1.Miscellaneous
NITI Aayog presents Voluntary National Review 2020 report
NITI Aayog has presented India’s second Voluntary National Review at the United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, 2020
The title of the report is “Decade of Action: Taking SDGs from Global to Local”
It reports progress of adoption and implementation of SDGs in India to meet the 2030 Agenda
Quick Fact: NITI Aayog is responsible for examining the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national level.
2.Economy
NTPC wins CII-ITC Sustainability Awards 2019
National Thermal Power Corporation Limited has won the prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Award 2019
It has won:
- Outstanding Accomplishment in Corporate Excellence Category
- Commendation for Significant Achievement in Corporate social responsibility (CSR) category
Its sustainability practices work for girl empowerment and contract labour empowerment
Quick Fact: NTPC Limited is India’s largest energy conglomerate
3.Economy
Google For India Digitisation Fund: Google to invest USD 10 billion in India
The CEO of Google has announced a $10 billion for India, also called as Google For India Digitisation Fund
This fund will be invested over the span of 5-7 years
The investments will focus on four areas important:
- Enabling affordable access and information in vernacular language.
- Building new products and services that are deeply relevant to India’s unique needs.
- Empowering businesses for digital transformation
- Leveraging technology and AI for social good, especially in health, education, and agriculture
Quick Fact: Sundar Pichai is the CEO of Google and Alphabet Inc.
4.India and the World
India dropped from Chabahar rail project by Iran
India has been dropped from Chabahar rail project by Iran
The reason for the same has been delayed funding for project initiation and implementation, as per Iran
The project included a railway line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, near the Afghanistan border.
Quick Fact: India and Iran signed Chabahar rail project agreement in 2016
5.Person in News
New book by Ruskin Bond: A Song of India
The book will be released on 20th July, marking 70 years of his literary career
It tells the story of Ruskin Bond’s life from when he started writing.
It is the 4th book in his memoir series after Looking for the Rainbow, Till the Clouds Roll
By (2017), Coming Round the Mountain (2019).
6.Person in News
K Sivan wins Von Karman Award 2020
ISRO’s chief Dr Kailasavadivoo Sivan has been awarded the 2020 Von Karman Award
The award is granted by the International Academy of Astronautics.
It is granted for outstanding lifetime achievements in science.
Quick Fact: Theodore von Karman was an aerospace engineer famous for his key advances in aerodynamics.
7.Person in News
K Palaniswami awarded with Paul Harris Fellow Recognition
Edappadi K Palaniswami is the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
He has received the Paul Harris Fellow Recognition from the Rotary Foundation
The honour is granted for providing efficient services to people in the public domain
Quick Fact: Headquarter of Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is located in Chicago, USA