Current Affairs July 10, 2019
In this post, GKToday presents Current Affairs of July 10, 2019 in Short Notes form for preparation of IBPS, Banking, CLAT, SSC, Railway, UPSC, IAS/PCS, UPPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, RPSC, TNPSC, MPSC, KPSC and all other competitive examinations of India.
1. Indian sprinter Dutee Chand has clinched a Gold medal in the 100-metre dash event at the 30th World University Games (WUG-2019) at Napoli in Italy. Del Ponte of Switzerland won the Silver, while German Lisa Kwayie took home the Bronze. With the Gold, Dutee has become the first Indian woman track and field athlete to win the coveted yellow metal at the event. No Indian had qualified for the 100-metre final in the history of the University Games before this. She is also now only the second Indian sprinter to win a Gold in a global event after 19-year old Hima Das.
2. In Sri Lanka, the annual festival at historic Kataragama temple has begun recently that attracted devotees from all faiths. The fortnight long festival is joined by people all over Sri Lanka and abroad. The festival will end next week on full moon night with a water cutting ceremony, its touch said to invoke good luck. Thousand of devotees from all over Sri Lanka flock to the holy shrine of Katargama in south during this month for the annual festival. The place finds mention in Skanda purana and is popular for centuries-old Hindu temple of Lord Kartika, known locally as Katargama Deviyo. Kataragma is a multi religious city as it contains a mosque within the temple complex and a Buddhist temple nearby. It is considered to be one of the 16 main places of Buddhist pilgrimage in Sri Lanka. The small town hosts a fortnight-long festival or Esala Perahera, one of the most cultural and spiritual significant events in Sri Lanka. The perahera sees a grandly decorated elephant carrying the Kataragama Deviyo, flanked by dancers and drummers.
3. In Assam, a 3- month skill development training programme has been started in Bongaigaon district for the jail inmates. The purpose of the programme is to provide opportunities for the prison inmates to engage themselves in fruitful pursuits during the term of their sentence. Besides the main objective, the course is expected to increase the employability potential of the prisoners after their release. It is said that the prisoners are not in jail to suffer, but to change and reform and to lead a dignified life after release from the jail. Apart from the skill development training, a month long Yoga training session will also begin for the jail inmates in Bongaigaon district.
4. Talismanic Indian captain Sunil Chhetri has been named as the AIFF Men's Footballer of the Year for a record-extending sixth time. He is the most capped player of the country with 109 matches, ahead of former captain Bhaichung Bhutia (107). Chhetri, with 70 goals for India, is also the second-highest active international scorer — only behind Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (149). He currently plays for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL). Beside Chhetri, Indian midfielder Abdul Samad was named the AIFF Emerging Men's Player of the Year. Ace India international Ashalata Devi was named the AIFF Women's Footballer of the Year 2018-19, while Dangmei Grace was adjudged the AIFF Emerging Women's Footballer of the Year 2018-19. Earlier, Chhetri won the honour in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2017.
5. The Naveen Patnaik led Odisha Government has recently informed the state High Court that it has implemented the Central Government's Witness Protection Scheme-2018. The aim of the scheme is to ensure that investigation, prosecution and trial of criminal offences are not prejudiced because witnesses are intimidated or frightened to give evidence without protection from other criminal forces. According to the state government’s notification, the scheme includes three categories of witnesses as per threat perception. Category A consists of those cases where threat extends to the life of witness or family members during an investigation, trial or thereafter. Cases where the threat extends to safety, reputation or property of the witness or family members during the investigation or trial falls under category B. Category C will have cases where the threat is moderate and extends to harassment or intimidation of the witness or family members, reputation or property during investigation, trial or thereafter. The important features of the scheme include protective measures like ensuring that the witness and accused do not come face to face during probe, protection and change of identity, relocation of witness, confidentiality and preservation of records and recovery of expenses among others.
6. Arun Kumar, an IAS officer of 1989 batch of Haryana cadre, has been appointed as the new chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Kumar is also the additional secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The DGCA is the Indian governmental regulatory body for civil aviation under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and is headquartered at New Delhi. This directorate investigates aviation accidents and incidents.
7. Pravin Kumar Purwar has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for a period of five years. He is at present CMD of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL).
8. The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) under the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoEF) has recommended for "in-principle" permission for exploration of Uranium in Amrabad Tiger Reserve in Telangana. The approval comes despite contrary reports by forest officials after field inspections. The revised proposal seeks permission for exploration of uranium in 76 km in Amrabad and Udumilla regions, besides 7 km in the adjoining Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh, for use in nuclear power generation. The report noted that the environmental impact of mining included erosion, formation of sink holes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of groundwater, surface water and soil, which could affect wildlife. However, the revised proposals will not need approval from the State Board of Wildlife again. They will be sent directly to the advisory panel for final approval, after which the State government will need to issue permission through formal orders. In India, uranium deposit discovered till now was either of low grade or of low tonnage or of both low grade and low tonnage.
9. The Plan Bee initiative of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has won the Best Innovation Award in Indian Railways for the 2018-19 fiscal. The initiative helps in preventing trains from hitting elephants crossing tracks. The Plan Bee is an amplifying system imitating the buzz of a swarm of honey bees to keep wild elephants away from railway tracks. The unique initiative is helpful in diverting herds of elephants, especially when trains approach and dashing becomes imminent. The first prize comprises a citation along with a cash award of Rs 3 lakh.
10. The Kerala Startup Mission will host the Women Startup Summit (WSS-2019) in association with the Indian Women Network floated by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at the Integrated Startup Complex, Kochi on August 1. The aim of the summit is to encourage aspiring women professionals to take up their entrepreneurial journey and developing an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem in the State. The meet will be open for all women professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and startup founders.
