Current Affairs July 02nd 2022| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World UFO Day- 2^nd July

• Every year, World UFO Day is observed on July 2nd to create an awareness of Unidentified Flying Objects.
• These objects are somehow related to alien life forms.
• The World UFO Day organization decided in the year 2001 to celebrate this day for all UFO enthusiasts.

History:

• The first observation of a UFO was reported by aviator Kenneth Arnold in the US.
• He described the UFO as a saucer-like object or a big flat disk design.
• Now this observation has been described as the design of a UFO for decades.
• On July 2, 1947, an incident was reported as a crash in the desert near Roswell, New Mexico.
• Since then, this incident has been a conspiracy theory.
• It was believed the US Air Force was carrying out some top-secret projects.
• William Brazel was the only witness to this incident who explained that the wreckage of the UFO was made of rubber strips and tinfoil.

World Sports Journalists Day- 2^nd July

• World Sports Journalists Day is observed globally on 2nd July every year.
• The day aims to acknowledge the work of sports journalists & encourage them to do better at their work.
• Sports journalists help millions of people in the world to receive information on various sports.

History:

• It marks the anniversary of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), established in 1924.
• Its headquarters is based in Switzerland.
• In 1994, AIPS introduced World Sports Journalists Day to celebrate the anniversary of its establishment.
• Sports journalism started in the early 1800s as an important part of the elite class and transitioned to the news business with a dedicated sports column.
• Later it also gained popularity in the middle and lower classes, which led to more content coverage in publications.
• The different forms of sports journalism include play-by-play, game recap analysis, and investigative journalism on important developments in the field of sport.

International Day of Cooperatives:

• International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated on the first Saturday of every July.
• This year the day will be celebrated on July 2 by cooperatives all across the world.
• This celebration aims to increase awareness about cooperatives by highlighting how the United Nations shares similar goals and objectives as the international cooperative movement.
• This day aims to acknowledge the contributions of cooperatives to resolving some of the major international issues that have drawn the attention of the United Nations.
• The day also aims to strengthen and extend partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other outfits of social development.

Themes:

• The theme for the 2022 International Day of Cooperatives is “Cooperatives Build a Better World”.

History:

• The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) was formed on or around the 3rd of July in 1895 and since 1927 ICA has observed the first Saturday of July as International Day of Co-operatives.
• In December 1994, United Nations General Assembly also passed a resolution to follow the pattern of ICA and declared that from 1995, the first Saturday of July will be observed as International Day of Cooperatives.
• The UN has also acknowledged and admired the efforts of the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) for the nomination of this day’s observance at the global level.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

In 25 cities throughout India, there will be 122 unicorns in the next two to four years:

• India is expected to create 122 new unicorns in the next 2-4 years, per the Hurun Research Institute’s research, Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2022.
• These prospective unicorns are presently valued at 49 billion US dollars overall.
• A startup is referred to regarded as a unicorn when its valuation reaches USD 1 billion.

Key Points:

• Bengaluru, which has 33 unicorns, will get 46 new additions.
• Delhi NCR will get 25, Mumbai will get 16, Chennai will get 5, and Pune will get 3. Right now, Bengaluru is the state with the most unicorns.
• The remaining unicorns are expected to show up in 20 more towns.
• The multinational venture capital company Sequoia Capital has invested in 39 of these prospective Unicorns, followed by Tiger Global, which has invested in 27.
• Most of these potential unicorns were established in 2015.

About the Survey:

• According to the poll, 63% of these enterprises were consumer-facing, while 37% belonged to the business-to-business (B2B) sector, which offered services to the financial services, logistics, healthcare, and education sectors.
• The analysis has separated would-be unicorns into three categories: Cheetahs, who have a chance of becoming unicorns in the next four years, and Gazelles, which have the highest chance of doing so in the next two years.
• It stated that the startup boom had accelerated due to the epidemic.
• According to experts, a record 44 unicorns appeared in 2021, elevating India to third place among startup ecosystems worldwide.
• Additionally, the experts found that there are now 65% more unicorns, 51% more gazelles, and 71% more cheetahs in the country.
• Product and market fit will continue to drive Indian enterprises, the report’s results indicate.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Maharashtra Cabinet approves renaming Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar, Osmanabad as Dharashiv

• The Maharashtra cabinet under the chairmanship of Shri Uddhav Thackeray approved a proposal to rename Aurangabad city as Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad city as
• The cabinet also cleared a proposal to name the upcoming Navi Mumbai International airport after the late DB Patil, the leader of the Project Affected People of Raigad and Thane district.

