National News
India’s First Sunken Museum at Humayun’s Tomb Set for Grand Inauguration

The capital city of India is poised to unveil a groundbreaking addition to its rich tapestry of historical attractions. On July 29, 2024, the country’s first sunken museum at the Humayun’s Tomb complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be inaugurated in Delhi. This innovative museum promises to offer visitors a unique perspective on Mughal history and architecture, seamlessly blending the past with cutting-edge technology.
- Objective: To offer a unique perspective on Mughal history and architecture, blending historical artifacts with modern technology.
- Key Figures: Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Prince Rahim Aga Khan will preside over the inauguration.
- Significance: Aligns with the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Delhi, highlighting global cultural preservation.
Humayun’s Tomb and Sunken Museum Project: Short Notes
Historical Context:
- Humayun’s Tomb: Built by Biga Begum (Hajji Begum) in 1569-70.
- Significance: A symbol of Mughal architectural excellence and devotion.
Collaborative Efforts:
- Lead Organizations: Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
- Objective: Part of a broader urban renewal initiative to preserve and promote cultural heritage.
UNSECO:
- Founded: 16 November 1945, London, United Kingdom
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Head: Audrey Azoulay
Nita Ambani Unveils India House at Paris 2024 Olympics

Nita Ambani, IOC member and founder of the Reliance Foundation, inaugurated the India House during the Paris 2024 Olympics on July 27. This marks India’s first-ever country house at the Olympics, highlighting a significant milestone in India’s Olympic journey. In her speech, Ambani celebrated the occasion as a representation of India’s Olympic ambitions and expressed hope for India to host the Games in the future.
Vision and Purpose:
- Symbol: Represents India’s Olympic aspirations and aims to be a “home away from home” for athletes.
- Potential Impact: Aims to be a milestone for India, reflecting the historic Olympic flame’s journey and possibly leading to India hosting future Games.
International Olympic committee:
- Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
- Founded: 23 June 1894, Paris, France
- President: Thomas Bach
President Murmu Appoints Governors in 9 states & the LG of Puducherry

President Droupadi Murmu appointed Governors to nine states and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry on July 2024. In a communique issued by the office of the President, the President has also accepted the resignation of Banwarilal Purohit as Governor of Punjab and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Newly Appointed Governors
- Jishnu Dev Varma– Governor of Telangana.
- Om Prakash Mathur- Governor of Sikkim.
- Santosh Kumar Gangwar- Governor of Jharkhand.
- Ramen Deka- Governor of Chhattisgarh.
- C H Vijayashankar– Governor of Meghalaya.
- Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde– Governor of Rajasthan.
- C.P. Radhakrishnan- Governor of Maharashtra (He was earlier Governor of Jharkhand with Additional Charge of Telangana).
- Gulab Chand Kataria– Governor of Punjab. He has also been appointed as Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh (He was earlier Governor of Assam).
- Lakshman Prasad Acharya– Governor of Assam and has also been given additional charge of the Governor of Manipur (He was earlier the Governor of Sikkim).
- K. Kailashnathan- Lt. Governor of Puducherry
About State Governors
Article 153 of the constitution provides for a state governor for each state of India. The state governor is the head of the state executive branch.
The governors are appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister.
The Governor can be transferred from one state to another by the President.
Qualifications
The Qualification to be appointed as a governor of state are as follows:
- Person shall be a citizen of India and at least 35 years of age.
- The person shall not hold any office of profit.
- Person shall not be a member of the Parliament or the State legislature.
(A member of Parliament or State legislature can become Governor, but he has to resign from the Parliament or the State legislature before taking oath as Governor.)
- There is no restriction on the number of times a person can be the governor of a state.
Tenure of the Office
- The normal term of a governor is five years, but the governor holds the office at the president’s pleasure.
- It means the President can remove him from office at any time.
- The governor can also vacate office by submitting his resignation in writing to the President.
Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024 Extension

