Omita Paul, a long time aide of Pranab Mukherjee appointed secretary to the President.

• The Appointments Committee of Cabinet approved the appointment of 63-year-old Paul on a contract basis in the rank and pay of secretary.
• Her tenure would be on co-terminus basis with the tenure of the President from the date of joining or till she ceases to function or until further order, whichever is earlier.

Pranab Mukherjee sworn-in as the 13th President of India.

He was administered oath of office and secrecy by the Chief Justice of India Justice, SH Kapadia, in the Central Hall of Parliament.

Several trade unions of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) went on a day’s strike to urge for their demand to withdraw the 10 per cent disinvestment of the equity in Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) - the holding company of VSP.

Why the Strike?

• To protest against disinvestment launched on July 13, 2012.
• In order to attain its total target of Rs 30,000 crore during current fiscal from disinvestment in profit-making public sector units, the Centre desired to unload 10% of its equity in RINL.
• For this, the Government determined for Rs 2,500-crore IPO.
• The trade union leaders fear 10% disinvestment would subsequently lead to privatization of the Plant as the Union government has decided to go for Initial Public Offer (IPO).

Captain Lakshmi Sehgal (97), a great revolutionist in the Indian National Army and very close aide of Netaji Subhash Chandra died at Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

• She was born as Lakshmi Swaminathan, in Chennai.
• In 1938, she did MMBS and diploma in gynaecology and obstetrics and worked as a doctor in the Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital located at Triplicane Chennai.
• She left for Singapore after an unsuccessful marriage with pilot P.K.N. Rao. There she met the members of Netaji’s Indian National Army.
• She set up a clinic for the poor, most of whom were migrant laborers from India. It was at this time that she started participatind actively in the India Independence League.
• In 1942, during the surrender of Singapore by the British to the Japanese, she served wounded prisoners of war many of whom who intended to form an Indian liberation army.
• In 1943, after meeting Netaji, she received the permission to set up a women’s regiment- Rani of Jhansi regiment.
• Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan became Captain of the same regiment and thus title remained attached to her throughout her life
• In 1944, INA fought against British army where INA retreated. 
• In May 1945, Captain Lakshmi was arrested by the British Army and was sent to India for trials.
• In 1947 she married Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal in Lahore. After their marriage, they settled in Kanpur, where she continued with her medical practice and aided the refugees who were arriving in large numbers following the Partition of India.
• Later in 1971, she joined Communist Party of India (Marxist) and represented the party in the Rajya Sabha. 
• In 1981, She was among the founding members of AIDWA.
• During the Bangladesh crisis, she held relief camps and medical aid in Calcutta for people who took refuge into India from Bangladesh.
• Captain Lakshmi’s daughter, Subhashini Ali, is a prominent Communist politician and labor activist.
• The filmmaker Shaad Ali is Captain Lakshmi’s grandson.

Bradley Wiggins became the 1^st Briton to cinch the Tour de France.

He also helped Sky teammate Mark Cavendish achieve his fourth straight sprint victory on the Champs-Elysees.