Current Affairs July 2013

: Current Affairs July 2013 :

: India & World :

 Saudi Arabia Awarded 22 Billion US Dollar Contracts for Development of Metro Line in Riyadh

 On 30 July 2013 India and Afghanistan signed MoUs under SDP Scheme

 The Senate of US Approved James Comey as the Next Director of FBI

 Prasar Bharati and the Australian Network signed an agreement to strengthen the partnership between the two public broadcasters

 An Executive Programme for Cultural Cooperation was signed between India and Senegal for the period 2013-2015 at New Delhi

 On 29 July 2013 Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Launched Emergency Care Initiatives on NH-8

 Reserve Bank of India released the First Quarter Review of Monetary Policy for 2013-14

 Delhi Government to launch Food Security Scheme from 20 August 2013

 Himachal Government launched Video Chat in Prisons

 Urdu Ghazals written by Veer Savarkar during his Jail Term in Andaman found

 New Prince of Britain, the Royal Baby, Named George Alexander Louis

 The Union Minister of State for Tourism K. Chiranjeevi launched the Clean India campaign at world heritage site Taj Mahal, Agra.

 The Union government of India approved a Free Trade LPG (FTL) Scheme

 On 24 July 2013 India and Belarus signed a protocol to Enhance Trade Ties

 First Textile Park dedicated to hand block printing and craft inaugurated at Bagru near Jaipur.by Dr. KS Rao

 Researchers discovered Diskagma Buttonii, a 2.2 billion year old fossil in South Africa

 Poverty Ratio of India declined to 21.9 percent in 2011-12: PCI Poverty Estimates Report

 Ford Motor Became first Automaker to Participate in Greenhouse Gas Reporting Programme in India

 The 21st meeting of the Central Supervisory Board (CSB) was held on PC & PNDT Act in New Delhi

 14th Meet of Home Secretaries of India and Bangladesh concluded at New Delhi

 India and Nigeria signed agreement for Solar Power Plants

 The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton gave birth to a baby boy

 Arvind Sharma, the Chairman and CEO of Leo Burnett re-elected as the President of Advertising Agencies Association of India

 Devendra Jhajharia won Gold at IPC Athletics World Championships

 India achieved a record production of 18.45 million tonnes of pulses in the 2012-13

 South Korean city of Incheon was named as the World Book Capital for the year 2015

 The world’s largest airborne observatory got off the ground from the New Zealand city of Christchurch

 Santosh Lal inventor of Dhoni’s Helicopter shot ,Passed away

 The Planning Commission of India finalized the Annual Plan of 69200 crore rupees for the financial year 2013-14 for Uttar Pradesh

 National Stock Exchange (NSE) has regained its Top position as world’s largest Bourse for Equity Trade

 The world on 18 July observed the Nelson Mandela International Day

 The Bengaluru International Airport Renamed as "Kempegowda" International Airport

 Union Cabinet approved amendments to the marriage law directed in Favour of woman

 The Government of  Kerala Gave Approval for Tapping Unfermented Sap or Neera from Coconut

 The Reserve Bank of India opened 25000-Crores Rupees special liquidity window for mutual funds (MFs).

 Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India launched National Tobacco Control Campaign known as- Tears you apart

 Union Health Ministry launched WIFS Programme in Bangalore

 World’s leading Sprinters Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell found Positive in Doping Test

 Bhim Sain Bassi was appointed as the next Commissioner of Delhi Police

 On 16 July 2013 President Pranab Mukherjee launched a Kisaan Portal for sending SMS to Farmers

 The Supreme Court of India refused to reduce the age of juvenile from 18 to 16 years

 Reserve Bank of India announced slew of measures to curb Rupee Volatility

 On 15 July 2013 Bangladesh approved a Labour Law to boost workers Rights

 Arab nations Pledged to improve the welfare of minorities in Karnataka on 14 July 2013

 Union Ministry of Defence launched website of NCC on 15 July 2013

 Grandmaster and Former world junior champion Abhijeet Gupta won the Commonwealth Chess Championship on 14 July 2013

 Satyam on 15 July 2013 formally merged with Tech Mahindra

 The Union Cabinet of India gave its approval to the proposal for setting up of a NAU on 11 July 2013

