Daily Current Affairs, 02nd August 2019

1) MIB launches a competition for designing Postage Stamp

•Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has launched a competition for designing a Postage Stamp along with the First Day Cover to commemorate Golden Jubilee edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

•International Film Festival of India (IFFI) started way back in 1952, is an ‘A’ grade film festival accredited to the International Federation of Film Producers’Associations (FIAPF) and is one of the oldest and most prestigious festivals in Asia. IFFI showcases a collage of the best of contemporary and classical films from around the globe.

2) India, UK launch clean air initiative in Bengaluru

•The Innovating for Clean Air (IfCA), is a UK-India joint initiative providing Indian and UK stakeholders opportunities to test interventions related to air quality and EV integration, was launched in Bengaluru.

•This initiative provides a unique measurement system for air quality by integrating satellite and sensor data, and helping to support India’s transition to electric vehicles”. The programme is led by Innovate UK — part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

3) Mobile library service launched by Delhi Public Library

•Culture and Tourism Minister flagged off a mobile library bus service which aims to reach out to readers in Delhi, especially those in slums, resettlement colonies and rural areas.

•The  5 buses mobile library service was launched under the “Ghar Ghar Dastak Ghar Ghar Pustak” Scheme of the Delhi Public Library (DPL).



4) One Nation One Ration Card scheme launched on pilot basis in 4 States

•One Nation-One Ration Card scheme launched on a pilot basis in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

•Families who have food security cards can buy subsidized rice and wheat from any ration shop in these states. Their ration cards should be linked with Aadhar Numberto avail this service.

5) West Bengal launches awareness campaign ‘Save Green, Stay Clean’

•The West Bengal Government has launched an awareness campaign ‘Save Green, Stay Clean’ for preserving the greenery and keeping the environment clean. The State Government will distribute more than 1 lakh saplings throughout the state for spreading of greenery.

6) Ravi Capoor assumes Charge as Secretary Textiles

•Ravi Capoor, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, assumed charge of the office of Secretary, Ministry of Textiles in New Delhi.

•Ravi Capoor has vast experience of working in international agencies like the World Bank, European Union, United Nations, Department for International Development in the Primary Education Project with Government of India.

7) 143rd birth anniversary of freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya

•143rd birth anniversary of freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya celebrates on 2nd of August. Pingali Venkayya, a freedom fighter and the designer of the flag on which the Indian national flag was based was born on this day in 1876, near Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

•Venkayya’s design for the National Flag was finally approved by Mahatama Gandhi in a Congress meeting in Vijayawada in 1921.

8) Crisil cuts India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.9% for FY 2019-20

•Ratings agency CRISIL has cut its forecast for India’s GDP growth by 20 basis points for FY 2019-20. It has lowered India’s GDP growth to 6.9% from 7.1%.