IMPORTANT DAYS

International Chess Day 2024 celebrated on 20 July

• International Chess Day is celebrated globally every year on July 20.

• The day honors chess players such as Viswanathan Anand, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhan, and Magnus Carlsen, recognizing their positive contributions to society.

• UNESCO proposed the idea of celebrating July 20 as International Chess Day.

• This celebration has been observed since 1966 to mark the founding of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

• The date, July 20, was chosen because FIDE was established on this day in 1924 in Paris.

• On December 12, 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially declared International Chess Day as an international event.

• The International Olympic Committee acknowledged FIDE in 1999.

• International Chess Day highlights the importance of chess in promoting intellectual development and international camaraderie.

NATIONAL NEWS

46th World Heritage Committee session of UNESCO

• New Delhi is set to host the 46th World Heritage Committee session of UNESCO from July 21 to 31, 2024.

• This marks the first time that India will host this significant event.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the session on July 21, 2024, with Union Minister for Culture G. Kishan Reddy in attendance.

• The event will take place at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

• UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, along with Culture Ministers, Ambassadors, and domain experts from various countries, will participate in the event.

• The Union Ministry of Culture is organizing the session in collaboration with UNESCO.

• The 46th World Heritage Committee session will review proposals from various countries to add 27 sites to the World Heritage List.

• Among the proposed sites is India’s Maidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty.

G Kishan Reddy launched landslide forecast system in Kolkata.

• Union Minister of Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, launched a landslide forecast system in Kolkata.

• The Geological Survey of India (GSI) will start providing landslide forecasts from July 20, 2024, for Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal, and Nilgiri in Tamil Nadu.

• GSI will generate these forecasts and send them to the state government, which will then distribute the information to the district administration.

• The district administration will ensure the information reaches the local population.

• The landslide forecast system will initially cover 36 landslide-prone areas.

• The system is expected to be available nationwide by 2030.

• Additionally, the Union Minister of Mines inaugurated a portal and mobile app related to landslides.’

AWARDS

Global CSR & ESG Award 2024

• The Global CSR & ESG Award 2024 was presented to Sobha Group's Sri Kurumba Trust for its initiatives in child and women development.

• The award for "Best Child and Women Development Initiatives of the Year 2024" was received by Sri Kurumba Educational and Charitable Trust, the CSR arm of the Sobha Group.

• Mr. Nagarajan S, Project Vice President of Sobha Limited, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

• The prestigious award was presented at the Global CSR, Sustainability and ESG Awards 2024 held at Hyatt Regency, Gurgaon.

• The event was organized by marketing and brand experts and brought together industry leaders and advocates of social responsibility.

• This accolade recognizes the groundbreaking efforts of Sri Kurumba Educational and Charitable Trust in empowering children and women through top-notch education and community development programs.

• The aim of the Global CSR & ESG Awards 2024 is to acknowledge and honor social and visionary leaders, organizations, and individuals who are engaged in humanitarian or social welfare work that creates positive change or impact in society.

STATE NEWS

The Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act was repealed by the Assam Government.

• The Assam Government has repealed the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act.

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Assam Cabinet approved the repeal bill on July 18.

• The bill seeks to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act and Rules of 1935.

• The 1935 Act permitted underage marriages under certain conditions.

• By passing the Assam Repealing Bill 2024, the government aims to abolish the outdated act.

• The Repeal Bill 2024 will be introduced in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Assembly.

• The old act allowed the registration of marriages even if the bride and groom had not reached the legal ages of 18 and 21, respectively.

¢ The decision reflects the government's effort to align marriage laws with contemporary legal standards.

APPOINTMENTS

Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the U.S.

• Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the United States.

• He will assume office shortly.

• Kwatra is a 1988 batch officer who was appointed as Foreign Secretary in April 2022.

• He has extensive experience dealing with India's neighborhood, as well as with the U.S., China, and Europe.

• From August 2017 to February 2020, he served as the Ambassador of India to France.

• He also held the position of Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) from October 2015 to August 2017.

• Kwatra’s appointment highlights his significant diplomatic expertise and experience.

• His diverse background and previous roles position him well for his new responsibilities as Ambassador to the U.S.

MISCELLANEOUS

Ivory Coast joined the UN Water Convention as the 10th African country.

• Ivory Coast has joined the United Nations Water Convention, becoming the 10th African country to do so.

• By joining, Ivory Coast aims to enhance cooperative water management.

• It is now the 53rd Party to the 1992 UN Water Convention, also known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes.

• The convention was originally established as a regional framework for the pan-European region.

• Under this framework, member countries must cooperate for the sustainable management of transboundary waters.

• Ivory Coast is ranked as the 40th most water-insecure country on the continent.

• Sierra Leone, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are in the final stages of joining the convention.

• The accession of Ivory Coast underscores its commitment to sustainable and cooperative water resource management.

RANKING AND INDEX

India Slips to 124th in FIFA Men's Rankings

• India has dropped to 124th in the FIFA men's rankings, down from a peak of 99 last year.

• In the Asian rankings, India is currently 22nd, behind Lebanon, Palestine, and Vietnam.

• Argentina is at the top of the FIFA men's rankings.

• Argentina secured the top spot after successfully defending its Copa America title.

• India's fall in rankings highlights a challenging period for the national team.

• The FIFA rankings reflect the performance and success of national teams in international competitions.