Current Affairs July 27th 2023| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

Indian Banks get ₹5,729 crores from Depositor Education and Awareness fund (DEAF) to refund unclaimed deposits

• The Union minister of State for finance, Shri Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad announced that Indian banks have received ₹5,729 crores from the “Depositor Education and Awareness” (DEA) Fund to facilitate the refund of unclaimed deposits in the last 5-years.
• The “Depositor Education and Awareness Fund Scheme, 2014“, which was issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), outlines regulations pertaining to unclaimed deposits and details the usage of the fund, including its role in promoting depositors‘ interests and supporting specified purposes.
• Dr Karad stated that RBI has taken various steps to reduce the quantum of unclaimed deposits and return such deposits to rightful claimants.
• Banks are, inter-alia, advised to –
  1. display the list of unclaimed deposits which are inactive/inoperative for 10 years or more on the bank’s websites;
  2. find the whereabouts of the customers and their legal heirs to return unclaimed deposits to the rightful claimants;

• formulate board approved policy on classification of unclaimed deposits;

1. put in place a grievance redressal mechanism for quick resolution of complaints, record keeping, and periodic review of unclaimed deposit accounts.

• RBI has announced to set-up a Centralised Web portal for the public to search unclaimed deposits across multiple banks.
• RBI has also launched campaign “100 Days 100 Pays” for banks to trace and settle top 100 unclaimed deposits of every bank in every district of the country within 100 days, commencing from June 2023 to September 2023

About Ministry of Finance :

• Cabinet Minister : Nirmala Sitharaman
• Minister of State : Bhagwat Karad, Pankaj Choudhar

PhonePe introduces an Income Tax Payment feature on its app

• PhonePe, a digital payments platform, has partnered with PayMate, a leading digital Business-to-business (B2B) payments and service provider, to allow users to pay their income tax on the PhonePe app called “Income Tax Payment”.

Aim:

• To allow taxpayers to pay self-assessment and advance tax directly from the app using Unified Payments Interface (UPI) or credit card payments.

Key Highlights :

• This eliminates the need to log in to the tax portal, creating a seamless and efficient experience for taxpayers.
• Users can choose to pay their taxes using their credit card or UPI.
• With credit card payments, users also get a 45-day interest-free period and earn reward points on their tax payments, depending on their bank.
• After the completion of the payment, taxpayers will receive a Unique Transaction Reference (UTR) number as a proof of tax payment.
• The UTR will be available within a day, whereas the challan is generated within 2 working days.

Note :

• PhonePe is India’s 1st largest Unified Payment Interface (UPI) platform.

Recent News :

• In July 2023, PhonePe Insurance Broking Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of PhonePe Private Limited, launched health insurance plans offering comprehensive insurance in partnership with leading insurers.
• In June 2023, Indian digital payments and financial services company, PhonePe officially launched the PhonePe Payment Gateway with a special limited-period offer for new Micro Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) merchants.

About Phonepe :

• Established : 2015
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Founder & CEO : Sameer Nigam

HDFC Mutual Fund Launched Charity Fund For Cancer Cure

• HDFC Asset Management Company (HDFC AMC), investment manager to HDFC Mutual Fund (HDFC MF), has launched the HDFC Charity Fund for Cancer Cure in partnership with the Indian Cancer Society (ICS).
• The donated amount will be used for the treatment of underprivileged cancer patients.
• It is a closed-ended income scheme and a fixed maturity plan with a tenure of 1,196 days.
• The new fund offer (NFO) will open on July 28, 2023 and close on August 8, 2023.
• This NFO marks the 4th edition of the cancer cure series that started in 2011.

About HDFC Charity Fund For Cancer Cure :

• The HDFC Charity Fund for Cancer Cure provides investors with an opportunity to contribute to a noble cause while combining their investments with philanthropy.
• Investors have the flexibility to choose between 50% and 75% contribution of IDCW to ICS.
• These donations will be eligible for deduction under Section 80G of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (under the old regime).
• Upon receiving donations, the Indian Cancer Society will issue 80G certificates to investors based on their respective contributions.
• HDFC AMC will match the donations made by investors with an equal amount, up to a limit of 16 crore per financial year.
• Additionally, the AMC has waived all investment management and advisory fees for this scheme, thus ensuring that maximum benefits go towards supporting cancer patients in need.

