NATIONAL NEWS

New Bills in the Monsoon Session of Parliament

• The government plans to introduce six new bills during the monsoon session of Parliament.

• The monsoon session will run from July 22 to August 12, as stated in a bulletin by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on July 18.

• The Finance Bill, to be introduced along with the Union Budget on July 23, is one of the key bills of the session.

• The session will also see the introduction of the Boilers Bill, Coffee (Promotion and Development) Bill, Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill, Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024, and an amendment to the disaster management law.

• The Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 aims to replace the Aircraft Act of 1934 to simplify civil aviation laws and facilitate business dealings.

• On July 18, Speaker Om Birla nominated 14 members to the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), which he will chair.

• The BAC's primary role is to set the parliamentary agenda.

• The introduction of these bills reflects the government's legislative priorities for the monsoon session.

APPOINTMENTS

Vikram Misri's Appointment as India's Foreign Secretary

• Vikram Misri has taken office as India's Foreign Secretary, succeeding Vinay Kwatra.

• Misri is a seasoned diplomat with extensive expertise in China, making him a strategic choice for the role.

• His career includes significant contributions to India-China relations, especially following the Galwan Valley clashes.

• Misri has served as India's ambassador to China, Spain, and Myanmar, demonstrating his wide-ranging diplomatic skills.

• His appointments reflect his strategic depth and diplomatic acumen, crucial for navigating complex international relations.

STATE NEWS

Madhya Pradesh's Performance in the PM SVANidhi Scheme

• Madhya Pradesh has been recognized as the 'best performing state' under the Pradhan Mantri SVANidhi Yojana.

• The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry announced Madhya Pradesh's achievement on July 18.

• The PM SVANidhi Scheme, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, provides collateral-free loans of up to Rs 50,000 to urban street vendors.

• Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar presented the awards to the winners.

• Assam secured second place in the 'Best Performing State – Innovation and Best Practices Awards' category.

• In the 'Best Performing ULBs - Loan Performance with mega and million plus cities' category, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) took first place, followed by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara.

AWARDS

Greta Gerwig's 2024 Pioneer of the Year Award

• Greta Gerwig was honored with the 2024 Pioneer of the Year Award by the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation.

• She was recognized for her impactful work in directing acclaimed films such as "Lady Bird," "Little Women," and "Barbie."

• Gerwig's "Barbie" became the first solo female-directed film to exceed $1 billion in global box office earnings.

• This milestone underscores her significant influence and success in the filmmaking industry.

• The award celebrates her outstanding contributions and pioneering role in advancing the art of filmmaking.

MISCELLANEOUS

ICAR's 'One Scientist-One Product' Program
Program Initiation

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched the 'One Scientist-One Product' program.

• A total of 5,521 scientists are involved in developing various products, technologies, models, or publications to enhance agricultural research.

• The program includes a system for tracking scientific progress every three to six months, ensuring ongoing development and improvement.

• For the year 2024, the program emphasizes the development of high-yielding oilseeds and pulses.

• This focus aligns with the Centre's 100-day action plan to boost agricultural productivity and sustainability.

• The tracking system is designed to ensure continuous development and advancement in the agricultural sector.

• The emphasis on high-yielding crops aims to significantly increase agricultural productivity.

• The program is part of a broader effort to promote sustainability in agriculture through innovative research and development.