About Maharashtra :

• Chief Minister : Eknath Shinde
• Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
• Capital: Mumbai

Maharashtra signs MoU with AGEL for 11000 MW power generation

• The Maharashtra government’s Energy department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Adani Green Energy Group Ltd (AGEL) to generate 11000 MW of green power in the next 5 years.
• The MoU was signed by Narayan Karad, Deputy Secretary, Department of Energy, Maharashtra, and Ajit Barodia, Senior Vice President, Adani Industries Group.
• It would entail an investment of Rs 60,000 crore and employ 30,000 persons.
• According to the agreement, AGEL will set up Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) in the next 4 to 5 years, through which about 11,000 MW of power will be generated.
• This is the 2nd major investment in the Maharashtra energy sector after Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) signed an MoU with Gurgaon-based Renew Power Private Limited at the World Economic Forum in Davos for investments worth Rs 50,000 crore.

About AGEL :

• Founded: 2015
• Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
• Founder: Gautam Adani
• MD & CEO: Vineet S. Jaain

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & FINANCE

ICICI direct launches a learning app to help customers with investment

• ICICI Securities (I-Sec) has launched ‘ICICI direct iLearn’, a learning app for customers to easily access content curated around several financial products and stock market topics.

Aim :

• To provide investors with well-researched and simplified content curated by experts to help make informed investment decisions.
• To familiarize investors with the knowledge of financial or investment tools by including both, standard and contemporary content, catering to the needs of beginners as well as evolved investors.
• As per data from BSE, the total number of investors as of June 2022 stood at around 109 million, a 51% increase Year on Year (Y-o-Y).
• Out of the overall customer base of I-Sec, millennials and Gen Z formed more than 80% of its active customer base in the past 3 years.
• Additionally, 85% of customers acquired by I-Sec in Q4-FY22 were from tier II & III cities.
• The app currently hosts more than 550 plus content pieces across various sections.
• The content will be updated at regular intervals on different topics including current market developments.
• The platform iCommunity will soon enable an opportunity of learning through fellow investors.

About ICICI Securities (I-Sec) :

• Establishment: 1995
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman: Vinod Kumar Dhall
• ICICI Securities Limited (I-Sec) is a subsidiary of ICICI Bank Ltd.

Airtel Payments Bank partners with Axis Bank to digitize cash collection

• Airtel Payments Bank has partnered with Axis Bank, India’s third-largest private sector bank, to digitize the cash collection system in India’s tier III cities and semi-urban regions.
• It would leverage the wide reach of its digital-led neighborhood banking model to support Axis Bank with the digitization of last-mile cash collections.
• Axis Bank’s agents will no longer have to travel back to the branch to deposit the collected EMI amount as they can deposit the amount at any Airtel Payments Bank outlet in the neighborhood, and it will be immediately transferred to the Axis Bank accounts.
• As per the reports, customers of Axis Bank will be able to make direct EMI deposits for loan payments at the 5,00,000 banking points of Airtel Payments Bank.

About Airtel Payments Bank :

• Founded: 2017
• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
• MD & CEO : Anubrata Biswas
• In January 2022, it was granted the scheduled bank status by the Reserve Bank of India under the second schedule of the RBI Act, 1934.

About Axis Bank :

• Founded : 3 December 1993
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry

World Bank Approves $1 Billion To Support India’s Health Sector

• The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved two complementary loans of $500 million each to support and enhance India’s health sector.
• Through this combined financing of $1 billion, the Bank will support India’s flagship Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), launched in October 2021 to improve public healthcare infrastructure across India.
• The loans will prioritize 7 states including Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

India’s performance in health :

• According to World Bank estimates, India’s life expectancy at 69.8 in 2020, up from 58 in 1990 is higher than the average for the country’s income level.
• The under-five mortality rate (36 per 1,000 live births), infant mortality rate (30 per 1,000 live births), and maternal mortality ratio (103 per 100,000 live births)
• The two loans, Public Health Systems for Pandemic Preparedness Program (PHSPP) and Enhanced Health Service Delivery Program (EHSDP) from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) have a final maturity of 18.5 years including a grace period of 5 years.