About HDFC AMC :

• Founded: 1999
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Navneet Munot

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

The 4th ECSWG and Environment and Climate Ministers’ Meeting begins in Chennai:

• The 4th Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting began in Chennai.
• The three-day meeting brings together around 300 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries, and several International Organisations, with a focus on finalising the Ministerial Outcome and the Presidency Documents.
• The 4th ECSWG & Minister’s Meeting will focus on three key areas – land restoration, circular economy, and blue economy.
• These topics will take centre stage during the meeting to address environmental and sustainability challenges.
• On the first day of the event, there will be two parallel sessions -: the Environment Track and the Climate Track.
• These sessions will delve into different aspects of environmental and climate issues, focusing on in-depth discussions about land degradation, biodiversity, and climate change.

Key Highlights:

• The highlight of the 4th ECSWG and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting will be the launch of the Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition on day 2 of the event.
• The coalition’s objective is to unite nations, industries, and experts in their endeavour to propel the global circularity agenda forward.
• This initiative is poised to become a momentous achievement during the G20 India Presidency, representing a collective stride towards fostering on-the-ground efforts in resource efficiency and advancing circular economy principles.
• The 4th ECSWG and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting deliberations will end with the G20 Environment and Climate Ministers’ Meeting on Day 3, wherein the Outcome and the Presidency documents will be released.

About Tamil Nadu

• Chief minister: M. K. Stalin
• Capital: Chennai
• Governor: R. N. Ravi
• NP: Guindy National Park, Mudumalai National Park, Mukurthi National Park, Indira Gandhi National Park (Annamalai), and Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.

Recent News

• The United States Navy Ship (USNS) Salvor, a rescue and salvage ship, arrived at Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) shipyard, in Kattupalli near Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) making it the first to conduct a mid-voyage repair under the 5-year Master Ship Repair agreement (MSRA) between the US Navy and private shipping contractor, L&T.

Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurates three Flight Training Academies in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

• Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel inaugurated three Flight Training Organizations (FTO) in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
• With the opening of three FTOs in Khajuraho, the total number of FTOs in Madhya Pradesh will be six, three at Khajuraho, one at Indore, one at Sagar, and one at Guna.
• These six FTOs will enhance the potential of the state to be a major contributor to pilots in the aviation industry.
• Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia announced soon begin wide-body aircraft between Khajuraho and Varanasi.
• Indian Flying Academy: Indian Flying Academy is a unit of Shaurya Flight Sim Pvt Ltd that has been established at Khajuraho Airport under the ‘Aatam Nirbhar Bharat’ initiative taken by the honourable Prime Minister. It has acquired 05 aircraft of which 04 have already arrived. Of these 04 aircraft, 03 aircraft are Single-Engine Aircraft consisting of two Diamond DA 40, one Evektor, and one Multi Engine aircraft-Diamond DA 42. Indian Flying Academy will have a capacity of 40 students for Flying Training per batch and the FTO will have 2 batches per year.
• Flyola Aviation Academy (Jet Serve Aviation Pvt. Ltd.)– Helicopter FTO: Flyola Aviation Academy Helicopter FTO is Asia’s first Commercial Helicopter Pilot License (CHPL) Training Institute. FlyOla Aviation Academy currently has two Robinson R44 helicopters in its fleet and is having a capacity of 20 students for Flying Training at a time.
• Flyola Aviation Academy (Jet Serve Aviation Pvt. Ltd.)-Fixed Wing FTO: The Fixed Wing FTO of Flyola Aviation Academy is training multi-engine training aircraft, considered high-performance aircraft.

