VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY  31^st, 2019

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JULY 31^st, 2019

1.      Almost 1,000-year-old Shawala Teja Singh Temple located in Sialkot city of Pakistan, which was sealed for last 72 years, has been re-opened for devotees for the 1st time since partition. 

a.       Decision to reopen temple was issued by Paksitan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

2.      As part of an effort to combat climate change and deforestation. , individuals in Ethiopia planted more than 35 crore trees today.

a.       The planting is part of the 'Green Legacy' initiative that aims to plant 400 crore trees in Ethiopia this rainy season and is being led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

3.      The Union Cabinet has approved the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019.

a.       This bill provides 10% reservation to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of the state in educational institutes and government jobs. 

4.      The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly today introduced 2 bills to check incidents of mob lynching and honour killing in the state. 

a.       The bills will make both offences cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable with life imprisonment and fine of up to ₹5 lakh. 

b.       The bill also has a provision to appoint a Nodal Officer to prevent incidents of lynching in the state.

5.      Indian Air Force (IAF) today launched an air-combat mobile game 'Indian Air Force: A Cut Above' and it's available for those using Android and iOS devices. 

a.       It also features a pilot sporting a moustache like Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. 

6.      Indian multinational corporation Infosys launched its state-of-the-art Cyber Defence Center in Bucharest (Romania). 

a.       This Defence Center is an expansion of services delivered via Infosys Digital Innovation Center which opened in Bucharest in early 2019.

7.      Wing commander Tarun Chaudhri became 1st pilot of Indian Armed Forces (IAF) to do a Wing Suit Skydive Jump. 

a.       The jump was accomplished from an altitude of 8500 feet (2590.8 meters) from a Mi-17 helicopter. 

b.       This is 1st IAF Wing Suit Skydive Jump by a pilot who has flown and captained same type of helicopter.

8.      Two Karnataka teenagers, Aman K A and A U Nachiketh, have won a $15,000 (around ₹10.3 lakh) National Geographic Explorer Award at the 2019 Google Science Fair competition. 

a.       The duo developed an eco-friendly and cost-effective process of coagulating rubber latex using 'bimbli' fruit's extract, replacing formic acid.

9.      India has signed Rs.1,500 crore deal to acquire R-27 air-to-air missiles from Russia for equipping Su-30MKI combat aircraft fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and for boosting its capabilities in beyond visual range warfare.

10. Noted economist and former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Subir Vithal Gokarn (60) passed away. 

a.       Gokarn also represented India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan at the International Monetary Fund Executive Board. 

b.       He served as the Deputy Governor of the RBI between 2009 and 2013.

11. 1984-batch IAS officer from Jharkhand cadre, Rajiv Kumar has been appointed as the new Finance Secretary. 

a.       Kumar has replaced 1983-batch IAS officer Subhash Chandra Garg as the Finance Secretary. 

b.       Note : Garg was transferred to the Power Ministry as the secretary on July 24.

12. ITBP Director General S S Deswal was given additional charge of counter-terror force National Security Guard (NSG). 

a.       He will take over from incumbent NSG DG Sudeep Lakhtakia who is set to retire on 31st July 2018.

13. Café Coffee Day today appointed S V Ranganath as its interim Chairman after the death of founder-chairman V G Siddhartha.

14. BJP MLA Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has been elected as Karnataka Assembly Speaker. 

15. Former Indian cricketer Venugopal Rao has announced his retirement from all forms of the sport.

a.       The 37-year-old, who captained Andhra Pradesh's Ranji team in the past, played 16 ODIs for India before appearing in 65 IPL matches. 

16. Jamaican cricketer Chris Gayle today became the 1st cricketer to slam a hundred in Global T20 league in Canada. 

a.       Gayle hit a 47-ball hundred to help his side Vancouver Knights post 276/3 against Montreal Tigers, the second-highest total by any team in T20 cricket. 

17. Batsman Prithvi Shaw has been handed a backdated suspension of eight months by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for doping violation. 

a.       The period of Shaw's suspension would begin retrospectively from March 16, 2019 and end at midnight on November 15, 2019.