On July 2024, The Government announced the extension of the duration of Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024 by two months till September 30th 2024 with an enhancement outlay of Rs. 778 crores.
Eligibility:
- Included Vehicles:
- Electric two-wheelers (e-2W)
- Electric three-wheelers (e-3W), including registered e-rickshaws and e-carts
- L5 category vehicles
- Application Scope:
- Mainly applicable to e-2Ws and e-3Ws registered for commercial use
- Also includes privately or corporately owned registered e-2Ws
International news
Ajit Doval leads India at the 4th BIMSTEC Security Chief meeting

The 4th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Security Chiefs meeting was held in the capital city of Myanmar, Nay Pyi Taw, on 27 July 2024.
- At the meeting, India was represented by the National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.
- During his visit to Myanmar, Ajit Doval also met the Prime Minister of Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, as part of the delegation of the BIMSTEC Security Chiefs.
Discussion at the Meeting
- The security chiefs of India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand discussed issues related to traditional and non-traditional security challenges in the Bay of Bengal region.
- The meeting also discussed matters related to counter-terrorism, transnational crime, anti-narcotics processes, maritime and cyber security challenges, national security, and effective information sharing.
About Myanmar
- Myanmar, which was earlier known as Burma, is a part of Southeast Asia.
- It was once part of British India, and it was separated from India on 1 April 1937 under the provisions of the Government of India Act 1935.
- Myanmar, for most part of its independent history has been under military rule.
- Prime Minister : General Min Aung Hlaing
- Currency: Myanmar Kyat
State news
Goa Launches ‘Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan’ Scheme for Solar Rooftop Installation

On July 2024, Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister (CM) of Goa, launched the ‘Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan’ scheme to boost solar rooftop installation and empower residential households to generate their own electricity in Goa.
About Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan:
Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan is a joint Central and State funded scheme which is aligned with the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PM-SGMBY)
- Outlay: ₹75,021 crore
- Duration: Until FY 2026-27
- Objective: Promote solar energy adoption and reduce reliance on traditional power sources
- Eligibility: Households consuming 400 units or less per month
- Funding Details: Government funds installation of rooftop solar units up to 5 kW; Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) covers remaining costs with ₹35 crore initial expenditure and central assistance
- Additional Note: Pramod Sawant also paid state subsidies to PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana beneficiaries in Goa
GOA:
- Capital: Panaji (Executive Branch)
- CM: Pramod Sawant
- GOVERNOR: P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
Banking news
Digital Payments Rise 12.6% by March-End 2024: RBI Data

As of March 31, 2024, digital payments in India experienced a 12.6% year-over-year increase, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI). The index reached 445.5, marking an increase from 418.77 in September 2023 and 395.57 in March 2023. The RBI attributed this growth to improvements in payment performance and infrastructure across the country.
Introduction of RBI-DPI
The RBI-DPI, introduced in March 2018, is a composite index designed to gauge the extent of digitization in payments across India. It includes five parameters to measure digital payment adoption and penetration.
Parameters of RBI-DPI
- Payment Enablers (25%)
- Payment Infrastructure Demand-side Factors (10%)
- Payment Infrastructure Supply-side Factors (15%)
- Payment Performance (45%)
- Consumer Centricity (5%)
Karnataka Bank Partners with ICICI Lombard General Insurance

Karnataka Bank has announced a strategic partnership with ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company, enabling its customers to access a comprehensive range of insurance products. This collaboration aims to cater to various insurance needs, including health, motor, travel, and home insurance, for both individuals and businesses.
Details of the Offerings
The partnership will provide Karnataka Bank customers with:
- Health Insurance: Covering medical expenses and health-related issues.
- Motor Insurance: Protection for vehicles against damages and theft.
- Travel Insurance: Coverage for travel-related risks and emergencies.
- Home Insurance: Safeguarding residential properties from potential risks.
Karnataka bank:
- Headquarters: Mangaluru
- Founded: 18 February 1924
- Head: Srikrishnan Hari Hara Sarma
New PCA Framework for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs)

