APPOINTMENTS
Gautam Gambhir appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men's cricket team.
• Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team
• Gambhir signed a three-year contract, replacing Rahul Dravid.
• The Cricket Advisory Committee, headed by Ashok Malhotra, interviewed Gambhir and W.V. Raman.
• Gambhir's term begins this month and will last until December 31, 2027.
• The year 2027 coincides with the next ODI World Cup.
• Gambhir served as a member of the 17th Lok Sabha from 2019 to 2024.
• He received the Arjuna Award in 2008 and the Padma Shri in 2019.
• Gambhir is the only Indian batsman to score over 300 runs in four consecutive Test series.
AWARDS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Russia’s Highest Civilian Honour
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Russia’s highest civilian honor, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle.
• The Russian Embassy in India announced the award for PM Modi in 2019.
• The award acknowledges Modi’s significant contribution to the strategic partnership between Russia and India.
• It also highlights Modi’s efforts in strengthening friendly relations between the two countries.
• The Order of St Andrew the Apostle, established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, honors exceptional civilian or military merit.
• Russia agreed to discharge and return all Indians working for the Russian Army.
• During his two-day visit to Russia, PM Modi co-chaired the 22nd India-Russia annual summit, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and visited the ROSATOM pavilion.
STATE NEWS
Rajasthan to become the first State to adopt an action plan for road safety for 10 years.
• Rajasthan will be the first state to implement a 10-year road safety action plan.
• The goal is to reduce road accidents in Rajasthan by 50% by 2030.
• The action plan is being developed by the Transport Department’s road safety cell.
• This plan aims to increase public awareness and change behavior regarding road safety rules.
• The action plan will be executed in three phases: 2025-2027, 2027-2030, and 2030-2033.
• Key focus areas include speed limits, safe distances, traffic signals, road barriers, pedestrian safety, seatbelt and helmet use, and vehicle insurance.
• The policy aims to educate the public on road safety provisions and promote adherence to safety regulations.
SPORTS
Gagan Narang replaced Mary Kom as India’s Chef-De-Mission for the 2024 Olympics.
• Gagan Narang has been appointed as India’s Chef-De-Mission for the 2024 Olympics.
• He replaced Mary Kom, who stepped down due to health issues.
• The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, P.T. Usha, announced Narang's promotion from deputy chef-de-mission.
• PV Sindhu and table tennis star Sharath Kamal will be the flag bearers at the Paris Olympics.
• The Paris Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
• Mary Kom and former hockey captain Manpreet Singh were the flag bearers at the Tokyo Olympics.
• Gagan Narang's appointment marks a leadership change for India at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India and Russia agreed to increase bilateral trade to 100 billion dollars by 2030
• India and Russia aim to boost bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030.
• PM Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin attended the 22nd Annual Summit.
• Both countries emphasized the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict in a joint statement.
• They agreed on a cooperation statement for projects in Russia’s Far East.
• A joint vision statement on trade and economic cooperation was issued, focusing on eliminating non-tariff barriers and developing bilateral settlement systems using national currencies.
• Development plans include the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime route, the Northern Sea Route, and the International North-South Transport Corridor via Iran.
• India and Russia signed MoUs on climate change, polar research, legal arbitration, and pharmaceutical certification, among other issues.
• Both nations will open new consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg to support their growing communities.
• Trade between Russia and India increased by 66% in 2023 and by 20% in the first quarter of 2024.