The PHSPP will support the government’s efforts to:

• To prepare India’s surveillance system to be ready to detect and report epidemics of potential international concern, ensure rapid response, and prevent the emergence of pathogens;
• To enhance India’s capacity to detect pathogens, including zoonotic diseases
• To strengthen coordination and build institutional capacity

The EHSDP will support Government’s efforts to:

• To strengthen service delivery through a redesigned primary health care model
• To improve the quality of care
• To transform health sector governance and accountability

About World Bank :

• Established: July 1944
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• President : David Malpass
• Membership: 189 countries

Max Life launches Insta confirmation of insurance (Insta-COI)+ to deliver a superior customer experience

• Max Life Insurance Company Ltd, has launched a smart solution, ‘Insta confirmation of insurance (Insta-COI)’+, to customers buying the ‘Max Life Smart Fixed-return Digital Plan’, a non-linked, non-participating, individual life insurance savings plan on the Max Life website or Policybazaar platform.

About Insta-COI :

• The Insta-COI feature enables intimation to the proposer regarding the commencement of the risk cover pending release of the policy contract ensuring a quick and hassle-free onboarding.
• This initiative becomes possible by digitizing processes for documentation during onboarding.
• Strengthened by AI-enabled smart underwriting, this solution is currently applicable for certain low-risk prospects choosing a sum assured of up to INR 25 Lakh.

Recent News :

• Recently Max Life has introduced innovative service experiences via digital interventions like chatbot and WhatsApp servicing.

About Max Life Insurance Company Ltd :

• Max Life Insurance Company Limited is a Joint Venture between Max Financial Services Limited and Axis Bank Limited.
• Max Financial Services Ltd. is a part of the Max Group, an Indian multi-business corporation.
• It offers comprehensive protection and long-term savings life insurance solutions, through its multi-channel distribution including agency and third-party distribution partners.
• Founded: 2001
• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
• MD & CEO: Prashant Tripathy

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

PESB selected Mr. Sandeep Kumar Gupta as the next chairman of GAIL

• The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has selected Sandeep Kumar Gupta as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of GAIL (India) Ltd, India’s largest gas utility after interviewing 10 candidates.
• If his appointment is approved by the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), then he will hold the office till February 2026.
• He will replace Mr. Manoj Jain.

About Mr. Sandeep Kumar Gupta :

• Sandeep Kumar Gupta has more than 31 years of working experience at Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nation’s largest oil refining and fuel marketing company
• He has been Director (Finance) of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) since August 3, 2019.
• At IOC, his responsibilities also included financial planning and analysis, corporate finance and treasury, international trade, and pricing.
• He is also on the board of IOC Middle East FZE, Dubai, and Indian Oil Petronas Pvt Ltd.

About GAIL :

• Founded: 1984
• Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi, India
• GAIL, formerly known as Gas Authority of India Ltd., is a government-owned natural gas explorer and producer responsible for natural gas processing and distribution in India.
• It is under the ownership of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, GoI.
• It holds around 70 percent share of the gas transmission network and more than 50 percent share of natural gas sales in India.

Shri Eknath Shinde takes oath as chief minister of Maharashtra

• Shiv Sena leader Shri Eknath Shinde has been sworn in as the 20th chief minister of Maharashtra.
• He was administered the oath of office by Maharashtra Governor Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari at the Raj Bhawan in Mumbai.
• Earlier Shri Uddhav Thackeray resigned from the post of chief minister after the Supreme Court allowed a floor test in the assembly.
• Former Maharashtra CM Shri Devendra Fadnavis took the oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

About Shri Eknath Shinde :

• Shri Eknath Shinde was born in 1964
• He began his political career in 1997 when he was elected to Thane Municipal Corporation as a corporation for the first time.
• In 2001 became leader of the house in Thane Municipal Corporation and was elected to Thane Municipal Corporation for the second time in 2002.
• He won the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election for the first time in 2004 from the Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency of Thane.
• He has been elected consecutively for 4 terms in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 2004, 2009, 2014, and
• Earlier, he was the Cabinet Minister of Urban Development and Public Works (Public Undertakings) in the Government Of Maharashtra.

