Daily Current Affairs- 19 July

Today's Current Affairs 19th July 2023

SPORTS

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy smashes Guinness world record for fastest badminton shot during Korea Open

• Indian badminton player Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, popularly known as Satwik, smashed the Guinness World Record for the fastest hit by a male player in the sport during the Korea Open, where Satwik recorded a mind-boggling speed of 565 km/h with his smash.
• This record-breaking smash has not only put Satwik on the global map but also broken a decade-long record previously held by Malaysian player Tan Boon Heong. In May 2013, Heong set the record with a smash speed of 493 km/h. However, Satwik's recent performance has surpassed this by a significant margin, marking a new era in the sport of badminton.

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Arvind Kumar appointed chairman of UPERC

• Arvind Kumar , advisor for industries to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, has been appointed as the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC). After his retirement in February this year, Kumar was appointed as an advisor on industries to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
• Kumar, a 1988 batch IAS officer, earlier headed the state energy department and was also the chairman of UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) and the state’s Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner (IIDC). He was also instrumental in framing the state’s industrial policy.
• The state government made the appointment after a three-member selection committee, headed by Justice (Retired) Umesh Kumar of Allahabad High Court, recommended two names from 33 shortlisted candidates and forwarded the same to the government.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

The fourth G-20 Employment Working Group and the Labour and Ministers' Meeting begins in Indore

• The fourth Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting will focus on finalizing the Ministerial Declaration and outcome documents. In this the efforts of all the three meetings will be consolidated in this meeting. The EWG delegate's deliberations will end at the G-20 Labour and Ministers' Meeting (LEM), where they will gather to discuss and adopt these results. This information was given by Smt. Arti Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, in a press conference organized on the eve of the fourth Employment Working Group of G-20 and the meeting of Labour and Employment Ministers to be held in Indore today - 19th to 21 July.
• Earlier, Shri Rupesh Kumar Thakur, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment informed through a presentation that while 86 delegates are participating in the 4th EWG meeting, 165 delegates including 24 Ministers will participate in the LEM meeting. Heads of international organizations and employers' associations, including the ILO, OECD and the World Bank, will also attend the meeting.

 AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Kishan Reddy conferred with Global Incredible Inc leadership Award

• Union Minister of Tourism, Culture G Kishan Reddy was conferred with the ‘Global Incredible Inc Leadership Award' by the US India SME Council - an organization that promotes trade, commerce, and people-to-people exchange programs between the United States and India
• The award was conferred by eminent citizens from Maryland state, US in recognition of his endeavors towards promoting tourism and the rich culture of India.
• On receiving the award the minister tweeted, "Humbled to have received the ‘Leadership Award’ from The US India SME Council - an organization that promotes trade, commerce, and people-to-people exchange programs between the United States & India_
• The award was conferred by eminent citizens from Maryland state, US in recognization of the endeavors towards promoting tourism and the rich culture of India under the guidance and leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji"_
• Kishan Reddy is in the US and he attended the United Nations High Level Political Forum (UN HLPF) on Economic, Social and Environmental Sustainability on Tourism.

IIT professor wins global recognition with Eni Award for clean water innovations

• Indian scientist Professor Thalappil Pradeep from IIT Madras has been honored with the esteemed Eni Award for his groundbreaking research in energy and environment. The award recognises his innovative work in providing affordable clean water using advanced nanoscale materials. The President of Italy is expected to present the award to Professor Pradeep in the near future.
• ABOUT ENI AWARD - The Eni Award is highly regarded globally, with previous recipients including renowned Nobel laureates and distinguished scientists. The selection committee, which includes Nobel laureates, ensures that only exceptional individuals receive this prestigious recognition.
• Professor Pradeep's remarkable contributions in the field of nanotechnology and sustainable water purification have earned him this coveted honor, Established in 2007, the award aims to foster radical breakthroughs in energy efficiency, renewables, decarbonisation, and environmental preservation. It serves as a platform to encourage and inspire the next generation of researchers to address the pressing challenges in energy and environmental sustainability.

Aruna Sairam, Shashank Subramanyam presented Chevalier award

• Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam and flautist Shashank Subramanyam were conferred with the prestigious Chevalier award by the French government at a ceremony in Chennai on Saturday evening. The award was given in recognition of their contribution to the music field and development of Indo-France relations.
• According to a citation from the French Ministry of Culture, the award was intended to honour personalities for their creativity in cultural spheres and their works that formed the wealth of the cultural heritage. Ms. Sairam and Mr. Subramanyam were conferred the title of Chevalier De L’orde Des Arts Et Des Lettres.
• The award is considered to be one of the primary distinctions from among the four ministerial orders of the French Republic. The government had recognised their talent and dedication towards arts and culture.

RANKING

India is ranked 80th with visa-free entry to 57 nations, as per the Henley Passport Index 2023

• India has significantly improved its passport ranking by rising 5 spots from last years and is now ranked 80th in the latest Henley Passport Index. Owning to this, Indians can travel to 57 destinations completely visa free or visas on arrival arrangements.
• However, it is to be noted here that India has scored poorly in mobility. Hence, Indian passport holders need a visa to enter 177 destinations across the world in countries like China, Japan, Russia, the United States, and the entire European Union.
• As per the report, Singapore has replaced Japan for having the world’s most powerful passport, allowing visa-free entry to 192 global destinations, according to the latest Henley Passport Index.
• After five years at the top, Japan dropped to third place as the number of destinations its passport can access without a visa fell, according to the ranking published by London-based immigration consultancy Henley & Partners.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

Ashok Leyland bags orders worth Rs 800 crore from Indian Army

• Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and the largest supplier of logistics vehicles to the Indian military, announced on Monday that it had won major orders for defence vehicls, valued at Rs 800 crore
• The contracts awarded to Ashok Leyland include for the production of “field artillery tractors” (FAT 4x4) and “gun towing vehicles” (GTV 6x6). The FAT 4x4 and GTV 6x6 are specialized vehicles employed by the artillery for towing light and medium guns, respectively.
• Both these platforms featured prominently in the first “positive indigenization list” that the government promulgated in August 2020. This was followed in May 2021 by a second positive indigenisation list, comprising of 108 items; and then a third indigenisation List of 101 items in April 2022.
• Ashok Leyland vehicles, especially the 7.5 tonne Stallion, have formed the backbone of the army’s logistics supply chain since the Kargil conflict in 1999. They are manufactured for the military in a dedicated production line in Ordnance Factory Jabalpur. The budget component for military transportation this year allocates Rs 6,717 crore for revenue expenditure. In addition the budget caters for Rs 4,038 crore in capital expenditure.