National News

NITI Aayog

• The Government has revised the composition of NITI Aayog. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been included as an Ex-Officio Member along with Home Minister Amit Shah, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

About NITI Aayog

100% reservation for Kannadigas

• The Karnataka cabinet has approved a bill mandating 100% reservation for Kannadigas in private firms for Group C and Group D posts.

About Karnataka

Asia’s first Pre-clinical Network facility

• Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated Asia’s first health research-related “Pre-clinical Network facility” at the Translational Health Science & Technology Institute” (THSTI), Faridabad.

Economy

GDP Forecast

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised India's FY25 growth projection to 7% from 6.8% forecast in April, retaining the country's fastest-growing economy tag.

What is GDP?

Science and Tech

E-Mobility R&D Roadmap for India Report

• The Principle Scientific Advisor Ajay Kumar Sood launched the E-Mobility Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap for India Report in New Delhi.

Initiatives related to E-Vehicle

35th IBO 2024

• The Indian team secured one Gold Medal and 3 Silver medals at the 35th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2024.

“Navigating New Horizons: A Global Foresight Report on Planetary Health and Human Wellbeing” 2024

• The report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), calls for the world to pay heed and respond to a range of emerging challenges that could disrupt planetary health and wellbeing.

About UNEP

Chandipura Virus Infection

• Two more children died of suspected Chandipura virus infection in Gujarat.

About Chandipur Virus Infection

Defence

5th Positive Indigenisation List (PIL)

• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced the 5th Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) which encompasses 346 strategically important items.

What is PIL?

THINQ2024

• The Indian Navy launched its flagship national level quiz competition, THINQ2024.
• Theme of THINQ2024 this year is ‘Viksit Bharat’.

About Indian Navy

Environment and Biodiversity

Species of Whale

• Scientists have found remains of the five-metre (around 16-foot) long creature, a type of beaked whale, in New Zealand.

Elephant Population Estimation in Kerala 2024

• Forest Minister of Kerala A.K. Saseendran released the report of the Synchronised Elephant Population Estimation 2024, revealing a considerable fall in Kerala’s elephant count.
• The population estimation was conducted in the forests of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.

Additional Info.

Person in News

N. Kotiswar Singh and R. Mahadevan

• President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and R. Mahadevan as Judges of the Supreme Court.

About Supreme Court

Roberta Metsola

• Roberta Metsola secured a 2nd term as president of the European Parliament, becoming the first woman to win a second term as head of the EU assembly.

Nallathamby Kalaiselvi

• Nallathamby Kalaiselvi, the first woman Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), was granted a two-year extension in service.

About CSIR

Important Days

World Snake Day

• World Snake Day is celebrated on July 16 every year to highlight the important role these reptiles play in maintaining the ecological balance