About Shri Devendra Fadnavis :

• Shri Devendra Fadnavis is the 9th Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
• He served as the CM of Maharashtra from 2014-19. ( He became the second-youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra followed by Sharad Pawar.)
• He was the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mr. K.K. Venugopal was re-appointed as Attorney General for 3 months

• The President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind has re-appointed Mr. Kottayan Katankot Venugopal as the Attorney General for India for three months (July to September) or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

About Mr. K.K. Venugopal :

• K.K. Venugopal is an Indian constitutional lawyer and a senior advocate in the Supreme Court of India.
• On 1 July 2017, he was appointed as the 15th Attorney General of India after succeeding Mukul Rohatgi for three years (2017 to 20220) & after that he was reappointed for one the year 2021
• Again in June 2021, his term was extended by one year until June 30, 2022.
• He was an Additional Solicitor General of India between 1979 and 1980.
• He is the Patron of SAARCLAW (A regional apex body of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) ) and earlier has been its President.
• He is the founder of M K Nambiar SAARCLAW Centre For Advanced Legal Studies at the NALSAR Law University

Awards & Honors :

• In 2015, he was conferred the Padma Vibhushan award by the Government of India.
• In 2002, he was awarded Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honor

About Attorney-General for India :

• The Attorney General for India is the Indian government’s chief legal advisor
• The post was appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Union Cabinet under Article 76(1) of the Constitution.
• The appointed person has been a judge of some high court for five years or an advocate of some high court for ten years or an eminent jurist in the opinion of the President.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

High-speed Expendable Aerial Target – ABHYAS – successfully flight-tested off the Odisha coast

• India successfully flight-tested the indigenously developed High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT), ABHYAS, from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the Odisha coast.
• The performance of the aircraft at low altitudes including sustained level and high maneuverability was demonstrated during the test flight.

About ABHYAS :

• Abhyas is an original Sanskrit word for practice or preparatory exercise
• It is designed & developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot, under development at ADE.
• It has RCS, Visual, and IR augmentation systems required for weapon practice.
• The air vehicle was launched using twin under-slung boosters which provide the initial acceleration to the vehicle.
• It is powered by a small gas turbine engine to sustain a long endurance flight at high subsonic speed.
• The aircraft is equipped with Micro-Electromechanical Systems-based Inertial Navigation System for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer for guidance and control along with Indigenous Radio Altimeter.
• The target aircraft was flown from a ground-based controller in a pre-designated low-altitude flight path, which was monitored by various tracking sensors deployed by ITR, including radar and an electro-optical targeting system.

Recent News :

• Earlier in June 2022, Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) was successfully flight-tested by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy from an Indian Naval Ship at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKS & INDEX

Asia Pacific Sustainability Index 2021: Bengaluru ranks 14th among 20 cities in the APAC region

• According to the Asia Pacific Sustainability Index 2021, released by Knight Frank Four Indian cities Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai made it to the list of top 20 sustainable cities.
• Bengaluru led the sustainability index amongst the top Indian cities and ranked 14th in the APAC region.
• Bengaluru was the only Indian city to achieve the ‘Gold’ standard category.
• Delhi ranked second amongst the Indian cities (ranked 17th in the APAC region) followed by Hyderabad (ranked 18th) and Mumbai (ranked 20th).

Key Highlights :

• Global property consultant Knight Frank’s APAC Sustainably Led Cities Index rated 36 cities based on urbanization pressure, climate risk, carbon emissions, and government initiatives.
• Singapore, Sydney, Wellington, Perth, and Melbourne were the top five green-rated cities in commercial real estate in the Asia-Pacific region.

Note :

• Standard refers to the willingness of the cities in accepting and adapting to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) metrics.
• Platinum Standard indicates that the city is very advanced and extremely open to accepting and adapting to ESG metrics from all stakeholders to a high degree.
• Gold Standard indicates that the city is slightly advanced and somewhat open to accepting and adapting to ESG metrics from all stakeholders to a certain degree.
• Silver Standard indicates that the city is advanced and open to accepting and adapting to ESG metrics from all stakeholders to a limited degree.

