VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY  3^rd, 2019

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY 3^rd,  2019

1.       The United States has designated the Pakistan-based Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) as Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). 

a.       The designation bans anyone in the US from assisting the group and freezes any assets that it may have in the US. 

b.       Note : BLA has carried out several terrorist attacks, including an attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi last year.

2.       The Hungarian parliament passed a bill today enabling the takeover of research institutes by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government, which is accused by critics of seeking to control key institutions and sectors.

a.       The bill, approved by 131 of lawmakers in the 199-seat assembly, gives Mr Orban's nationalist, anti-migration government control of a vast network of research institutes currently run by the two-century-old Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA).

3.       Supreme Court has decided to make its judgements available in 6 Regional Languages on its official website by this month-end.

a.       The languages are Assamese, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Odia and Telugu.

b.       Judgements are currently written in English and uploaded on the website. 

c.       The reason behind the move is to enable the litigants to check the status of their cases without depending on lawyers.

4.       Rahul Gandhi has officially resigned as the Congress President, saying that he was responsible for Congress' defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 

5.       The Unique Identification Authority of India  (UIDAI) has operationalised the 1st 'Aadhaar Seva Kendra' in Delhi and Vijayawada, setting in motion an ambitious plan to set up 114 such centres by the year-end.

a.       These Aadhaar centres, meant to facilitate enrolment, updation and other activities, will be UIDAI’s own and operate in addition to thousands of centres, currently being run by banks and post offices, and in government premises (offering similar Aadhaar services).

6.       Uttar Pradesh State Government has decided to set up Ganga Committees in all 25 districts situated on the banks of river Ganga.

a.       This step is part of the large scale program to clean the holly river. 

7.       Gujarat's Finance Minister Nitin Patel presented ₹2.05 lakh-crore Budget for the state. 

a.       Patel called it a "historical moment as the first time since the formation of the state, a budget size of over ₹2 lakh crore is being presented". 

b.       He said the Budget had laid stress on water management, green and clean energy, environment, agriculture and farmer welfare, and employment.

8.       Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan today announced that Government has set a target to raise health services expenditure to 2.5% of country’s GDP (Gross domestic product) by 2025. 

a.       He also highlighted that public expenditure on health services has increased continuously over the years and continues to increase.

9.       Lee Iacocca (94), the US auto industry executive who created the Ford Mustang and saved Chrysler from bankruptcy in the 1980s, has died today.

a.       Iacocca, who joined Ford in 1946, became its President in 1970 but was fired eight years later by the founder's grandson, Henry Ford II. 

b.       He retired as Chrysler's chairman and CEO in 1992.

10.   Birla Group patriarch B.K Birla (98) passed away in Mumbai today.

a.       A doyen of the Indian industry, Mr. Birla was the chairman of Century Textiles and Industries and had been active in business since the age of 15. 

b.       He was instrumental in a slew of business initiatives, starting with his stint as the chairman of Kesoram Industries.

11.   The Managing Director of Arohan Financial Services, Manoj Kumar Nambiar has been elected as new Chairman of Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN). 

12.   German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has been nominated for the post to replace Jean-Claude Juncker to head the European Commission.

13.   Chief of International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde has been nominated as the 1st woman to head the European Central Bank. 

14.   Indian Batsman Ambati Rayudu has announced his retirement from all forms of cricketafter being overlooked for World Cup spot multiple times by the Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI). 

a.       Rayudu represented India in 55 ODIs and six T20Is, scoring 1,694 and 42 runs respectively.

15.   Indian pro boxer Vaibhav Yadav became the WBC Asia silver welterweight champion after defeating Thailand’s Fahpetch Singmanassak in Patayya. 

16.   The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced domestic schedule for the 2019-20 season in New Delhi today.

a.       It comprises 2036 matches, marking an addition of 19 games over the last season's schedule.

b.       The country's premier national T20 tournament,  Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, will be held before the IPL players' auction. 

c.       The tournament will run from November 8 to December 1. 

d.       The Ranji Trophy will stretch to March for the first time after starting on December 9. The final will be played on March 13.

e.       The Duleep Trophy will mark the beginning of the season as usual and will be followed by Vijay Hazare 50-over Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy.