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CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2020
Awards
The Indian animation director who has been posthumously chosen for the ‘Legend of Animation’
award instituted by the Toonz Media Group (TMG) as part of the Animation Masters Summit
(AMS) 2020 - Digital Edition – Arnab Chaudhary
The Chairman of ISRO who has been chosen for the 2020 Von Karman Award by the International
Academy of Astronautics, Sweden – K Sivan
Defence
The helicopter launched Nag Missile (Helina) which was successfully test-fired at the Interim Test
Range (ITR) in Odisha has now been renamed – Dhruvastra
The country with which India conducted a day long joint naval exercise, PASSEX in the Strait of
Malacca – Japan
Persons
The Stay in India and Study in India committee setup by HRD Ministry to form guidelines and
recommend measures for students to study and stay in India is headed by – D.P. Singh, Chairman
UGC
The eminent Indian danseuse (wife of dancer Uday Shankar) awarded Banga Bibhushan in 2011,
who passed away on 24 July 2020 – Amala Shankar
The Governor of Madhya Pradesh (also former Gover of Bihar) who passed away on 21 July 2020
– Lalji Tandon
Indian election commissioner who has been appointed the Vice-President of Asian Development
Bank succeeding Diwakar Gupta whose term ends on 31 August 2020 – Ashok Lavasa
The ruling People's Action Party leader who has been re-elected as the Prime Minister of
Singapore for the 4th term – Lee Hsien Loong
The veteran Bollywood actor and comedian who passed away on 08 July 2020 aged 81 years –
Jagdeep (Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jaffrey)
The new Prime Minister of France appointed by its President Emmanuel Macron – Jean Castex
The renowned dance choreographer of Hindi cinama who passed away on 03 July 2020 at the age
of 71 years – Saroj Khan
The 1990-batch IFS officer and an additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
who has been appointed as India's next Permanent Representative to the United Nations and
other international organisations in Geneva successing Rajiv K Chander – Indra Mani Pandey
Places
The place in Madhya Pradesh where an Ultra Mega Solar Power project was dedicated to the
nation by the PM Shri Narendra Modi via video conference – Rewa
The place in Tamil Nadu where a boiler blast in a thermal power plant killed 13 people and injured
several other – Neyveli, Cuddalore
Sports
The IPL Chief Operating Officer who has been appointed the interim CEO of BCCI following the
resignation of Mr Rahul Johri – Hemang Amin
Space
The unmanned mission to Mars launched by China from Wenchang Launch Center aboard a Long
March 5 rocket on 23 July 2020 is named – Tianwen-1
The unmanned space probe to Mars launched by UAE from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan
on July 19, 2020 is named – Hope
The spy satellite launched by Israel using a Shavit-2 rocket from Palmachim air base is named –
Ofek 16
Themes
The theme of India Ideas Summit hosted by US-India Business Council (USIBC) held virtually on 22
July 2020 – Building a Better Future
The theme of 36th Biannual Edition of ASEAN held virtually under the Chairmanship of
Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc – Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN
The theme of National Doctors Day observed on 01 July 2020 to mark the birth and death
anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy – Lessen the Mortality of COVID-19
Miscellaneous
The initiative launched by HRD Ministry to provide psychosocial support to students for their
Mental Health and Well-being is named – MANODARPAN
The short term health insurance policies launched by general and health insurance companies and
approved by IRDA have broadly named – Corona Kavach
The former social networking platform Google+ has been relaunched by Google for Android and
iOS system as – Google Currents
The rank of India in terms of generation of e-waste as per United Nations ‘Global E-waste Monitor
2020’ (China and US ranked at No. 1 and 2 respectively) – Third
Important Days of July
International Day of Co-operatives: 04 July 2020
Designated by: United Nations General Assembly
First observed: 1993
Theme: Cooperatives for Climate Action
World Population Day: 11 July 2020
Designated by: United Nations Development Programme
First observed: 1989
World Youth Skills Day: 15 July 2020
Designated by: UNESCO
First observed: 2015
Theme: Skills for a Resilient Youth
Nelson Mandela International Day: 18 July 2020
Designated by: UN General Assembly
First observed: 2010
World Hepatitis Day: 28 July 2020
Designated by: World Health Organisation
First observed: 2008
Theme: Hepatitis-free future
International Tiger Day: 29 July 2020
Designated by: St Petersburg Tiger Summit
First observed: 2010
World Day against Trafficking in Persons: 30 July 2020
Designated by: United Nations General Assembly
First observed: 2014
United Nations Nelson Mandela Prize 2020
1. Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis: is a Greek philanthropist and world advocate for human
rights and the protection of children’s health and welfare. She is a Goodwill Ambassador of
UNESCO since 1999, founder and president of “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation” and of
“ELPIDA Friends’ Association of Children with cancer”.
2. Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté: He is a leading advocate on ending violence against women and girls
in Africa. He initiated efforts to address violence against women with the African Union
Commission, leading to the Maputo Protocol, Africa’s regional instrument on ending violence
against women.
Arrival of Rafale in India
Number of aircraft: 5
Airborne from: Dassault Aviation Facility, Merignac, France
Stopover at: Al Dhafra airbase in the UAE.
Base arrived at: Air Force Station, Ambala.
First stage of flight: 5000 km
Second stage of flight: 2700 km
Squadron to be inducted into: 17 Squadron (Golden Arrows)
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2020
Rank Country Rank Country
1. Sweden 48. China
2. Denmark 96. Nepal
3. Finland 109. Bangladesh
4. France 117. India
5. Germany 134. Pakistan
Mohun Bagan Awards 2020
Bagan Ratna 2020: Gurbux Singh (Hockey) and Palash Nandy (Cricket)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Ashok Kumar (Hockey); Pranab Ganguly (Football) and
Monoranjan Porel (Athletics).
Best Football Player (senior): Joseba Beitia (Spain)
Abbreviations in News
LEAD: Learning through E-Resources Made Accessible for Delhi
Books in News
Overdraft: Saving the Indian Saver: Urjit Patel (former RBI Governor)
A Song of India: Ruskin Bond
Quest for Restoring Financial Stability in India: Viral Acharya
The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World: S. Jaishankar (External Affairs Minister)
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