APPOINTMENTS

General Upendra Dwivedi took charge as 30th Indian Army chief

• On June 30, General Upendra Dwivedi took charge as the 30th Indian Army Chief, succeeding General Manoj Pande.

• He served as the army’s Vice Chief starting February 2024.

• Prior to becoming the Army Chief, Dwivedi was the Northern Army Commander for two years.

• His overseas assignments included stints in Somalia and Seychelles.

• Lt. Gen. N. S. Raja Subramani will take over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff.

• Subramani is currently the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command.

• Lt. Gen. Anindya Sengupta is set to succeed Subramani as the Central Army Commander.

SPORTS

India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup by winning all the matches.

• India won their second T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa by seven runs at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, becoming the first team to win the tournament without losing a single match.

• Led by Rohit Sharma, India played nine matches, winning eight while one was washed out due to rain, achieving an undefeated run in the tournament.

• With this victory, India joins West Indies (2012, 2016) and England (2010, 2022) as the only teams to have won the Men's T20 World Cup twice, having previously won in 2007.

• Indian captain Rohit Sharma has become only the ninth player to win two T20 World Cup titles.

• Virat Kohli was named "Player of the Match" in the final, and Jasprit Bumrah received the "Player of the Tournament" award.

• Following the victory, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from T20 Internationals.

• The BCCI announced a prize of Rs 125 crore for the Indian team in recognition of their World Cup victory.

• The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 will feature 20 international teams playing 55 matches from June 1-29 in the West Indies and the USA.

Shefali Verma became the fastest woman to score a double century in Test cricket.

• India's Shafali Verma became the fastest woman to score a double century in Test cricket.

• Shafali surpassed Australia's Annabel Sutherland by completing her double century in just 194 balls during the one-off Test against South Africa.

• Sutherland had previously held the record with a double century in 248 balls against South Africa earlier this year.

• Shafali's innings included 23 fours and eight sixes.

• Shafali is the second Indian woman to score a double century in Test cricket, after former captain Mithali Raj.

• In August 2002, Mithali Raj scored 214 runs off 407 balls in a Test against England in Taunton.

• Shafali's double century came almost 22 years after Mithali's achievement.

• Shafali's aggressive performance significantly impacted the one-off Test against South Africa.

Witness Protection Scheme was launched by Assam for the first time to provide better justice.

• Assam launched its first witness protection scheme, approved by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, to enhance the justice delivery system.

• The Assam Witness Protection Scheme, 2024, was approved to comply with Section 398 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, ensuring protection for witnesses during investigations and trials.

• Witnesses in any case can apply for protection through the Member Secretary of the competent authority to obtain a witness protection order.

• Each district will have a standing committee, headed by the District and Sessions Judge, to oversee the witness protection process.

• Witnesses will be categorized into A, B, and C based on the level of threat they face.

• A State Witness Protection Authority and a Witness Protection Fund will be established to support the scheme.

• Measures include in-camera hearings, installation of security equipment at witnesses' homes, increased security and patrolling, temporary relocation, court escorts, and provision of government transport on hearing dates.

• The scheme aims to provide comprehensive protection for witnesses against imminent threats, ensuring fair and secure judicial proceedings.