On July 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced new Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs). Its provisions will be effective from 1st April 2025.
This will replace the Supervisory Action Framework (SAF), which had been in place since 6th January 2020.
Key Points:
- Replacement: The new Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework will replace the Supervisory Action Framework (SAF), which has been in place since January 6, 2020.
- Framework Characteristics:
- Principle-Based: Fewer parameters compared to SAF, maintaining rigorous supervision.
- Key Monitoring Areas: Capital, asset quality, and profitability.
- Autonomy in Expenditure Limits: Removes the Rs 25,000 cap on capital expenditure restrictions, allowing supervisors to set limits based on individual evaluations.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Overview:
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das (25th Governor of RBI)
- Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Established: April 1, 1935
“Bengaluru’s Insurtech Startup Covrzy Secures Direct General Broking Licence from IRDAI”

Covrzy, a Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Insurance technology (Insurtech) startup has obtained a direct broking (general) licence from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), Hyderabad, Telangana.
This licence enables Covrzy to operate as a direct insurance broker in India, to offer comprehensive business insurance solutions.
Insurance Broker Categories:
- Direct Broker (Life)
- Direct Broker (General)
- Direct Broker (Life & General)
- Reinsurance Broker
- Composite Broker
Insurance Broker Categories and Capital Requirements
Broker Categories:
- Direct Broker: Solicits and arranges insurance business for clients with insurers in India.
- Reinsurance Broker: Arranges reinsurance for clients with insurers or reinsurers, either in India or abroad.
- Composite Broker: Arranges both insurance and reinsurance for clients with insurers and reinsurers in India and abroad.
- Additional Services: All insurance brokers may also offer claims consultancy and risk management services under the IRDAI (Insurance Brokers) Regulations, 2018.
Capital Requirements:
- Direct Broker: ₹75 Lakhs
- Reinsurance Broker: ₹4 Crore
- Composite Broker: ₹5 Crore
About Covrzy:
- Founded: 2023
- Founder: Ankit Kamra
- Parent Company: Bizcovr Technologies Private Limited (BTPL)
- Specialization: Insurance solutions for startups and small businesses
- Platform: Web-based, covering the entire insurance cycle from product discovery to purchase, servicing, and claims
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) Overview
- Chairman: Debasish Panda
- Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana
- Founded: 1999
Defence news
INS Tabar Reaches Saint Petersburg for Russian Navy Day Celebrations

INS Tabar, a key frigate of the Indian Navy, arrived in Saint Petersburg to join the 328th Russian Navy Day festivities.
- The ship, which belongs to the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet headquartered in Mumbai under the Western Naval Command, received a warm reception from the Russian Federation Navy (RuFN).
- This visit aims to enhance maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two navies, reflecting India’s policy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”
Indian navy: Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi
Russia:
- Capital: Moscow
- Continent: Europe, Asia
- Official language: Russian
- Prime minister: Mikhail Mishustin
Sports News
Jiya Rai becomes world’s youngest & fastest female para swimmer to swim solo across English Channel

Para swimmer Jiya Rai has made history as the world’s youngest and fastest female para swimmer to solo-cross the English Channel.
- The 16-year-old completed the 34 km stretch from Abbots Cliff in England to Pointe de la Courte-Dune in France in 17 hours and 25 minutes over the weekend.
- An accomplished international open water para swimmer, Rai holds a world record in open water swimming and has previously crossed Palk Bay.
- Despite her disability, she has achieved numerous accolades, including the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMB) – 2022. Rai has dedicated her English Channel success to raising awareness about autism. The Indian Navy and the Mumbai-based Western Naval Command have congratulated her and extended their best wishes.
English Channel: General Knowledge
- Location:
- Geographical Position: The English Channel, also known as La Manche, separates southern England from northern France.
- Width: It varies from about 33 km (21 miles) at its narrowest point, between Dover in England and Calais in France, to around 240 km (150 miles) at its widest.
Books and author news
Himachal CM Releases Autobiography ‘Ek Refugee Scientist’ by Dr. MK Singari

- Himachal CM Releases ‘Ek Refugee Scientist’ Autobiography by Dr. MK Shingari Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu,
- The book published by Notion Press marks his fifth book. • Dr MK Singari’s famiy migrated from Pakistan to India during the 1947 partition of British India. The book features the life journey of Singari from a refugee to a pioneering Industrialist.
Himachal Pradesh:
- Capitals: Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)
- Chief minister: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
- Governor: Shiv Pratap Shukla