- Pradeep Kumar Rawat appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Indonesia
Mr. Pradeep Kumar Rawat, presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) here, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Indonesia. A press release from MEA said Mr. Rawat, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1990 batch.
- Himachal Pradesh DGP Sanjay Kumar appointed new NDRF chief
Himachal Pradesh DGPSanjay Kumar has been appointed as the new chief of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The post of NDRF Director General (DG) fell vacant after incumbent R K Pachnanda was appointed as the chief of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Sino-Indian border guarding force.
- Karnataka launches ‘Elevate 100’ scheme for start-ups
The Karnataka government has launched the ‘Elevate 100’ scheme to identify and nurture innovative start-ups. The aim is to identify 100 most innovative start-ups in the state to elevate them to the next level of success.
The Elevate scheme is the brainchild of the start-up cell, Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS), to help start-ups across the state succeed by providing them with access to mentors, networking opportunities, and in-depth sessions for start-ups on accounting, andemerging technologies.
- Haryana Govt to run electrics buses in Gurgaon
The Haryana government will set up an environment-friendly transportation system in Gurgaon on the pattern of Poland.
The urban local bodies minister, who is leading a delegation on a visit to the plant of JBM Solaris Electric Vehicles Ltd in Poland’s Ponzan, said “In the first phase, 75 to 100 electric buses would be operated”.
Gurgaon Metropolitan Development Authority, Municipal Corporation, Gurgaon and Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) bear 50 per cent to 40 per cent and ten per cent of the cost of the project respectively.
- Pune NGO wins UN prize for sustainable farming model
Swayam Shikshan Prayog, a city-based NGO, has been awarded the United Nations Development Programme’s Equator Prize for devising an ecologically sustainable agriculture model to combatthe adverse impacts of drought.
It is the only Indian organisation to win the award, making the cut from more than 800 nominations across 120 countries.
The 15 prize winners will receive $10,000 each and a chance to participate in a week-long summit in New York during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly.
- Govt launches e-bidding portal for domestic coal-based IPPs
The Ministry of Power launched a portal for optimum utilisation of domestic coal by independent power producers. The e-bidding portal for providing e-Bidding solution to States to select Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for procurement of power by transferring their domestic coal under the scheme of flexibility in utilization of domestic coal.
Goyal also announced the Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency (MERIT) app. He said the app would allow consumers to better assess the performance of power distribution companies (DISCOMs) when it comes to sourcing power.
- Environment Minister launches plantation drive to mark Van Mahotsav
The environment minister has launched a month-long tree plantation drive to mark Van Mahotsav. The first tree planting campaign started in Delhi. It was part of Van Mahotsav celebrations that is celebrated in the first week of July every year since 1950 in India.
Harsh Vardhan, highlighted the importance of tree planting for India to achieve its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDCs). The country has vowed to expand its carbon sink, and forests are key to this because they absorb carbon dioxide are considered an important way to check the global rise in temperatures.
- Union ministry of power announced the total outstanding debt in UDAY scheme
The Union Ministry of Power has announced that about 97% of the total outstanding debt of all state power distribution companies (discoms) has been covered under the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY). 86% of the restructurable debt has been revamped under the scheme till date. The total debt of all state-owned DISCOMS was Rs. 3.95 lakh crores.
The main aim is to help to make financially and operationally healthy so they can supply adequate power at affordable rates and play important role in Union Government’s ambition of meeting the target of 100% Village electrification and 24X7 Power For All.
The UDAY Scheme was launched by Union Power Ministry for the financial turnaround and revival package for electricity distribution companies of India (DISCOMs).
- Unions to observe July 19 as ‘Save public sector banks’ day
The United Forum of Bank Unions has decided to observe July 19, the 48th anniversary of nationalisation of major banks,as ‘Save public sector banks’ day.
They wear a commemorative badge on the day, display posters in front of all branches, distribute leaflets and hold rallies/demonstrations at all centers across the country.
The Government of India issued an ordinance and nationalized the 14 largest commercial banks with effect from the midnight of 19 July 1969.
10th Session of the India- Jordan Trade and Economic Joint Committee (TEJC) held in New Delhi
- Yes Bank clinches new pact with Santander in UK
Yes Bank, India’s fourth-largest private sector bank have signed an MoU in London with Santander to promote India-UK trade and business opportunities.
The deal is aimed at Santander UK, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Spanish Santander Group, offering its clients in Britain access to banking facilities and on-the- ground support through Yes Bank’s network across India.
The MoU also covers access for Indian businesses looking to expand globally to access Santander’s support network in the UK.
- Indo-Thailand joint military exercise begins in Himachal Pradesh
A 14-day joint military training excerise between India and Thailand started in Himachal Pradesh. The joint exercise of the Indian Army with the Royal Thailand Army commenced at Bakloh in Chamba district.
The aim of this exercise is to build and promote closer relations while exchanging skills and experiences between the two armies.
Exercise Maitree 2017 is a continuation of a series of joint exercises between the Indian Army and the Royal Thailand Army. The previous edition of the exercise was held at Krabi in Thailand in 2016.
- 5th Meeting of BRICS Education Ministers held in Beijing, China
Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Education was held on 5th July, 2017 at Beijing, China. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Human Resource Development, India. Delegation of all the five BRICS countries participated in the two-day deliberations.
BRICS Network University, where 12 universities from each of the 5 countries will engage with each other in education research and innovation, is another commendable initiative. Five areas of cooperation are prioritised which are Communication and IT, Economics, Climate Change, Water Resources and Pollution, and BRICS study.
- China-backed AIIB approves USD 329 million loan for Gujarat rural roads
China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved USD 329 million loan to build access roads to 4,000 villages in Gujarat. The board of directors of the AIIB approved a loan of USD 329 million to build access roads to approximately 4,000 villages in all 33 districts of Gujarat, India.
This project will construct and upgrade district and farm-to-market roads for the villagers and provide approaches to educational institutions, schools and hospitals.
- New Israeli flower named after PM Modi
A new fast-growing Israeli flower was named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a special gesture to mark the first visit of an Indian premier to the Jewish nation. Israeli Danziger Flower Farm named Crysanthumun flower will now be called“MODI”.
The Danziger flower farm is one of Israel’s leading floriculture companies with approximately 80,000 square meters of state-of-the-art greenhouses specializing in the reproduction of plants.
- Microsoft India inks pact with national Independent schools alliance (NISA)
Microsoft India has signed an agreement with National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA) to offer Microsoft Aspire School Program (MASP) Pro Plus toover 55,000 member schools.
MASP aims to equip schools with technology and innovative learning solutions, modernise campuses, and prepare future- ready students, among others. With this partnership, schools across 23 states can now avail MASP Pro Plus.
NISA brings together budget private schools (BPS) from across the country to give them a unified voice to address their concerns about legislations.
- North korea claims successful test of Intercontinental ballistic missile
North Koreaclaims to have conducted its first test of an intercontinental ballisticmissile (ICBM) a development that, if confirmed, could move the regime closerto being able to strike the US mainland and dramatically strengthen its hand in negotiations with Washington.
United States Pacific Command tracked “the single launch of a land-based, intermediate range ballistic missile” liftedoff from an airfield northwest of Pyongyang.
The missile, which the US and South Korea was an intermediate-range projectile, landed inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The missile could reach a maximum range of roughly 6,700 km on a standard trajectory.
- Drummer John Blackwell Jr dies at 43
Drummer John Blackwell Jr., who performed in Prince’s band New Power Generation for over a decade, has died at age 43. He was a well-known drummer for several big names like Prince and Patti LaBelle.
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