India’s Performance :

• New market dynamics have propelled the growth of sustainable development in India.
• The global commitment to carbon neutrality and net-zero is firmly focused on creating environmentally-friendly premises has led Indian developers to augment their products to meet the requirements.

About Knight Frank India :

• Founded: 1896
• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
• Chairman and Managing Director: Shishir Baijal

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman announces the Business Reform Action 2020:

• Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP)-2020 speech in New Delhi.
• Seven states have been selected as the top performers in the report’s review of the Business Reforms Action Plan’s implementation.
• The states in dispute include Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Punjab, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
• Andaman and Nicobar, Bihar, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Puducherry, and Tripura have all been included under the category of emerging business ecosystems, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Key Points:

• The Achievers group comprises Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, according to the poll.
• Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Kerala, Rajasthan, and West Bengal are included in the Aspirers group.
• According to Sitharaman, changes have changed in terms of their content after 1991.
• She made a point of stating that the federal government is pressuring the states and Union Territories to enact the necessary reforms.

About BRAP:

• The BRAP exercise aims to enhance the business environment in each State and Union Territory by fostering a culture of learning from other States’ best practices.
• The overall purpose of BRAP is to make India one of the most well-liked investment locations in the globe.

100% two-wheelers to be energized by FY27:

• Electric two-wheelers would be integrated into the Indian market by FY2026-27, according to NITI Aayog and the Technology Information, Forecasting, and Assessment Council (TIFAC).
• The autonomous TIFAC was formed in 1988 by the Department of Science and Technology to forecast technical advancements, evaluate technological trajectories and foster innovation.
• Three key aspects that affect the market penetration of electric two-wheelers have been used to build future scenarios.
• Demand incentives, battery cost, and vehicle performance in terms of range and power are these factors.

Key Points:

• The title of the report was Forecasting Electric Two-Wheeler Penetration in India.
• It provided important information on the industry’s goals for technological advancement as well as the essential industrial capacity and infrastructure.
• If an R&D program is effective in improving their range and power by 5% yearly between FY 2023–24 and FY 2025–26 and by 10% in FY 2026–27, the penetration of electric two-wheelers may reach roughly 72 percent in FY 2031–32 even without the extension of demand-side incentives.
• Sales of electric two-wheelers may top 220 lakh units by FY2028-29.

About the Research conducted by NITI Ayog and TIFAC:

• The research’s conclusions indicate that India is at a turning point and that the switch to electric mobility, particularly in the two-wheeler industry, may happen sooner than anticipated.
• Because electric car adoption was slow at first, there will need to be more charging stations than electric automobiles to build consumer confidence.
• If there is adequate infrastructure in place for charging electric two-wheelers, sales may exceed 250 lakh units.
• The sale of electric two-wheelers will reach 54.91 lakh units in FY 2031, with a market penetration of 21.86 percent, according to the Incentive Driven Scenario, which assumes that demand incentives will persist throughout but with only a 2 percent annual reduction in battery cost and no improvement in range or performance.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Novak Djokovic becomes 1st player to win 80 matches in all four Grand Slams:

• Novak Djokovic became the first player in history to win 80 matches at all four Grand Slams on Centre Court, defeating Kwon Soon-woo 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
• The former world number one tennis player has established history by winning his 80th match at Wimbledon.
• The six-time winner is the only male player in the Open Era to win 80 or more matches at each of the four grand slams.
• A seventh triumph would tie him with Pete Sampras’ record and place him only one title behind Roger Federer as the second-most successful male singles player in the history of the oldest grand slam.

No. of matches won by Novak Djokovic at each Grand Slam:

• Roland Garros – 85
• Australian Open -82
• US Open – 81
• Wimbledon -80

Adani Sportsline is the principal sponsor of the Indian Olympic Association:

• The Indian Olympic Association and Adani Sportsline, the Adani Group’s sports division, have signed a long-term major sponsorship agreement (IOA).
• At the upcoming Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2022, and the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, it will serve as the Indian team’s official partner.
• The group has previously been linked to the Indian team competing in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Key Points:

• Through its athlete support program, #GarvHai, Adani Sportsline has helped more than 28 athletes compete in a range of sports.
• The wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya was one of six of these athletes that competed for India in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and won a silver medal.
• Aside from these leagues, Adani Sportsline also owns clubs in the Pro Kabaddi League, Ultimate Kho Kho League, Big Bout Boxing League, and International League T20 (cricket).

