Daily Current Affairs 18th July 2023
National News
“Bhoomi Samman 2023” will be launched by the President of India in New Delhi.
- “Bhoomi Samman 2023” will be launched by the President of India Draupadi Murmu in New Delhi on July 18, comprising Nine State Secretaries and 68 District Collectors who have excelled in completing key components of the project to modernize digital India land records.
- The President said that this “Bhoomi Samman” project is a good example of central-state cooperative federalism based on trust and partnership and this project has been undertaken with the aim of improving the quality of life of the people through this project.
An MoU has been signed between Tezpur University and IITM Pune for research on carbon.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the University of Tezpur and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, to assess and re-examine the net ecosystem transfer of carbon dioxide in Assam’s famous Kaziranga National Park.
- The Memorandum of Understanding has been entered into between Tezpur University and IITM to collaborate and develop various research areas related to “Greenhouse Gases and Biosphere – Atmosphere Exchange of Energy”.
The central government has formed a new committee to review all NSO data.
- Reorganizing the Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES) set up in late 2019, the central government has set up a study group in July 2023 to review and revise official data from employment and consumption expenditure surveys.
- In a recently issued order, the Ministry of Statistics has mentioned that the SCES, which was tasked with analyzing only the economic indicators of the surveys conducted under the National Statistical Office (NSO), will now be replaced by the Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS).
International news
India and the UAE have signed an MoU to link India’s “integrated payment interface” with the UAE’s instant payment platform.
- India and UAE have signed some MoUs for cross-border transactions in local currencies (Indian rupee and UAE Dirham) and interconnection of their payment systems.
- The agreement will not only give a big boost to trade between the two countries but will pave the way for enhanced economic cooperation and will facilitate international financial relations, said RBI Governor Das.
The joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant 2023’ between the Indian and Mongolian army has begun.
- The 15th edition of India-Mongolia joint military exercise “Nomadic Elephant 2023” began on July 17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The joint military exercise is scheduled to take place from July 17 to 31.
- Joint military exercise “Nomadic Elephant” is an annual joint exercise between India and Mongolia. It is notable that the last edition was held in October 2019 at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh.
State news
The Chief Minister inaugurated the PM MITRA Campus in Amravati, Maharashtra.
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on July 16 inaugurated a mega integrated textile estates and apparel park named “PM Mitra Park” in Amravati, Maharashtra in the presence of Union Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal and others.
- Also in this opening ceremony, some MoUs about PM-MITRA Park and some MoUs with some investors have been signed between the Central Government and the Maharashtra Government. It is notable that in March this year, the central government announced the locations of setting up Mitra Parks across the country for the development of the textile industry.
Tripura state has started free ferry service for “school students”.
- The Department of School Education, Tripura has launched a “Free School Boat” service in July 2023 to transport poor students living in Dumbur Lake Islands in Gumati District, Tripura to their schools.
- The chief minister said the move was taken in view of the fact that poor children living in Dumbur Lake and the many small islands around it often find it difficult to go to school as they cannot afford the “boat fare”. It is noteworthy that Dumbur Lake, surrounded by 48 islands, is 120 km from the state capital.
The 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Summit is taking place in Gandhinagar.
- The third G20 “Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBGs)” Summit began on July 17 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
- Reserve Bank Governor Dr Shaktikanta Das and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are jointly presiding over the conference. The conference aims to address global challenges such as food and energy insecurity and climate change and ensure enhanced economic cooperation.
The Defense Minister has laid foundation stones for several development projects in Lucknow.
- Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on July 17 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh laid the foundation stone for several development projects, including the “Madiaon-IIM Crossing flyover”, part of the National Highways Project and two national highway projects worth Rs 3300 crore.
- It is significant that through these projects, the economic development of the people will be further strengthened and he also inaugurated the newly constructed “Alamnagar Railway Station” on this occasion to enable the passengers of the “western part” of the city including Alamnagar and Rajajipuram to board and alight the trains without crowding to the capital of New Delhi.
Himachal Chief Minister has launched a website (PORTAL) to help the natives affected by the calamity in the state.
- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu launched a website “Aapda Rahat Kosh – 2023″(PORTAL) on July 16 with an aim to help the disaster affected people of Himachal Pradesh state.
- The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh said that the magnitude of the calamity is very large and the state has never seen such a huge impact.
Uttarakhand’s Harela festival has begun.
- The Shravan Harela festival is celebrated to mark the beginning of the rainy season (monsoon) which is celebrated in the month of Shravan in the Hindu calendar. Harela means “Green day”.
- Also during this festival farmers start the traditional sowing cycle in their fields. It is celebrated on 16th and 17th July every year.
Appointments
Indian-origin Shamina Singh has been appointed to the Export Council of America.
- US President Joe Biden has appointed Indo-US business leader Shamina Singh as a member of the President’s Export Council, the premier national advisory body on international trade.
- Notably, Shamina currently serves as Executive Vice President of Sustainability at MasterCard and has held senior positions in the White House and the US House of Representatives.
Archaeological discovery
Dosa Kal(Dosa Pan) made of flint was found in Vembakottai excavations.
- A ‘Dosa kal’ made of flint was found on July 17 (Monday) during the second phase of excavation at Vembakottai in Virudhunagar district.
- While the first phase of excavation work has been completed in the Uchimedu area along the banks of Vijayakarisalkulam in Vembakottai area, 3,254 objects have been found from there. Also, the second phase of excavation work in the same area was started on April 6 and 8 pits were dug. So far more than 2 thousand objects have been found from these.
Sports news
An Indian player won a bronze medal in the ISSF World Cup Shotgun event held in Italy.
- Indian shooter Prithviraj Tondaiman won the bronze medal in the ISSF World Cup Pistol 2023 – Men’s event at Lonato, Italy on July 16.
- It is notable that Prithvi’s bronze was India’s only medal in Lonato shooting. In this final, England’s Nathan Hales (first) won the gold medal with 49 points and Qi Ying (second) of the Republic of China won the silver medal with 48 points.
Indian shooters have won gold at the ISSF World Junior Championships.
- Shooters Shubham Bisla and Sainyam won gold medals for India in the 10m air pistol men’s and women’s categories at the 2023 ISSF World Youth Championships on July 16.
- The ISSF Junior World Championships are held in “Changwon”, Republic of Korea. It is also notable that India tops the medal list with two gold medals.
Alcaraz defeated Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon title.
- Spain’s Carlos Algarz won his first Wimbledon title on July 16, defeating seven-time champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia and a record 24th Grand Slam title.
- World No. 1 Algaraz won 1-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 after four hours and 42 minutes. The win was the 20-year-old Spaniard’s second major, following his US Open title last year.
Important day
World Day for International Justice 2023
- World International Day of Justice is observed every year on 17th July to recognize and honor the significant role played by the International Criminal Court and other organizations in providing justice to victims of multiple crimes.
- “Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice” is the theme for this year.
