National News
Department Of Empowerment Of Persons With Disabilities Signs 72 MoUs With Private Institutions And Start-Ups

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment today signed 72 MoUs with private institutions and start-ups in New Delhi. These MoUs aim to empower persons with disabilities socially, educationally and economically.
- MoUs Signed: 72 with private institutions and start-ups.
- Aim: Empower persons with disabilities socially, educationally, and economically.
- Presence: Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar and Minister of State B.L. Verma.
- Minister’s Statement: DEPwD’s significant role in empowerment and low-cost manufacturing of useful devices.
- Government Commitment: Highlighted by Mr. Verma, reinforcing dedication to supporting persons with disabilities.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment minister: Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar and Minister of State B.L. Verma
Over 2.28 Cr Artisans Enrolled Under PM Vishwakarma Scheme So Far: MoS Jayant Chaudhary

More than two crore 28 lakh artisans have been enrolled under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme so far. Of this, over 13 lakh 94 thousand beneficiaries have been successfully registered, with five lakh 42 thousand 222 women. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary said, a total of five lakh three thousand 161 candidates have been provided with basic training across the country, out of which two lakh 74 thousand 703 are female.
State-wise Certification:
- Karnataka: Maximum number of certified candidates (1.09 lakh)
- Jammu and Kashmir: 81,000 certified candidates
- Gujarat: 79,000 certified candidates
Female Certification:
- Karnataka: Maximum number of certified female candidates (85,000)
- Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat follow in terms of female certification
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme is an initiative by the Indian government to support traditional artisans and craftspeople .
Objective: The scheme aims to provide end-to-end support to traditional artisans and craftspeople, enabling them to scale up their products and services and integrate into domestic and global value chains.
Eligibility: The scheme is open to artisans and craftspeople engaged in traditional occupations such as blacksmithing, goldsmithing, pottery, carpentry, and sculpting, among others.
Benefits: The scheme offers various benefits, including:
- Recognition and certification as a Vishwakarma artisan
- Skill upgradation and training
- Toolkit incentives and modern tool support
- Collateral-free credit support
- Incentives for digital transactions
- Marketing support and brand promotion
Department Of School Education And Literacy To Observe Shiksha Saptah From Monday

The Department of School Education and Literacy will observe Shiksha Saptah starting tomorrow, which will continue until the 28th of July.
- The aim of Shiksha Saptah is to promote collaboration and the impactful educational reforms introduced by National Education Policy 2020 among students, educators, and stakeholders. During the week theme based days will be observed.
- It includes Teaching-Learning Material Day, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Day, Sports Day and Cultural Day.
International News
Ivory Coast Joins 1992 UN Water Convention Ahead of Key Meeting

- Ivory Coast becomes the 53rd Party to the 1992 UN Water Convention, also known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes.
- 10th African country to join the convention.
- Development occurs ahead of the 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Water Convention in Ljubljana, Slovenia from October 23-25, 2024.
- Now, the 4 largest economies of West Africa—Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Ivory Coast—are parties to the convention.
- Three more African nations—Sierra Leone, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—are in the final stages of accession.
- Significance of Transboundary Water (TBW) resources in Africa:
- 63 international transboundary river basins cover 62% of Africa’s area and account for 90% of the total surface water.
- The Water Convention fosters cooperation on both surface water and groundwater.
About the UN Water Convention: The UN Water Convention, was adopted in Helsinki, Finland on 17th March 1992 but it came into force on 9th October, 1996.
Aim: It requires member countries or parties to prevent, control, and mitigate negative impacts on water quality and quantity across borders and to use shared waters in a reasonable and equitable way and to ensure their sustainable management through cooperation.
About Ivory Coast:
- President- Alassane Ouattara
- Capital-Yamoussoukro
- Currency- West African CFA franc
Economy news
GDP Growth Projected At 6.5-7 % In Economic Survey; RBI Expects Inflation To Be 4.5 % In Current Financial Year