 Punjab state government launched the Night Policing Scheme (NPS) on 14 July 2013

 India became the biggest buyer of Nigeria’s crude oil

 Ireland's parliament approves 'life-saving' abortion

 India has Right to Pursue Exploration and Exploitation Work in South China Sea: Vietnam

 France and Switzerland have signed an agreement on inheritance taxes Deal on 11 July 2013

 United Nations FAO estimated World cereal production is set to increase by 7 per cent in year 2013

 Income Tax officials donate one-day salary for Uttarakhand victims 

 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCE) approved the disinvestment of government stake in State Trading Corporation and ITDC

 An agreement was signed between India and Mongolia in development of renewable Energy Sector and Human Resource Development

 The Allahabad high court put a stay on caste-based rallies throughout Uttar Pradesh

 Hazem El-Beblawi was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Egypt

 The Union Government hiked the import duty on sugar to 15 per cent

 State Bank of India (SBI) launched State Bank Xpress Money Card

 Railway Revenue Earnings increased by 11.93 Percent during April - June 2013

 India and Albania signed an Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation

 On 6 July 2013 Mohamed ElBaradei was named as Egypt's new Prime Minister

 Women officers to be inducted in BSF for First Time

 Pranab Mukherjee signed the ordinance on food security on 5 July 2013

 Union Government decided to depute a Technical team to assist development in Uttarakhand

 India and Vietnam set up Joint Panel for ICT Sector

 President Pranab Mukherjee conferred National Youth Award 2011-12

 Union Government of India announced to launch Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Surakhsa Yojna (MGPSY) scheme for blue-collar Indian workers in the Gulf

 Tamil Nadu Government sanctioned over 250 cr Rupees for Road Infrastructure

 Ghaziabad and Allahabad emerged as the two most air polluted cities in Uttar Pradesh

 Bombay Natural History Society get grant of 63-lakh Rupees

 Ordinance to implement Food Security Bill was approved by the union Cabinet

 Scientists discovered New Treatment for Schizophrenic Patients

 On 1 July 2013 Kosovo introduced Visa Regime for 87 Countries

 Sunil Soni appointed Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards

 Himachal declared as the first Smoke-Free State on Compliance with COTPA 2003

 The India-China trade deficit increased by 34 percent to reach 12 billion US dollars

 Information & Broadcasting Ministry cancelled licenses of 61 TV channels

 Government of India launched National Cyber Security Policy 2013

 Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad won Asian Athletics Association's President Election

 India's Taj Mahal ranked among the Top Three Landmarks in the World

 The Statistics Day was celebrated across India on 29 June 2013 with Labour and Employment Statistics Theme

 Haryana Government Adopted 25 Affected Villages of Uttarakhand

 On 1 July 2013 Croatia became the 28th Member of the European Union

: Business :

 ONGC Videsh most internationalized Indian company according to a Survey

 Mercedes-Benz launched the B180 CDI, the diesel variant of the B-Class, in India at Rs 22.6 lakh

 Maruti has now cut its diesel engine production by one-third :sources

 The new Audi RS 5 Coupe launched in India @ Rs 95.28 lakh

: Economics:

 Direct Tax Collection of April-June quarter of FY 2013-14 increased by 11.52 percent

                                        

                                        : Sports :

 ICC launches official website for World Cup 2015

 India topped International Cricket Council's Latest ODI Ranking

 Tour de France 2013: Chris Froome won 100th Edition of the Race on 21 july 2013

 India's K Jennitha Anto won the 13th IPCA World Women's Individual Chess Championship title on 24 July 2013

 Shane Warne, the Spin Legend Retired from All Forms of Cricket

 Oussama Mellouli and Haley Anderson won Gold in the 5 Kilometer open Water Race at World Championships

 India finished at fourth Position in the Archery World Cup Stage 3

 Krishan Kaushik was appointed Coach of Indian Men’s Hockey Senior Team.

