1) US remains India’s top trading partner in FY 2019-20
•According to the data of the Union Ministry of Commerce, United States remained India’s top trading partner for the second consecutive fiscal in 2019-20. The recently released data shows increasing economic ties between the two nations. As per the data, the bilateral trade between the US and India has increased from $87.96 billion in 2018-19 to $88.75 billion in the fiscal year 2019-20. China was India’s top trading partner since 2013-14 to 2017-18.
•The data released by the Union Ministry of Commerce indicates that US is one of the few countries with which India has a trade surplus as the trade gap between the countries has increased from $16.86 billion in 2018-19 to $17.42 billion in 2019-20. Latest data also revealed that the bilateral trade between India and China has dipped from $87.08 billion in 2018-19 to $81.87 billion in 2019-20.
2) Madhya Pradesh government to launch “Roko-Toko” campaign
•Madhya Pradesh government will commence a unique campaign titled as “Roko-Toko”. With this campaign, the state government will target those people who do not wear masks. Under this, the state government will distribute masks to the people who do not wear masks in public places as the use of masks is mandatory in all public places in the state.
•The mask distribution work would be carried out by the selected voluntary organizations shortlisted by the district collector. Collectors will make available suitable places to these organizations for the distribution of masks and these organizations would also be provided 100 masks created under “Jeevan Shakti Yojana” on credit. While making the selection, the number of persons available, credibility and efficiency of the organization will also be taken into consideration.
3) Iran drops India from Chabahar rail project
•Iran has dropped India from Chabahar rail project which comprises rail line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, along the border with Afghanistan. The Iranian government cited delays from the Indian side in funding and starting the project, for its decision of dropping India from the project. Now, Iranian Railways will go ahead without India’s assistance and utilize around $400 million from the Iranian National Development Fund.
•India and Iran signed an agreement for the construction of a rail line from Chabahar port to Zahedan in 2016. India was supposed to offer requisite services for the construction of Chabahar-Zahedan railway line as a part of transit and transportation corridor in trilateral agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan. As per agreement, Indian Railways Construction Ltd (IRCON) promised to provide all services, superstructure work and financing for the project.
4) India hands over outdoor fitness equipment to Maldives
•India has handed over outdoor fitness equipment for 61 islands across the Maldives under a cash grant of 8 million US dollars. The installation of equipment would involve the participation of all 61 island councils and further strengthen the idea of decentralization and a cherished ideal for President Ibrahim Solih’s government. The project is expected to contribute to the Maldivian government’s ‘healthy lifestyles’ policy through easier access to fitness equipment.
5) Amit Shah launches CAPF’s nationwide tree plantation drive
•Union Home Minister, Amit Shah has launched the Central Armed Police Force’s (CAPFs) nationwide tree plantation drive by planting a sapling of the peepal tree at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) campus in Gurugram.
•Under this drive, saplings were planted by the jawans of Central Armed Police Forces in Chhattisgarh. The personnel of BSF, CRPF, ITBP and CISF – deployed in Chhattisgarh for Anti-Naxal operations, planted saplings in their respective campuses as well as in their places of deployment. All the CAPFs will undertake a drive in their respective organisations to achieve the collective target of planting more than 1.35 crore saplings by this month.
6) Andrzej Duda wins Poland’s presidential election
•Andrzej Duda has been re-elected as the President of Poland. He won the presidential elections recently held in Poland after winning 51.21% of the votes, defeating the opposition candidate, liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski who got 48.79% votes.
•Andrzej Duda’s victory in the presidential election will ensure three years of uninterrupted rule by his conservative Law and Justice party (PiS). Andrzej Duda won the Poland’s presidential election in year 2015, when he defeated the incumbent Bronislaw Komorowski.
7) Rudrendra Tandon appointed India’s next Ambassador to Afghanistan
•Indian Foreign Service officer, Rudrendra Tandon has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Afghanistan. He is presently serving as Indian envoy to ASEAN at Jakarta. He will replace Vinay Kumar, who has performed admirably with the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan after striking a deal with Taliban insurgents.
8) Vikram Doraiswami appointed India’s next Ambassador to Bangladesh
•Indian Foreign Service officer, Vikram Doraiswami has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Bangladesh. He is currently serving as additional secretary in-charge of international organisations and summits at the headquarters of the external affairs ministry in Delhi. He will succeed Riva Ganguly Das in Dhaka.
9) Hemang Amin appointed as interim CEO of BCCI
•The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Hemang Amin as its interim chief executive officer (CEO). He will replace Rahul Johri who recently resigned as the chief executive officer (CEO) of BCCI and his resignation was accepted by the BCCI office-bearers.
•Hemang Amin is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Indian Premier League. He joined the IPL operations team in June 2010 and was appointed as the COO of IPL in 2015.
10) Chhattisgarh awarded “Elites Excellence Awards 2020”
•Chief Minister Darpan website and mobile app prepared for monitoring Chhattisgarh Government’s ambitious Suraji Gaon Scheme and other flagship schemes, has been awarded “Elites Excellence Awards-2020” at the national level. Chhattisgarh has been awarded this honour by the country’s prestigious IT institution Elites Technomedia, New Delhi under the ‘Digital India initiative’.
11) ISRO Chief K Sivan named for Von Karman Award 2020
•Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) Chief, Kailasavadivoo Sivan has named for Von Karman Award 2020 by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). The Von Karman Award is known as the highest distinction of the IAA. Dr K. Sivan is going to receive an award in March 2021 at Paris France.
•Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao was the first Indian to receive the von Karman award. The award was presented to him in 2005 and Dr Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan received the Von Karman award in 2007.
12) Gurbux Singh, Palash Nandi to be honoured with Mohun Bagan Ratna
•According to ATK-Mohun Bagan club, Hockey legend Gurbux Singh and former first-class cricketer Palash Nandi will receive this year’s Mohun Bagan Ratna. The club has decided not to hold the customary ‘Mohun Bagan Day’ function on July 29 this year owing to the pandemic. July 29 was the date of Bagan’s IFA Shield triumph in 1911 when they defeated East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1.
13) Visa partners Federal Bank to launch “Visa Secure”
•Visa, a global leader in payments technology has tied-up with Federal Bank to launch “Visa Secure” to the bank’s cardholders. “Visa Secure” is a modernized technology that provides a quicker and frictionless checkout experience to the consumers. Adoption of new improved technology will enable the bank to focus on customer-centric digital solutions that make online shopping experiences seamless.
•Visa Secure is a global authentication program which is built on EMVCo 3DS (3D Secure) 2.0 protocol. It offers additional layers of authentication for issuers and merchants and hence makes e-commerce more secure while reducing customer friction at point of purchase. The technology also offers smoother and more consistent user experiences to the consumers across multiple payment channels such as mobile, web, in-app, and connected devices.