About MP:

• Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Capital: Bhopal
• Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel

Recent News

• Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel inaugurated Heli Summit 2023 in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Ministry of Textiles organizes ‘6th National Conclave on Standards & Regulations for Technical Textiles

• Ministry of Textiles, under its flagship scheme National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), organized the 6th National Conclave on Standards & Regulations in association with FICCI and BIS, emphasizing the importance of Standards, Quality regulations & Rationalization of HSN codes for Technical Textiles in India.
• The event encompassed 5 technical sessions focusing on Standards and Regulations under specialized areas of Technical Textiles like Protective textiles, Geotextiles, Build tech, Oekotech, Medical textiles and other emerging areas of Technical Textiles.
• There was a Special Session also discussing the rationalization of HSN codes & standards and the implementation of QCOs.
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) released 4 new standards during the conclave – (i) IS 18266: 2023, Textiles — Medical Respirator — Specification, (ii) IS 18309: 2023 Geosynthetics — Prefabricated Vertical Drains for Quick Consolidation of Very  Soft Plastic Soil — Specification, (iii) IS 18158: 2023 Textile  — Floor Covering  – Artificial Grass Carpet made of Synthetic Yarn for Landscape — Specification and (iv) IS 18161: 2023, Textiles — Light Weight Jute Sacking Bags for Packing 50 kg Mustard Seed, Niger Seed and Ragi — Specification.

About FICCI

• President: Subhrakant Panda
• Founded: 1927
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founder: Ghanshyam Das Birla

About BIS

• The Bureau of Indian Standards is the National Standards Body of India under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India. It is established by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 which came into effect on 12 October 2017.
• Founded: 23 December 1986
• Founder: Parliament of India

3rd edition of Summit on “Global Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs in India” to be held at New Delhi

• The Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is organizing the 3rd edition of the Summit on “Global Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs in India” (GCPMH 2023) in New Delhi.
• Union Minister of Finance Smt. Nirmala Sitaraman will inaugurate the two days Summit on Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs
• Also, Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, will address the gathering on 28th July 2023 in the Valedictory Session in the presence of MoS for Chemicals and Fertilizers and New & Renewable Energy Shri Bhagwant Khuba.
• Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Shri Piyush Goyal will also attend the “Session 4: FTAs – Connecting the world – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: One Earth, One Family, One Future” as a Chief Guest.
• The summit will bring together global leaders, CEOs, government authorities, key industry players, state governments and subject matter experts from around the globe in an open dialogue to discuss the key developments, sectoral issues and the way forward concerning the Indian chemicals and petrochemical industry.
• It will help develop possible strategies, share insights, explore opportunities and address challenges that will shape the Chemicals and Petrochemicals Industry in India and worldwide in the next decade.

About FICCI

• President: Subhrakant Panda
• Founded: 1927
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founder: Ghanshyam Das Birla

South Eastern Coalfields Ltd to invest Rs 169 crores on plantation in MP & Chhattisgarh

• Chhattisgarh-based Coal India subsidiary, South Eastern Coalfields (SECL), will invest Rs. 169 crores on a plantation in its operating States of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh during the next five years.
• The company has recently signed MoU with Chhattisgarh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam (CGRVVN) and Madhya Pradesh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam (MPRVVN) for carrying out plantation work in these States.
• The plantation will be carried out for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28 with its subsequent maintenance of 4 years for each consecutive year of the plantation.
• As per the MoU, SECL will spend Rs. 131.52 crore in Chhattisgarh and Rs. 38.11 crore in Madhya Pradesh for plantation work.
• The company in partnership with the state nigams will plant more than 26 lakh saplings in the state of CG and almost 12 lakh saplings in MP.
• This is the third such MoU by the company.
• Through the previous two MoUs, the company has planted more than 46 lakh saplings in CG and more than 16 lakh plants in MP between 2013-14 and 2022-23 at a total cost of more than Rs 168 crores.
• As per the terms of the MoU the respective Nigam of the state will take up the plantation works on the Company’s acquired/leased/purchased/transferred land of any type like tenancy, government, revenue and forest land, with due expertise and supervision.

About Chhattisgarh :

• Governor : Biswabhusan Harichandan
• Chief Minister: Bhupesh Baghel
• Capital: Raipur
• National Park : Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay) National Park, Kanger Valley National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary: Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary, Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary.

