Current Affairs, July 2020

The Stay in India and Study in India committee setup by HRD Ministry to form guidelines and recommend measures for students to study and stay in India is headed by: D.P. Singh, Chairman UGC
The eminent Indian danseuse (wife of dancer Uday Shankar) awarded Banga Bibhushan in 2011, who passed away on 24 July 2020: Amala Shankar
The unmanned mission to Mars launched by China from Wenchang Launch Center aboard a Long March 5 rocket on 23 July 2020 is named: Tianwen-1
The Indian animation director who has been posthumously chosen for the ‘Legend of Animation’ award instituted by the Toonz Media Group (TMG) as part of the Animation Masters Summit (AMS) 2020 - Digital Edition: Arnab Chaudhary
The helicopter launched Nag Missile (Helina) which was successfully test-fired at the Interim Test Range (ITR) in Odisha has now been renamed: Dhruvastra
The theme of India Ideas Summit hosted by US-India Business Council (USIBC) held virtually on 22 July 2020: Building a Better Future
The initiative launched by HRD Ministry to provide psychosocial support to students for their Mental Health and Well-being is named: MANODARPAN
The Governor of Madhya Pradesh (also former Gover of Bihar) who passed away on 21 July 2020: Lalji Tandon
The unmanned space probe to Mars launched by UAE from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on July 19, 2020 is named: Hope
Indian election commissioner who has been appointed the Vice-President of Asian Development Bank succeeding Diwakar Gupta whose term ends on 31 August 2020: Ashok Lavasa
The IPL Chief Operating Officer who has been appointed the interim CEO of BCCI following the resignation of Mr Rahul Johri: Hemang Amin
The Chairman of ISRO who has been chosen for the 2020 Von Karman Award by the International Academy of Astronautics, Sweden: K Sivan
The short term health insurance policies launched by general and health insurance companies and approved by IRDA have broadly named: Corona Kavach
The ruling People's Action Party leader who has been re-elected as the Prime Minister of Singapore for the 4th term: Lee Hsien Loong
The veteran Bollywood actor and comedian who passed away on 08 July 2020 aged 81 years:    Jagdeep (Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jaffrey)
The former social networking platform Google+ has been relaunched by Google for Android and iOS system as: Google Currents
The place in Madhya Pradesh where an Ultra Mega Solar Power project was dedicated to the nation by the PM Shri Narendra Modi via video conference: Rewa
The spy satellite launched by Israel using a Shavit-2 rocket from Palmachim air base is named: Ofek 16
The new Prime Minister of France appointed by its President Emmanuel Macron: Jean Castex
The rank of India in terms of generation of e-waste as per United Nations ‘Global E-waste Monitor 2020’ (China and US ranked at No. 1 and 2 respectively): Third
The renowned dance choreographer of Hindi cinama who passed away on 03 July 2020 at the age of 71 years: Saroj Khan
The country with which India conducted a day long joint naval exercise, PASSEX in the Strait of Malacca: Japan
The 1990-batch IFS officer and an additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) who has been appointed as India's next Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva successing Rajiv K Chander: Indra Mani Pandey
The theme of 36th Biannual Edition of ASEAN held virtually under the Chairmanship of Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc: Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN
The theme of National Doctors Day observed on 01 July 2020 to mark the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy: Lessen the Mortality of COVID-19
The place in Tamil Nadu where a boiler blast in a thermal power plant killed 13 people and injured several other: Neyveli, Cuddalore

Rafale in India

On July 27, 2020, the first batch of Rafael Jets flew out of France. The jets are to reach India on July 29, 2020 (Number of aircraft: 5) .

The first batch of five Rafale jets will reach India after taking off from France. The multi-role fighter aircraft are scheduled to arrive at Ambala air force station.

The fleet is expected to significantly boost the IAF's combat capabilities at a time when India is locked in a tense border row with China in eastern Ladakh.

The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets.

Sustainable Development Report 2020

The Sustainable Development Report 2020 presents the SDG Index and Dashboards for all UN member states and frames the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in terms of six broad transformations. It was prepared by teams of independent experts at the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Bertelsmann Stiftung.

Prize

The United Nations observes 18 July every year as Nelson Mandela International Day.

About Nelson Mandela Prize:

The Nelson Mandela Prize, which is awarded every five years and recognizes those who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity, by promoting the purposes and principles of the United Nations, while honouring Nelson Mandela’s life, and legacy of reconciliation, political transition, and social transformation. The Mandela Prize was established by a UN General Assembly resolution in June 2014.

Guinean doctor Morissana Kouyate and Marianna Vardinoyannis of Greece are the winners of the 2020 Nelson Mandela Prize. The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande has made the announcement of the winners of the award which recognizes persons who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity.

mohun bagan awards 2020

According to ATK-Mohun Bagan club, Hockey legend Gurbux Singh and former first-class cricketer Palash Nandi will receive this year’s Mohun Bagan Ratna. The club has decided not to hold the customary ‘Mohun Bagan Day’ function on July 29 this year owing to the pandemic. July 29 was the date of Bagan’s IFA Shield triumph in 1911 when they defeated East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1.

Important Days of July