Neeraj Chopra clinches silver medal at prestigious Diamond League meet:

• Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra clinched his first-ever medal at the prestigious Diamond League meet in Stockholm as he broke his national record for the second time in a month.
• Chopra finished 2nd at the Stockholm Diamond League with a massive throw of 89.94 meters.
• Reigning world champion Anderson Peters won the event with a best throw of 90.31 meters.
• Chopra broke his national record of 89.30m that he set at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku earlier this month.
• The prestigious one-day meet at the Swedish capital is Chopra’s biggest event ahead of the World Championships in Eugene, USA, next month.
• Chopra is the first Indian to win a gold medal in athletics at the Olympics.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARIES

Malayalam actress Ambika Rao passes away

• Renowned actor and filmmaker, Ambika Rao passed away in Kochi at the age of 58.

About Ambika Rao :

• Ambika Rao was born on 6 July 1963 in Ernakulam, Kerala.
• She entered the film industry as an Assistant Director in 2000.
• She assisted several directors, including Anwar Rasheed, Balachandra Menon, Shafi, and Vinayan.
• In her career of 2 decades in the industry, she has worked as an assistant director for Mammootty starrers Rajamanikyam and Thommanum Makkalum, Dileep starrer Meesha Madhavan and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s film Vellinakshathram among many others.
• Ambika Rao also acted in the movies and made her mark in her performances in hit films such as Kumbalangi Nights and Virus.

Daily CA on July 02 :

• Every year, World UFO Day is observed on July 2nd to create an awareness of Unidentified Flying Objects.
• World Sports Journalists Day is observed globally on 2nd July every year.
• International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated on the first Saturday of every July.
• India is expected to create 122 new unicorns in the next 2-4 years, per the Hurun Research Institute’s research, Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2022.
• The Maharashtra cabinet under the chairmanship of Shri Uddhav Thackeray approved a proposal to rename Aurangabad city as Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad city as
• The Maharashtra government’s Energy department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Adani Green Energy Group Ltd (AGEL) to generate 11000 MW of green power in the next 5 years.
• ICICI Securities (I-Sec) has launched ‘ICICIdirect iLearn’, a learning app for customers to easily access content curated around several financial products and stock market topics.
• Airtel Payments Bank has partnered with Axis Bank, India’s third-largest private sector bank, to digitize the cash collection system in India’s tier III cities and semi-urban regions.
• The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved two complementary loans of $500 million each to support and enhance India’s health sector.
• Max Life Insurance Company Ltd, has launched a smart solution, ‘Insta confirmation of insurance (Insta-COI)’+, to customers buying the ‘Max Life Smart Fixed-return Digital Plan’, a non-linked, non-participating, individual life insurance savings plan on the Max Life website or Policybazaar platform.
• The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has selected Sandeep Kumar Gupta as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of GAIL (India) Ltd, India’s largest gas utility after interviewing 10 candidates.
• Shiv Sena leader Shri Eknath Shinde has been sworn in as the 20th chief minister of Maharashtra & Former Maharashtra CM Shri Devendra Fadnavis took the oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
• The President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind has re-appointed Mr. Kottayan Katankot Venugopal as the Attorney General for India for three months (July to September) or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
• India successfully flight-tested the indigenously developed High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT), ABHYAS, from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the Odisha coast.
• According to the Asia Pacific Sustainability Index 2021, released by Knight Frank Four Indian cities Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai made it to the list of top 20 sustainable cities.
• Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP)-2020 speech in New Delhi.
• Electric two-wheelers would be integrated into the Indian market by FY2026-27, according to NITI Aayog and the Technology Information, Forecasting, and Assessment Council (TIFAC).
• Novak Djokovic became the first player in history to win 80 matches at all four Grand Slams on Centre Court, defeating Kwon Soon-woo 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
• The Indian Olympic Association and Adani Sportsline, the Adani Group’s sports division, have signed a long-term major sponsorship agreement (IOA).
• Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra clinched his first-ever medal at the prestigious Diamond League meet in Stockholm as he broke his national record for the second time in a month.
• Renowned actor and filmmaker, Ambika Rao passed away in Kochi at the age of 58.