Amit Shah will launch the “Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar” initiative as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

• The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will launch a unique initiative ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• It is a pan-India initiative of the Ministry of Culture under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping.
• Shri Amit Shah will officially launch the virtual platform during a grand projection mapping show at the Qutub Minar.
• The virtual platform https://mgmd.gov.in will connect people with villages of India.
• The Ministry of Culture initiated the ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ (MGMD) project under National Mission on Cultural Mapping in coordination with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
• The main objective of the project is to culturally map India’s 6.5 lakh villages, spanning 29 States and 7 Union Territories, on a comprehensive virtual platform.
• Through MGMD, people will get an opportunity to immerse themselves in India’s diverse and vibrant cultural heritage.
• The core idea behind this project is to encourage appreciation for India’s culture and traditions, paving the way for economic growth, social harmony, and artistic development in rural communities.
• The MGMD Launch Film will offer an engaging and inspiring narrative, further deepening the connection to our cultural roots.
• The program also includes a “Samvaad” between people from different villages and Shri Amit Shah, offering a unique opportunity to interact with the heart and soul of India’s villages.

Recent News

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah announced the scheme while chairing a meeting with Ministers of Disaster Management of the States/Union Territories in New Delhi
• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the National Mega Conclave on FPO in the cooperative sector and released the action plan for the formation of 1100 new FPOs by PACS in New Delhi.
• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will chair the Regional Conference on ‘Drugs Smuggling and National Security’ in New Delhi.
• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will inaugurate a ‘National Seminar on Delivery of CSC services through Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS)’ at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Twitter Launches New ‘X’ Logo to Replace Blue Bird

• Twitter owner Elon Musk has launched a new logo – the single letter “X” to replace the social media service’s famous blue bird as part of a broader rebranding effort.
• Twitter’s official account now reads “X”, with a black background and the letter X in a white design.
• The latest change is one in a series Musk has carried out since buying Twitter for $44 billion last year.
• Musk’s Twitter purchase and rebranding effort are seen as steps toward his stated plans to create what he has called an “everything app.”
• Such an app would be similar to China’s WeChat, which combines video, messaging, streaming and payments.

About  Elon Musk :

• He is also CEO of rocket company Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, commonly known as SpaceX.
• He started an artificial intelligence company this month called xAI to compete with OpenAI.
• In 1999, he founded a startup calledcom, an online financial services company now known as PayPal.

Recent News :

• In May 2023, Former Twitter CEO, Elon Musk, was named Linda Yaccarino as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Twitter.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced India’s UPI to be used in France soon

• In a significant move, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the launch of the Unified Payments System (UPI) in France.
• To make it an iconic move, the countries have decided to start its operations from the Eiffel Tower, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site where Indian tourists will now be able to pay in rupees.
• This move will allow Indian tourists to make rupee payments using UPI while in France.
• The announcement is seen as a significant development for bilateral trade and tourism between India and France.
• With this development, France became the first European country to have UPI.
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is India’s mobile-based payment system and allows people to make round-the-clock payments through a virtual payment address created by the customer.

Key Highlights :

• It is to be noted that the National Payments Corporation Of India’s (NPCI) international arm, NPCI International Pvt Ltd (NIPL), had signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lyra Network of France for acceptance of UPI and RuPay Cards in the country back in 2022.
• It is to be noted that in 2023, UPI and Singapore’s PayNow had signed an agreement, allowing users in either country to make cross-border transactions.
• PM Modi along with his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loon witnessed the launch of UPI-PayNow collaboration to enable cross-border remittances.
• Apart from these two countries, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bhutan, and Nepal have already adopted the UPI payment system.

About France :

• President : Emmanuel Macron
• Prime Minister : Élisabeth Borne
• Capital: Paris
• Currency : Euro

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

As per the National Coal Index, coal production witnessed a decline of 33.8% in May this year.

• In May 2023, the National Coal Index (NCI) dropped significantly by 33.8%, reaching 157.7 points.
• This is in contrast to May of last year when it was at 238.3 points.
• The decline suggests that there is currently an ample supply of coal in the market to meet the increasing demand.
• For May 2023, the NCI for non-coking coal is at 147.5 points, indicating a 34.3% decline from May 2022. Meanwhile, the coking coal index for May 2023 stands at 187.1 points, with a decline of 32.6%.
• The highest point for NCI was noted in June 2022, reaching 238.8 points.
• However, subsequent months have seen a decrease, which implies that there is an abundance of coal available in the Indian market.
• The National Coal Index (NCI) is a reliable price index that combines coal prices from all sales channels, including notified prices, auction prices, and import prices.
• Established with the base year of fiscal year 2017-18, it provides valuable insights into coal price fluctuations and serves as a dependable indicator of market dynamics.
• Furthermore, the premium on coal auctions is an indicator of the industry’s condition, and the sharp decline in coal auction premiums confirms that there is enough coal available in the market.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