 India won the West Indies Tri-Nation Series by one wicket

 India moved to Second Spot in ICC Test Rankings

 Andy Murray is the first Briton to win Wimbledon Men’s Singles Trophy in 77 years

 Wimbledon 2013: Marion Bartoli of France lifted Women's Singles title

 Chris Martin, the fast Bowler of New Zealand has announced his retirement

 Brazil Won the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 by Defeated Spain 3-0

: Books And Authors :

 Shahar Sone Chala a collection of poems written by Sat Pal was Released

 Vice President Released a Book titled Smritiyan authored by Garima Sanjay

: Honours And Awards :

 Amjad Ali Khan was chosen for the 21st Rajiv Gandhi National Sadhbhavna Award

 Bastian Schweinsteiger Won Journalists’ Player of the Year Award announced by the Kicker magazine on 28 July 2013

 Four Indian Americans won Simons Investigators Awards 2013

 Paradip Port was conferred with the Major Port of the Year award for its excellent performance in the year 2012-13

 Indian American author Jhumpa Lahiri featured for Man Booker Prize 2013

 Edward Snowden awarded with German Whistleblower Prize

 Vidya Balan got the Best Actress award at 14th IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) awards 2013

: Personalities :

 SN Hanumantha Rao, the Former Indian Test Umpire Passed Away at 83

 India-born Mamnoon Hussain elected as 12th Pakistani president

 Arun Nehru, the Former Union Minister and Close Aide of Rajiv Gandhi, Died at 69

 Suresh Chandra Mohanty Elected as the New President of ICAI

 Abdul Rahim Rather, the Finance Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on 21 July 2013 appointed as the new Chairman of GST Panel

 Prince Philippe was sworn-in as the new king of Belgium on 21 July 2013

 Manjula Vijayakumar, the South Indian Actress passed away at the Age of 59

 Prof. Oommen Mathew, Former Kuttanad MLA and Chairman of the Kerala State Farming Corporation, Passed away

 Khurshed Alam Khan, former Union Minister Passed away.

 L Brojeshori Devi, the Olympian judo player passed away at 32 years of age

 On 19 July 2013 Justice Palanisamy Sathasivam Sworn in as the Chief Justice of India (CJI)

 Samar Mukherjee, the Freedom Fighter as well as the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Passed away at 100 Years

 Justice Altamas Kabir Retired from the office of Chief Justice of India on 18 July 2013

 82 Years old Veteran Tamil film lyricist Vaali passed away

 World leaders hail Nelson Mandela as he celebrates his 95th birthday.

 Britain honoured Krishna Menon by placing Blue plaque on his First Home in London

 79 years old renowned surgical gastroenterologist N Rangabashyam passed away

 Hemant Soren sworn in as Ninth Chief Minister of Jharkhand

 Olympic gold medallist Maharaj Kishan Kaushik appointed coach of Indian Hockey Team

 Lt Gen (Retd) AK Singh took over as the new Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

 Dr. H.A.B. Parpia, the former Director of the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) died.

 Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil appointed new Governor of Sikkim

 Padma Shree Awardee Madhubani Painting artist Mahasundari Devi died at the Age of 92

 Douglas Engelbart, the Father of the computer mouse died at age of 88

 Vandana Gandhi became the first ever Indian woman to receive prestigious Emirates Woman Award for business excellence

 Sujata Singh designated to be the next Foreign Secretary of India

 Anil Chait Took over as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC)

: Technology :

 Huawei Technologies declared to work on the fifth generation (5G) mobile technology

 LG Display unveils world's slimmest 1080p LCD panel for smartphones

 Micromax has launched the latest version of its flagship phone - the Canvas 4 @17,999.

 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) set to launch its Fastest Supercomputer

 First Firefox OS-based smartphone to be launched on Tuesday for $99

: Astronomy :

 On 19 July 2013 NASA has released a rare Saturn-Earth Photobomb Picture

 INSAT-3D, the Advanced Meteorological Satellite of India Launched Successfully.

 NASA Released Images of Earth Taken by Distant Spacecraft

 World's first trip to Moon's South Pole for installation of a Permanent Telescope in 2016

 NASA tries to revive Kepler spacecraft that hunts for other planets

 NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Discovered Neptune’s 14th moon.

 New Horizons Spacecraft spotted the largest moon of Pluto Charon

 Chinese space probe reaches record height of 50 million km from the Earth

 NASA spacecraft spots Pluto's largest moon

 63 light years away, a planet as blue as earth

 The two Smallest Moons orbiting Pluto Christened as Kerberos and Styx

 India successfully launched its 1st dedicated navigation satellite, IRNSS-1A

: Inventions :

 India's Advanced Weather Satellite INSAT-3d Successfully Launched

 India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Fuel Cell Bus Developed by ISRO and Tata Motors.