Economic Survey 2023-24 has projected a real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 6.5 to 7 per cent in Financial Year 2024-25. On the first day of the Budget Session, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman tabled the Economic Survey in the Lok Sabha.
Economic Performance:
- Domestic growth drivers supported economic growth despite global uncertainty
- Merchandise and services exports likely to increase
- Agriculture sector performance expected to improve with normal rainfall forecast
- Rural demand revival expected
Structural Reforms: Goods and Service Tax (GST) and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) delivering envisaged results
Inflation:
- RBI expects headline inflation: 4.5% in FY 2025 and 4.1% in FY 2026
- IMF projects inflation rate: 4.6% in 2024 and 4.2% in 2025
Sports news
BCCI To Provide 8.5 Crore Rupees To Indian Olympic Association For Paris Olympics

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah has announced that the Board will provide 8.5 crore rupees to the Indian Olympics Association (IOA) for the Paris Olympics campaign.
- Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya thanked Mr Shah for this monetary support. Dr Mandaviya said the country is proud of every athlete representing India in the Olympics.
- The Indian contingent for the Paris Olympics includes 117 athletes – comprising 70 males and 47 females – and 140 support staff members. The 2024 Paris Olympics will begin on the 26th of July.
BCCI:
- President: Roger Binny
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founded: December 1928
Yuki Bhambri bags the 2024 Swiss Open Gstaad Tennis Doubles Title

Indian tennis player Yuki Bhambri, in partnership with Albano Olivetti of France, has won the 2024 Swiss Open Gstaad Men’s Doubles title. The Swiss Open Gstaad 2024 was held in Gstaad city, Switzerland, from 15 to 21 July 2024. It is an ATP 250 event played on clay courts.
- This was the 56th edition of the Swiss Open Gstaad Tennis Tournament, which started in 1915.
Oscar Piastri win his first Formula one title at the Hungarian GP

The Australian driver Oscar Piastri won his first Formula One title by winning the Hungarian Grand Prix on 21 July 2204. The Hungarian Grand Prix was held at Hungaroring racing track in the small Hungarian town of Mogyoród on 21 July 2024.
- Oscar Piastri of team McLaren finished first, and his teammate Lando Norris came second. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes came in third.
- The 2024 Formula One season will have 24 Grand Prix. The Hungarian Grand Prix was the 13th race of the 2024 season.
- Max Verstappen of Red Bull leads the points table with seven wins and 265 points. In second place is Lando Norris of the McLaren team.
Manolo Marquez to be the Head Coach Of Indian Men’s Football Team

- The national football governing body, All India Football Federation (AIFF), has appointed Manolo Marquez of Spain as the head coach of the Indian men’s football team.
- He replaces Igor Stimac, who was sacked by the AIFF after the Indian team failed to qualify for the third round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after losing to Qatar and Afghanistan.
- Manolo Marquez is currently the head coach of the Indian Super League (ISL) team FC Goa. After the completion of the ISL 2024-25 season, Marquez will take over as the full-time national team head coach.
- Before being the coach of FC Goa, Manolo was the coach of the ISL team Hyderabad FC for three seasons. During his tenure, Hyderabad FC won the 2021-22 ISL title.
All Indian football federation:
- President: Kalyan Chaubey
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded: 23 June 1937
Indian Tennis Legends Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj Inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame

In a momentous occasion for Indian and Asian tennis, former Indian tennis stars Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj have become the first Asian men to be inducted into the prestigious International Tennis Hall of Fame. This historic induction not only celebrates their individual achievements but also marks a significant milestone for tennis in the Asian continent.
Leander Paes
- Inducted as a player
Achievements:
- 18 Grand Slam titles (8 men’s doubles, 10 mixed doubles)
- Olympic bronze medal (1996)
- 462 weeks in top 10 ATP rankings
- Career Grand Slams in men’s and mixed doubles
- Recognized as one of the greatest doubles players of all time
Vijay Amritraj
- Inducted as a contributor
Recognized for:
- Pioneering Indian tennis globally
- Promoting tennis in Asia
- Contributions to tennis administration and development
- Induction highlights his impact on tennis growth and popularization in India and Asia
Defence news
INS Teg Rescues Eight Indians From Capsized Oil Tanker Near Oman