CMA Neeraj Joshi Elected as Institute Of Cost Accountants Of India’s Central Council Member

• City-based Cost & Management Accountant (CMA) Neeraj Joshi has been elected as the Central Council Member (CCM) of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) and CMA Chaitanya Moharir elected as the Western India Regional Council Member (RCM).
• This is the second time that Joshi & Moharir represented Pune at the central and regional council.

About ICMAI :

• Established : 28 May 1959
• Headquarters : Kolkata, West Bengal
• The ICMAI is a professional accountancy body in India under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.
• The Institute was established by a special act of Parliament, namely, the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 as a statutory professional body for the regulation of the profession of cost and management accountancy.

China names Pan Gongsheng as Governor of China’s central bank

• Pan Gongsheng was named China’s central bank governor in the widely anticipated final major appointment of the ruling Communist Party’s once-a-decade change of power.
• Pan, 60, was appointed by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee replacing Yi Gang, an American-trained economist who reached the official retirement age of 65.
• The endorsement of Pan’s promotion by the ceremonial legislature, the National People’s Congress, follows other Cabinet-level appointments announced in March, 2023.

Note :

• The Pan Gongsheng appointment marks the first time since 2018 that the top two positions at the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) – governor and Communist Party secretary will be held by oen person, potentially streamlining decision-making at the very top.
• Former governor Zhou Xiaochuan held both posts until his departure in 2018, when Yi Gang was named governor and Guo Shuqing held the position of party chief.

About Pan Gongsheng :

• He served as a vice president of the Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., one of the country’s four major commercial lenders from 2008-2010.
• In 2012, Pan joined the People’s Bank of China as Deputy Governor, and later assumed leadership of State Administration of Foreign Exchange, as its administrator.
• He is also a member of the Academic Committee of the China Finance 40 Forum (CF40).
• In July 2023, he was appointed as the secretary of the PBOC Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, succeeding Guo Shuqing.

About China :

• President : Xi Jinping
• Capital : Beijing
• Currency : Renminbi

Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya Sworn in as Chief Justice Of Bombay High Court

• The President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya from the Allahabad High Court (HC) as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
• The position of Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court had been vacant since the retirement of CJ RD Dhanuka on May 30, 2023.
• Justice Upadhyaya’s name was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, on July 6, 2023.
• Currently, the Bombay HC, which has a sanctioned strength of 94 judges, is functioning with 66 judges, including 40 permanent and 26 additional judges.

About Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya :

• He was Enrolled as an Advocate on May 11, 1991.
• He practised in Civil and Constitutional sides at Allahabad High court, Lucknow Bench, Lucknow.
• He enrolled as an advocate in 1989 and was designated a Senior Advocate in 2011.
• He was appointed as a permanent judge of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court on March 8, 2013.
• In 2022, he was transferred to the Bombay High Court.
• Currently he was Senior Judge of Allahabad High Court at Lucknow Bench.

Recent News :

• In July 2023, Telangana Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Kerala Chief Justice S Venkatanarayana Bhatti were appointed by the President of India Droupadi Murmu as Supreme Court judges.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar nominated 4 women Parliamentarians to panel of Vice-Chairpersons

• In a historic move, Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has nominated 4 women Parliamentarians namely PT Usha, S. Phangnon Konyak, Dr. Fauzia Khan, and Sulata Deo to the panel of Vice-Chairpersons.
• It is also noteworthy that all women members nominated to the panel are first term Parliamentarians and S. Phangnon Konyak is the first ever woman from Nagaland to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
• The panel reconstituted before the Monsoon Session contains a total of 8 names, out of which half (4) are women.
• V Vijayasai Reddy, Ghanshyam Tiwari, Dr. L. Hanumanthaiah, and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray have also been nominated to the panel of Vice-Chairpersons.

