IMPORTANT DAYS

Nelson Mandela International Day 2024 observed on July 18

• Nelson Mandela International Day is observed annually on July 18 to honor the birthday of Nelson Mandela.

• The United Nations officially established Nelson Mandela International Day in November 2009, with the first celebration taking place on July 18, 2010.

• The theme for Nelson Mandela International Day 2024 is "Combating poverty and inequality is in our hands."

• On May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first democratically elected Black President, earning him the title 'Father of the Nation' in South Africa.

• Mandela dedicated his life to the fight for freedom and justice, which led to his imprisonment for 27 years.

• In 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for his efforts to overthrow South Africa's apartheid regime.

• Mandela was released in 1990 and continued his work to eradicate racism and promote equality in the country.

• Nelson Mandela International Day serves as a reminder of his legacy and the ongoing struggle against poverty and inequality.

APPOINTMENTS

Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice R. Mahadevan Sworn in as Supreme Court Judges

• Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh and Justice R. Mahadevan were sworn in as Supreme Court judges on July 18, 2024.

• The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud, in a ceremony held at the Supreme Court in New Delhi.

• With their appointment, the total number of Supreme Court judges, including the Chief Justice, is now 34.

• The Supreme Court Collegium, led by the Chief Justice of India, recommended their appointments to the Government of India on July 11, 2024.

• President Droupadi Murmu appointed them as Supreme Court judges on July 16, 2024, exercising her authority under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.

• The President appoints Supreme Court judges in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, other Supreme Court judges, and High Court judges.

• The appointments follow a formal process of recommendation by the Collegium and approval by the President.

• The inclusion of Justice Singh and Justice Mahadevan brings additional expertise to the Supreme Court.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India and Switzerland aim for a $100 billion investment and 1 million jobs in the next 15 Years.

• India and Switzerland aim to achieve $100 billion in investment and create 1 million jobs within the next 15 years.

• Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, was on a two-day visit to Switzerland.

• During his visit, Goyal encouraged Swiss companies to invest in India's growing and dynamic market.

• The main objective of the visit was to discuss the implementation of the historic India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), signed on March 10.

• Switzerland is India’s 20th largest trading partner globally, with bilateral trade amounting to USD 21 billion in 2023.

• Switzerland is also the 12th largest investor in India, having invested SD 10 billion from April 2000 to March 2024 under FDI.

• Approximately 330 Swiss companies operate in India, creating over 166,000 jobs in the country.

• Both nations have set an ambitious target to reach $100 billion in investment and generate 1 million jobs in India over the next 15 years.

India’s first overseas Jan Aushadi Kendra has been inaugurated by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mauritius.

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar inaugurated India’s first overseas Jan Aushadi Kendra in Mauritius.

• Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth joined Jaishankar during the inauguration.

• Jaishankar highlighted that the India-Mauritius health partnership project will provide cost-effective, made-in-India medicines.

• Previously, the Mediclinic project at Grand Bois in Mauritius was inaugurated by Dr. Jaishankar with Indian grant assistance.

• Dr. Jaishankar mentioned that the Mediclinic will offer secondary healthcare services to 16,000 people in the Grand Bois area.

• India shares close relations with Mauritius, an island nation in the Western Indian Ocean.

• Approximately 70% of Mauritius' 1.2 million population is of Indian origin.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Release of 'Wings to Our Hopes, Volume I'

• The book ‘Wings to Our Hopes, Volume I’ has been released.

• It compiles 75 significant speeches from the first year of President Droupadi Murmu's tenure.

• Published by the Publication Division, the book is available in both Hindi and English.

• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the e-book.

• Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was present at the release event.

• The book aims to highlight the key messages and visions of President Murmu during her first year in office.

• The release underscores the importance of documenting and sharing presidential speeches for public reference.

SPORTS

9th Edition of Women's Cricket Asia Cup to Begin on July 19, 2024

• The 9th edition of the Women's Cricket Asia Cup will kick off on July 19, 2024, in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, with a match between Nepal and the United Arab Emirates.

• The tournament will be played in the T20 format, with all matches, including the final, taking place at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

• The event is scheduled to run from July 19 to July 28, 2024.

• The Women's Asia Cup is organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the governing body for cricket in Asia.

• The ACC is affiliated with the International Cricket Council (ICC), which oversees global cricket.

• Jay Shah, General Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), serves as the President of the Asian Cricket Council.

• India is the reigning champion, having won the 2022 edition by defeating Sri Lanka in the final held at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet, Bangladesh.

• The tournament promises to showcase top-level women's T20 cricket and bring together leading teams from across Asia.

AWARDS

Indian Space Scientists Honored at International Space Scientists Meet

• Two Indian space scientists were honored at the International Space Scientists Meet.

• The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), the first scientific organization dedicated to space science research, presented the awards.

• Prahlad Chandra Agrawal received the Harrie Massey Award at the 45th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Busan, South Korea.

• Agrawal, one of India's most senior space scientists, is a retired professor from the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

• The Harrie Massey Award recognizes outstanding contributions to space research, emphasizing leadership roles.

• Anil Bhardwaj was awarded the Vikram Sarabhai Medal, which honors outstanding space science research in developing countries.

• Bhardwaj is the director of the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad.

• The COSPAR and ISRO have jointly instituted the Vikram Sarabhai Medal.

• Along with a medal and citation, Agrawal's award includes the naming of a minor planet after him.

• COSPAR, established in 1958 shortly after the launch of the first satellite by the Soviet Union in 1957, is one of the largest forums for space scientists.

BANKING, ECONOMY AND FINANCE

ADB Retains India's FY25 GDP Growth Forecast at 7%

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has retained India's FY25 GDP growth forecast at 7% in its Asia Development Outlook.

• ADB projects that India will experience 4.6% inflation in 2025.

• India is expected to remain the fastest-growing economy in the region.

• For 2025-26, ADB forecasts India's GDP growth at 7.2% with an average inflation rate of 4.5%.

• ADB has slightly raised its growth forecast for Asia and the Pacific for 2024 to 5% from the previous projection of 4.9%.

• India's industrial sector is expected to grow robustly, driven by manufacturing and strong demand in construction.

• The latest forecast indicates a potential impact on India's agriculture sector due to a one-month delay in the La Nina climate pattern.

• Investment demand in India is projected to remain strong, led by public investment.

• In the Asia and Pacific region, inflation is forecast to slow down to 2.9% this year.

SCHEMES

Government Launches India's First Toll-Free National Anti-Narcotics Helpline

• The government has introduced India's first toll-free national anti-narcotics helpline number, 1933, known as 'MANAS' (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra or Narcotics Prohibition Intelligence Centre).

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the helpline during the seventh apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD).

• The helpline will enable individuals to report illegal narcotics activities and related issues to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

• MANAS aims to provide a user-friendly platform for citizens to report drug-related matters 24/7.

• Amit Shah also inaugurated the NCB zonal office in Srinagar virtually.

• He released the NCB's 2023 annual report and a compendium on "Nasha Mukt Bharat" (Drug-Free India).

• The launch of this helpline underscores the government's commitment to combating drug abuse and trafficking.