Bhakti Kulkarni(Goa) of Air India, retained her title in the 46^th  National Women Chess Championship 2019 held in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu.Key points:
i. Kulkarni played against Pratyusha Bodda of Andhra Pradesh. She retained the title with 10 points in the finals resulted in a draw.
ii. The event was an 11 rounds swiss event following a time control of 90 Minutes for the first 40 moves plus 30 Minutes for rest of the game with 30 seconds increment from move one organized by Castle Chess Academy.
iii. The event attracted prize money of Rs. 15, 00,000 attended by 106 participants from all over the country.

22-year-old Egan Bernal crowned as the 1^st Colombian to win the 106^th edition of Tour de France title 2019
Team INEOS'(formerly Team Sky) rider, Egan Bernal (22, Colombian cyclist) became the 1^st Colombian to win the 106^th edition of Tour de France 2019, one of cycling’s three grand tours title. The 3,480 km long race consisted of 21 stages, started on 6^th July in Brussels, Belgium, and concluded on 28^th July in Paris, France.
Key points:
i. Bernal beat the defending champion Geraint Thomas (Britain) by 1 minute 11 seconds. Steven Kruijswijk(Netherlands) came 3^rd.
ii. He became the youngest rider to win the race in 110 years gave his team (yellow jersey) a 7^th title in the last eight editions.
iii. Caleb Ewan of Australia proved as fast rider by won the final stage of the event.
iv. He also won the white jersey for a top-placed rider under 25.
About Tour de France
It is an annual men’s multiple stage bicycle race primarily held in France.

Chandigarh gets BCCI affiliation after nearly four decades
After the Chandigarh Cricket Association of Punjab decided to merge with the Union Territory Cricket Association (UTCA), the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) cleared the UTCA to get the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) affiliation after a wait of 40 years to run the sport. Now, Chandigarh has its own team in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments organised by the BCCI. Earlier, Chandigarh cricketers, who were earlier forced to represent Punjab or Haryana. Delhi is the only other Union Territory with BCCI affiliation.
BCCI
Abbreviation – Board of Control for Cricket in India
Founded- December 1928
CEO- Rahul Johri
Headquarters- Wankhede stadium, Mumbai.

OBITUARY

Eminent Malayalam poet and translator Attoor Ravi Varma passed away
On July 26, 2019, Renowned Malayalam poet, translator Attoor Ravi Varma passes away in Thrissur, Kerala after age-related ailments. He was 89.i. Varma, born on October 27, 1930, in Attoor village of Thrissur district, Kerala completed his graduation in Malayalam from the University College, Thiruvananthapuram.
ii. He was considered one of the pioneers of modernism in Malayalam poetry.
iii. He was a recipient of Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Translation and Ashan Award.
iv. The Kerala State Government honored him with Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary award, in 2012.
v. He earned his big credit with over 150 poems which were compiled in the book Attoorinte Kavithakal, and also translated 4 novels from Tamil to Malayalam, among others.

Jaipal Reddy, former Union Minister & Senior Congress leader, passed away in Hyderabad
On July 28, 2019, Former union minister and senior Congress leader from Telangana, S. Jaipal Reddy, aged 77, passed away at Asian Institute of Gastroenterology in Hyderabad while undergoing treatment for pneumonia. Key Points:
i. Born on 16 January 1942, in Madgul, Telangana, he was a 4-time Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Kalwakurthy from 1969-84. In 1979, he joined Janata Dal and returned to the Congress party after 20 years in 1999 and held ministerial berths. He was elected to Lok Sabha for five terms in 1984, 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2009.
ii. He served as a Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting in the IK Gujral cabinet in 1998 and Union Minister for the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the Ministry of Science and Technology from 2012 to 2014.
iii. He was conferred with the best parliamentarian award in 1998.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Tiger Day 2019 observed on July 29

• World Tiger Day was observed on July 29, 2019. It is celebrated to promote the assurance of natural environment of tigers and increase awareness about the preservation of tiger. The day was built up in 2010 at Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia where the signatories declared an agreement that the governments of tiger populated counties would double the tiger population by 2022.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the results of the 4^th cycle of All India Tiger Estimation 2018, at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi
• According to the Survey, the count of tigers in India rose to 2967 in 2018. India has achieved its 2022 target of doubling tiger population four years before the deadline……………………………Click here to Read more

STATE NEWS

Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy passed away in Gurgaon, Haryana
On July 28, 2019, Meghalaya Speaker Donkupar Roy, aged 64, passed away at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon, Haryana after multi-organ failure. He was the former chief minister of Meghalaya from 2008 to 2009 and head of the United Democratic Party (UDP).
i. He was born on November 10, 1954.
ii. He was elected for the first time in 1988 as an independent MLA from Shella Assembly constituency in East Khasi Hills district. He continued to win from the seat for seven consecutive terms until the 2018 elections.

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