Aim of the move :

• To ensure gender parity, by ensuring a 50% representation of women in the 8-member panel.
• This is the first time in the history of the Upper House that equal representation has been given to women members in the panel of Vice-Chairpersons.
• In another notable development, the Rajya Sabha Chair has become fully digital.
• The Rajya Sabha Chair will be using electronic tablets for matters related to the conduct of business in the House, attendance in the House, details of Members speaking and other relevant information.
• The following are the details of the women Members nominated to the panel of Vice-Chairpersons.

About Smt. P.T. Usha:

• She is a Padma Shri awardee and a renowned athlete.
• She was nominated to Rajya Sabha in July, 2022.
• She is a Member of the Committee on Defense, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and Committee on Ethics.

About Smt. S. Phangnon Konyak:

• She belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
• She is the first woman to be elected as Member of Rajya Sabha from Nagaland in April, 2022 and the second woman from the State to be elected to either House of the Parliament or the State Assembly.
• She is a member of Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Committee on Empowerment of Women, House Committee and Member, Governing Council of the North-Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, Meghalaya.

About  Dr. Fauzia Khan:

• She belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party.
• She was elected to the Rajya Sabha in April, 2020.
• She is a member of the Committee on Empowerment of Women, Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Law and Justice.

About Smt. Sulata Deo:

• She belongs to Biju Janata Dal. She was elected to Rajya Sabha in July, 2022.
• She is a member of the Committee on Industry, Committee on Empowerment of Women, Joint Committee on Office of Profit, Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

About Rajya Sabha :

• The Rajya Sabha, constitutionally the Council of States, is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of India.
• The total allowed capacity is 250 (238 elected, 12 appointed) according to article 80 of the Indian Constitution.

Tata Steel reappoints TV Narendran as its MD and CEO for 5 years

• Based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, Tata Steel has reappointed TV Narendran as Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a further period of 5 years effective September 19, 2023 through September 18, 2028.

About TV Narendran :

• Narendran joined Tata Steel in 1988.
• He was appointed as MD of Tata Steel for India and South East Asia on November 1, 2013.
• In October 2017, Tata Steel elevated Narendran as MD & CEO globally.
• He served as co-chair of the Mining & Metals Governor’s Council at the renowned World Economic Forum from 2016 to 2018.
• He is also the Chairman of Tata Steel Europe, the Supervisory Board of Tata Steel Nederland BV, Tata Steel Long Products Limited and Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited.

About Tata Steel Limited :

• Founded : 26 August 1907
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Chairperson : Natarajan Chandrasekaran
• Tata Steel Limited is an Indian multinational steel-making company.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Italy Honours Indian Army contribution in second World War

• Remembering the supreme sacrifices by the Indian Soldiers, the Commune of Monotone (in Italy) and Italian Military historians have unveiled “C Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial” at Montone (Perugia, Italy), as a tribute to the Indian troops who fought during Italian Campaign during the Second World War, and to honour Naik Yeshwant Ghadge, Victoria Cross, who was killed in action fighting on the heights of Upper Tiber Valley.
• Dr Neena Malhotra, Ambassador of India in Italy and the Indian Defence Attaché represented India during the ceremony.
• A large number of Italian citizens, distinguished guests and members of the Italian Armed Forces also graced the occasion.

Key Highlights :

• In order to make this memorial a participative endeavor, an Indian Army plaque has been placed at the memorial commemorating the gallant sacrifice of all ranks of the Indian Army who fought in the Italian Campaign.
• The memorial is in the form of a live Sundial.
• The motto of the memorial is “Omines Sub Eodem Sole” which translates in English as “We all live under the same sun“.
• Inauguration of this Memorial honouring the contributions during the Italian Campaign is a testimony to the fact that Italy holds in high reverence the supreme sacrifices and contributions by the Indian Soldiers during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War.
• Indian Soldiers played a central role in the Italian Campaign during the Second World War, wherein more than 50,000 Indian Army soldiers from the 4th, 8th and 10th Divisions took part.
• Out of the 20 Victoria Crosses awarded in Italy, 6 were won by Indian soldiers.
• Indian soldiers suffered 23,722 casualties, of which 5,782 Indian soldiers made the supreme sacrifice, and are commemorated in the 40 Commonwealth War Graves spread all over Italy.

