NATIONAL NEWS

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu Launches NTR Bharosa Pension

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu launched the NTR Bharosa pension scheme in the state on 1 July 2024 by personally delivering the pension amount to a beneficiary at their house.

TDP president and Andhra Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched the scheme on 1 July 2024 at Penumaka village of Tadepalli block in Amaravati.

Pawan Kalyan, Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, also participated in the pension distribution programme at Gollaprolu village in his Pithapuram constituency.

The NTR Bharosa Scheme is a social security scheme of the Andhra Pradesh government. During the recent assembly election, N Chandrababu Naidu promised to increase the amount paid under the social security scheme.

The state cabinet approved the scheme with an enhanced pension on 24 June 2024.

Under the NTR Bharosa pension scheme, the pension for old-aged people, widows, weavers, toddy tappers, fishermen, single women, traditional cobblers, transgenders and artists has been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per month.

Pension for the disabled and multi-deformity leprosy patients has been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 per month.

The pension amount has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs15,000 for fully disabled people confined to beds or wheelchairs and those with severe muscular dystrophy.

It has also been enhanced from Rs 5,000 to 10,000 for people suffering from chronic diseases like kidney diseases and thalassemia.

MoU Signed Between Government of Haryana and NFSU, Gandhinagar

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Haryana and the National Forensic Science University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, in Panchkula, Haryana.

The signing ceremony was attended by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, along with other dignitaries including Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal and Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Nayab Singh.

This collaboration aims to enhance the criminal justice system in Haryana by leveraging the expertise of NFSU.

It is to improve the criminal justice system in Haryana with NFSU's expertise.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Taliban Participates in the 3rd UN Conference

For the first time, the Taliban, who rules Afghanistan, participated in the United Nations Conference on Afghanistan.

The third United Nations Conference on Afghanistan was held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on 30 June and 1 July 2024.

The conference, organised by the United Nations, was attended by special representatives of 25 countries and International organisations, including the European Union, the Organisation of Islamic Countries (IOC), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

India was represented by the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, J P Singh.

The Taliban was represented by the Taliban government chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

According to the United Nations, the conference is an ongoing effort of the international community to bring peace to Afghanistan and to engage the rulers of Afghanistan with the international community on issues like women’s rights, girl's education and human rights.

 

BANKING

IBBI Introduces Digital Forms for Monitoring Liquidation Processes

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has launched a set of electronic forms under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), to ease the compliance burden for insolvency professionals, and enhance the effectiveness of the liquidation process.

These forms are crucial for the liquidation process under the IBC, as they facilitate systematic and transparent record-keeping and seamless reporting.

The new circular, issued by the IBBI, introduces forms LIQ 1 to LIQ 4, covering different stages of the liquidation process.

Presently, the Insolvency Professionals (IPs) submit the details regarding the liquidation process, to the board through emails, which is time-consuming and inefficient.

LIQ 1 includes details from the commencement of liquidation to the public announcement.

LIQ 2 captures information from the public announcement to the progress report, including valuation, sale, and receipts.

LIQ 3 focuses on the period from the last progress report to the application for dissolution

LIQ 4 deals with the distribution of proceeds and other final details post-dissolution order.

Filing Requirements: IPs must adhere to specific timelines for filing:

LIQ 1: By the 10th day of the subsequent month after public announcement.

LIQ 4: Within 14 days of the dissolution order.

 

DEFENCE

Indian Army Commences Joint Military Exercise Maitree with Thai Army

The Indian Army has commenced its joint military exercise Maitree with the Royal Thai Army at Fort Vachiraprakan in Tak Province of Thailand.

The exercise will be held from 1 to 15 July 2024.

The bilateral Maitree exercise was started between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army in 2006.

The exercise is part of the broader effort by the Indian and Thai governments to increase mutual cooperation in the defence sector.

The exercise will boost military cooperation between the two countries and sharpen both forces' skills in counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism operations in urban and jungle environments.

It will also focus on joint planning, joint tactical drills, and physical fitness.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Vice Chief of Army Staff

Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani assumed the charge as the Vice Chief of Army Staff on 1 July 2024.

He replaced former Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, who took charge as the 30th Chief of Army Staff on 1 July 2024.