Comoros-flagged oil tanker capsized off Oman’s coast with 16 crew members missing (13 Indians, 3 Sri Lankans) Indian Navy’s INS Teg redirected for search and rescue
INS Teg located the vessel on July 16th and rescued 8 Indians
India-Oman Defense Partnership:
- Historical Context: Oman is India’s oldest defense partner in the Gulf, with cooperation starting in 1972.
- Initial Cooperation: Military protocol agreement in 1972, followed by Indian Navy personnel deputation to the Omani Navy in 1973.
- Joint Activities: Partnership includes extensive joint military exercises across all armed forces branches:
- ‘Al Najah’ (Army)
- ‘Eastern Bridge’ (Air Force)
- ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ (Navy)
Obituary news
Padma Shri Awardee Kamala Pujari Passes Away at 74

Kamala Pujari, the renowned Padma Shri awardee and pioneering organic farmer, passed away at the age of 74. Her death has prompted condolences from prominent leaders and the announcement of state honours by the Odisha government.
Notable Achievements
- Padma Shri Award: Conferred in 2019 for her exceptional work in organic farming.
- Other Awards: Received the ‘Equator Initiative Award’ in 2002 and the Best Farmer Award by the Odisha government in 2004.
- Contributions: Promoted organic farming, harvested 100 varieties of rice, and was associated with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation.
Important days
National Mango Day 2024: Celebrating the King of Fruits

National Mango Day is celebrated annually on July 22. Every year, National Mango Day is observed to celebrate the fruit known for its exquisite taste and numerous health benefits. As we approach this special day, it’s important to understand its significance, history, and the various ways we can commemorate this beloved fruit.
In a significant move to honor this fruit, the National Horticulture Board of India announced in 1987 that National Mango Day would be celebrated annually. This decision was made to pay tribute to the mango’s unparalleled taste and its myriad health benefits.
National Flag Adoption Day: Commemorating India’s Tricolour

- Observed on July 22 annually across India to commemorate the adoption of the Tricolour by the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947.
- 77th anniversary of National Flag Adoption Day celebrated on July 22, 2024.
- Significance: Honors the tricolour, representing India’s struggle for freedom and devotion to justice, liberty, and equality.
History of the Indian National Flag
- First Indian flag: Designed by Pingali Venkayya, featured a horizontal tricolour of red, yellow, and green with a white crescent and star in the centre.
- 1921 redesign: Proposed by Mahatma Gandhi, included a spinning wheel (charkha) symbolising progress, with saffron, white, and green tricolours.
History of Indian National Flag:
- The first Indian flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya, a freedom fighter from Andhra Pradesh (AP). The flag featured a horizontal tricolour of red, yellow, and green, with a white crescent and star in the centre.
- In 1921, Mahatma Gandhi proposed a new design featuring a spinning wheel (charkha) to symbolise progress and it also included the tricolour of saffron, white, and green.
- The Ashoka Chakra replaced the spinning wheel, or “Charkha,” .This change was suggested by Badr-ud-Din Tyabji.
- The Indian National Congress (INC) formally adopted the tricolour flag as its official flag, representing the unity and diversity of India’s freedom movement in 1931
- On July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly of India chaired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad adopted the National flag featuring the tricolour of saffron, white, and green with
the Ashoka Chakra in navy blue at its centre, which came just before India’s independence on August 15, 1947.
Features of India’s Tricolour Flag:
Indian National Flag is known as the ‘Tiranga’ or ‘Tricolor, which symbolises India’s independence, sovereignty, and unity.
It consists of a tricolour of Saffron at the top, White in the middle, and Green at bottom with the Ashoka Chakra (a 24-spoke wheel) in navy blue at its centre.
• Saffron (Kesari) – Represents courage, sacrifice, and strength.
• White (Shwet)- Signifies peace, truth, and purity.
• Green (Harit) – Signifies prosperity, fertility, and growth
• Ashoka Chakra – Represents the Buddhist concept Wheel of Law (DharmaChakra).
World Brain Day: Promoting Brain Health Globally

- Observed annually on July 22 to raise awareness and promote education about brain health and neurological disorders.
- 11th annual World Brain Day observed on July 22, 2024.
Theme for 2024
- “Brain Health and Prevention: Protecting Our Future”
- Emphasizes the importance of brain health and preventive measures.
Background
- Established by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) in 2014.
- Initiated by the Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee (PAAC): Proposed the observance at the World Congress of Neurology (WCN) Council of Delegates meeting in Vienna, Austria, in September 2013.