About Ministry of Defence : 

• Defence Minister :  Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State : Ajay Bhatt
• Defence Secretary : Giridhar Aramane

About Italy :

• President : Sergio Mattarella
• Prime Minister : Giorgia Meloni
• Capital : Rome
• Currency : Euro

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SpaceX Successfully Launched 22 Starlink V2 ‘Mini’ Satellites into Low Earth Orbit

• The Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, commonly referred to as SpaceX launched 22 Starlink V2 ‘Mini’ satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the United States of America (USA).
• The Falcon 9’s first stage came back down to Earth for a landing about 5 minutes after liftoff as planned.
• It touched down on the SpaceX drone ship Just Read the Instructions, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
• According to a SpaceX mission description, it was the sixth launch and landing for this particular booster.
• The spacecraft were deployed there on schedule, about 65 minutes after launch.

Key Highlights :

• Until now, Spacecraft has launched more than 4,850 Starlink craft to LEO in total.
• The V2 Minis feature enhanced technologies, including more powerful phased array antennas and the use of E-band for backhaul.
• This allows each satellite to offer approximately four times more capacity than their predecessors.
• As a result, the upgraded Starlink network promises increased bandwidth, higher reliability, and will connect millions more people globally with high-speed internet.
• The Falcon 9 first stage used in this mission, known as B1076-6, has flown a total of six times.
• It previously supported missions for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), OneWeb, Intelsat, and now 3 Starlink missions.

About SpaceX :

• Founded : March 14, 2002
• Headquarters : Hawthorne, California, United States
• CEO & Chairman : Elon Musk
• SpaceX, is an American spacecraft manufacturer, launch service provider and satellite communications company.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

The organization NADA has introduced a helpline number 1800-119-919 for athletes to receive information regarding Anti-Doping regulations and guidelines

• The Union government has emphasized that ethical conduct is a key factor in the fair administration of the sporting disciplines and facilitates a safe environment free of harassment and discrimination for all stakeholders participating in sports.
• Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said this in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha and the government is committed to eradicating doping and drug abuse by sportspersons.
• He said, National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has launched an Anti-Doping helpline number for the athletes and athlete support personnel to provide information about Anti-Doping rules and guidelines.
• The helpline number is 1800-119-919.
• The Minister also informed that woman coaches will be a mandatory part of any contingent with female athletes during domestic and international camps and competition exposures.

About NADA

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 24 November 2005
• Chairman: Minister of Sports (India)

Recent News

• The National Anti-Doping Agency of India (NADA) India signed an MoU with the South Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization (SARADO), comprising of Anti-Doping Organizations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, at the NADA India – SARADO Cooperation Meet in New Delhi

India has secured the second position on the medals tally at the ISSF World Championship held in South Korea:

• India secured the 2nd position on the medals tally at the ISSF Junior Shooting World Championships 2023 held in Changwon, South Korea.
• The Indian shooters claimed a total of 17 medals in the under-21 age category, including 6 Gold, 6 Silver, and 5 Bronze.
• The competition had 90 Indian participants who competed in pistol, rifle, and shotgun events.
• The majority of the medalists were Khelo India athletes, and seven Indian participants won more than one medal.
• Abhinav Shaw and Kamaljeet both won two gold medals each, while Sainyam secured three medals – one gold in the 10m air pistol women’s category, and one bronze each in the 10m air pistol mixed team and women’s team events.

About ISSF:

• The International Shooting Sport Federation is the governing body of the Olympic shooting events. It also regulates several non-Olympic shooting sports events.
• President: Luciano Rossi
• Founded: 1907
• Headquarters: Munich, Germany
• Membership: 150 regions
• Secretary: Willi Grill (Secretary-General)

Recent News

• In shooting, India shooter Prithviraj Tondaiman bagged the bronze medal in the men’s trap event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup Lonato 2023 in Italy.
• The ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Italy was a qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympic
• In shooting, India bagged one silver to stay in the second position of the medal tally on Day 4 of the ISSF Junior World Championships, in Changwon, Korea

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

The ‘world’s most famous hacker Kevin Mitnick Passed away

• One of the most famous Computer hackers in the history of cybersecurity, Kevin Mitnick passed away at the age of 59.