Before his appointment as the Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani was the Commander-in-Chief of the Army’s Central Command based in Lucknow.

Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani graduated from the prestigious National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles in 1985.

Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh assumed command of the Jaipur-based South-Western Command of the Indian Army, also known as the Sapta Shakti Command, on 1 July 2024. The Sapta Shakti command was raised in 2005.

Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes

Ravi Agrawal, a 1988-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the administrative body for the Income Tax Department.

Agrawal was appointed as the Chairman from July 1, 2024 till his superannuation on September 30, 2024 and subsequently on contract basis till June 30, 2025.

Effectively, he will remain the chairman of the body for one year.

The new CBDT chief is currently working as member (administration) in the board.

He takes over from Nitin Gupta, a 1986-batch IRS officer, whose extended tenure as the chairman ends on June 30,2024.

Gupta was appointed as the CBDT chief in June, 2022.

 

SPORTS

BFI Signs Seven-Year Deal with ACG Sports

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has signed a seven-year deal with ACG Sports Limited, securing Rs. 216.30 crore to host the National Star Basketball League for both men and women.

The agreement allocates Rs. 20.6 crore annually for the 5x5 format and Rs. 10.3 crore for the 3x3 format.

BFI will retain 100% ownership, reinvesting revenue into developmental projects.

BFI President Aadhav Arjuna toured the USA to establish collaborations with the NBA for the enhancement of Indian basketball.

Max Verstappen wins Austrian GP Sprint

Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured victory in the Austrian Grand Prix sprint race, successfully defending against an early challenge from McLaren.

This win, achieved from pole position, extends Verstappen's lead in the Formula One championship to 71 points.

Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren), finished 4.616 seconds behind and secured second position.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Doctors Day

Every year since 1991, the country celebrates 1 July as National Doctors Day.

This day is observed to acknowledge the contribution of doctors to humanity and society and to express gratitude for their service to the country and mankind.

The Indian Medical Association proposed to the government of India that 1 July be observed as National Doctors' Day in the country in honour of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy (Dr B.C. Roy). The government accepted the proposal and declared 1 July National Doctors Day.

The first National Doctors Day was observed on 1 July 1991.

The 1st of July was chosen as the National Doctors Day in memory of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy.

“Healing Hands, Caring Hearts" is the 2024 National Doctor’s Day theme.

World UFO Day

Every year on July 2nd, World UFO Day is commemorated to raise awareness about Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) spotted in several parts of the world and alien life forms.

In 1561, A broadsheet reported widespread sightings of a celestial phenomenon over Nuremberg.

In July 1947, Farmers in Roswell, New Mexico reported hearing a large crash, and later citizens recover the wreckage of what is purported to be a flying saucer.

In 1561, the term ‘UFO’ for Unidentified Flying Object was coined by US Air Force officer Edward Ruppelt.

On September 10, 1993, the Science fiction drama television series "The X-Files" debuts on Fox.

July 2 is celebrated as World UFO Day to commemorate the supposed UFO crash incident in Roswell New Mexico in 1947.

The meaning of UFO is a mysterious flying object in the sky that is sometimes assumed to be a spaceship from another planet

World Sports Journalists Day

World Sports Journalists Day is observed globally on 2nd July every year to acknowledge the work of sports journalists and to encourage them to do better at their work.

From 1820 to the 1830s, Sports Journalism Took Off, and the era of sports journalism began.

In 1883, the first full-time newspaper sports department was created in the “New York World.”

In 1924, the International Sports Press Association was founded in Paris, France during the Olympic Games.

In 1994, World Sports Journalists Day was created by the A.I.P.S.

 

OBITUTARY

Senior Sri Lankan Tamil Leader Sampanthan

Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, a veteran Sri Lankan politician and a moderate Tamil leader, who relentlessly pursued a life of peace, justice and dignity for Tamil nationals in the island nation, passed away at the age of 91.

Sampanthan, of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), was a sitting Member of Parliament (MP) from the eastern Trincomalee district, and led the Tamil National Alliance, the main grouping representing Tamils of Sri Lanka’s war-hit north and east.

He was a Member of Parliament from 2001 until his death, and previously served as a Member of Parliament from 1977 to 1983 and from 1997 to 2000.

He was the Leader of the Opposition from September 2015 to December 2018.