1) International Moon Day observed on 20 July
•The General Assembly declared International Moon Day, a United Nations-designated international day to be observed annually on 20 July. International Moon Day 2022 is chosen as the day to educate and promote awareness on the status and prospects for humanity. In cooperation with United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the International Moon Day 2022 will be observed as an annual event and general public celebrations will be held all over the world.
2) World Chess Day 2022 celebrates globally on 20 July
•World Chess Day is celebrated annually on July 20 globally. The day marks the date of the establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris in 1924. On this day, we can observe the day by teaching someone or learning how to play the game. Also, we can consider a 24-Hour Marathon or share your story about your own chess strategy.
3) PM Narendra Modi unveils ‘SPRINT Challenges’ to boost usage of Indigenous Technology
•Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled ‘SPRINT Challenges’, aimed at giving a boost to the usage of indigenous technology in the Indian Navy, during the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar ‘Swavlamban’ in New Delhi. This collaborative project is named SPRINT {Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), NIIO and Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC)}.
•In a bid to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence and as part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, NIIO, in conjunction with the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), aims to induct at least 75 new indigenous technologies/products into the Indian Navy. The seminar was organised by the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM).
4) West Bengal Governor La Ganesan assigned additional charge
•Following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has been selected by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as its vice presidential candidate, La. Ganesan took the oath of office as the new governor of West Bengal. In the presence of the speaker, Mamata Banerjee, various state ministers, and Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Prakash Shrivastava, he was sworn into office.
•According to a statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation after the NDA nominated him to run for vice president.
5) Godavari Islands: Andhra Pradesh conducts the first-ever blackbuck survey
•In order to create a conservation strategy to safeguard the endangered species, the Andhra Pradesh State Wildlife Department has begun the first-ever study of blackbucks along a length of islands in the Godavari between Dowleswaram and Yanam. Following reports of large numbers of blackbucks becoming stuck on the islands affected by the Godavari floods, the survey was proposed.
6) Lt Gen (Retd) Raj Shukla appointed as member of UPSC
•Retired Army officer Raj Shukla has been appointed as a member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The UPSC recommends candidates to the government for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and the Central Services — Group A and Group B.
7) NAARM received Sardar Patel Award of ICAR
•The National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM) has bagged the Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institute Award 2021 (in the Large Institute Category) for its overall performance. Ch Srinivasa Rao, Director of NAARM, received the award from the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar in New Delhi. The awards were given away at a function to mark the 94th Foundation Day of the ICAR.
8) Border dispute agreement struck between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam
•According to the chief ministers of both states, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have taken a step toward settling their seven-decade-old boundary dispute by signing the Namsai Declaration. Following their third round of discussions on the matter, the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu and his Assam colleague Himanta Biswa Sarma signed the declaration in Namsai.
9) Former SC judge Vineet Saran appointed as new BCCI ethics officer
•Former Supreme Court judge, Vineet Saran has taken over as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ethics officer and ombudsman. He has succeeded Justice (Retd) D. K. Jain, whose term ended in June last year. Saran, 65, is a former Chief Justice of Odisha High Court, and also served as a judge in Karnataka and Allahabad High Court.
10) L&T Tech: First company to directly obtain and implement 5G spectrum
•The first IT company to publicly indicate interest in the government’s direct distribution of spectrum for exclusive 5G networks is L&T Technology Services. According to CEO Amit Chadha, it will acquire spectrum to set up a 5G private network and develop use cases for the technology. In addition, the engineering and research and development services company will roll out 5G solutions for parent company Larsen & Toubro globally.
11) Uttarakhand CM Dhami released the book “BEYOND THE MISTY VEIL”
•Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released the book “BEYOND THE MISTY VEIL”, Temple Tales of Uttarakhand written by Ms Aradhana Johri (Senior IAS) on the temples of Uttarakhand. This book will be known as an authentic introduction to the divine temples of Uttarakhand in the country and abroad. Former IAS officer Aradhana Johri who had served earlier as the District Magistrate of Nainital.
12) Los Angeles to host 2028 Summer Olympic Games
•The 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, United States. The opening ceremony for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will take place on July 14, 2028, and continue till July 30. However, Los Angeles has previously hosted the Olympics in 1984 and 1932. The LA28 Games will feature more than 3,000 hours of live sport across 800 events in more than 40 sports. 15,000 athletes are expected to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, according to LA 28.
•Meanwhile, the Paralympic Games will begin in Los Angeles on August 15, 2028, and end on August 27. This will be the first time that Los Angeles will be hosting the Paralympic Games. It must be noted that the 2024 Summer Olympic Games will be held in Paris, France.