About Kevin Mitnick :

• Mitnick was born on August 6, 1963, in Van Nuys, California.
• He was an American computer security consultant, author, and convicted hacker.
• He is best known for his high-profile 1995 arrest and 5 years in prison for various computer and communications-related crimes.
• He began his hacking journey at the young age of 12 years in 1979.
• He became a White Hat hacker and cybersecurity consultant after serving a five-year term in Prison.
• He established the Mitnick Security Consulting firm in 2003.
• He provided cybersecurity advice to Fortune 500 companies and government agencies.
• He became the part owner of KnowBe4, a company offering phishing security awareness training.
• Mitnick published a memoir on his hacking career, “Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker,” in 2011.

Daily CA One-Liner: July 27

• Union minister of state for finance, Shri Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad announced that Indian banks have received ₹5,729 crore from the “Depositor Education and Awareness” (DEA) Fund to facilitate the refund of unclaimed deposits in the last 5-years.
• PhonePe, a digital payments platform, has partnered with PayMate, a leading digital Business-to-business (B2B) payments and service provider, to allow users to pay their income tax on the PhonePe app called “Income Tax Payment,” .
• HDFC Asset Management Company (HDFC AMC), investment manager to HDFC Mutual Fund (HDFC MF), has launched the HDFC Charity Fund for Cancer Cure in partnership with the Indian Cancer Society (ICS).
• Twitter owner Elon Musk has launched a new logo – the single letter “X” to replace the social media service’s famous blue bird as part of a broader rebranding effort.
• In a significant move, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the launch of Unified Payments System (UPI) in France.
• The 4th Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting began in Chennai.
• Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel inaugurated three Flight Training Organizations (FTO) in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
• Ministry of Textiles, under its flagship scheme National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), organized the 6th National Conclave on Standards & Regulations in association with FICCI and BIS, emphasizing the importance of Standards, Quality regulations & Rationalization of HSN codes for Technical Textiles in India.
• The Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is organizing the 3rd edition of the Summit on “Global Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturing Hubs in India” (GCPMH 2023) in New Delhi.
• Chhattisgarh-based Coal India subsidiary, South Eastern Coalfields (SECL), will invest Rs. 169 crores on a plantation in its operating States of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh during the next five years.
• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will launch a unique initiative ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’ as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• In May 2023, the National Coal Index (NCI) dropped significantly by 33.8%, reaching 157.7 points.
• The union government has emphasized that ethical conduct is a key factor in the fair administration of the sporting disciplines and facilitates a safe environment free of harassment and discrimination for all stakeholders participating in sports.
• India secured the 2nd position on the medals tally at the ISSF Junior Shooting World Championships 2023 held in Changwon, South Korea.
• City-based Cost & Management Accountant (CMA) Neeraj Joshi has been elected as the Central Council Member (CCM) of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) and CMA Chaitanya Moharir elected as the Western India Regional Council Member (RCM).
• Pan Gongsheng was named China’s central bank governor in the widely anticipated final major appointment of the ruling Communist Party’s once-a-decade change of power.
• The President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya from the Allahabad High Court (HC) as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
• In a historic move, Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has nominated 4 women Parliamentarians namely PT Usha, S. Phangnon Konyak, Dr. Fauzia Khan, and Sulata Deo to the panel of Vice-Chairpersons.
• Based on the recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, Tata Steel has reappointed TV Narendran as Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a further period of 5 years effective September 19, 2023 through September 18, 2028.
• Remembering the supreme sacrifices by the Indian Soldiers, the Commune of Monotone (in Italy) and Italian Military historians have unveiled “C Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial” at Montone (Perugia, Italy), as a tribute to the Indian troops who fought during Italian Campaign during the Second World War, and to honour Naik Yeshwant Ghadge, Victoria Cross, who was killed in action fighting on the heights of Upper Tiber Valley.
• The Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, commonly referred to as SpaceX launched 22 Starlink V2 ‘Mini’ satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the United States of America (USA).
• One of the most famous Computer hackers in the history of cybersecurity, Kevin Mitnick passed away at the age of 59.