1. Dr. Ram Narain Agarwal, 'Father of Agni Missiles,' Passed away at 84
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Dr. Ram Narain Agarwal, known as the "Father of Agni Missiles," passed away at the age of 84 in Hyderabad, Telangana.
An Overview of the News
Born on 24 July 1941 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Ram Narain Agarwal was a renowned missile scientist at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Contributions to DRDO
Technology Demonstrator: Under his leadership, the first successful test of the Technology Demonstrator missile was conducted in May 1989.
Agni Missile Program: Appointed as the first Programme Director of Agni missiles in 1995, he was instrumental in its development and was known as 'Agni Man.'
Achievements
Missile Development: By 1999, he and his team developed a new version with a Road Mobile Launcher (RML) capability and enhanced strike distance beyond Agni-1.
ICBM Development: He led the development of various versions of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).
Advanced Systems Laboratory: Founded and directed the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) in Hyderabad.
Awards and Honors
Padma Awards: Honored with the Padma Shri in 1990 and Padma Bhushan in 2000 for his contributions to science and engineering.
DRDO Awards: Received the DRDO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, along with the DRDO Technology Leadership Award.
Other Honors: Awarded the Sri Chandrasekararendra Saraswati National Eminence Award and the Biren Roy Space Science Award.
Fellowships: Dr. Agarwal was a fellow of the Aeronautical Society of India and the National Academy of Engineering.
2. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet Approves 18 Major Appointments
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The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved 18 senior-level appointments, marking a significant reshuffle in the Modi government’s third term.
An Overview of the News
Rajesh Kumar Singh, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, will become the new Defense Secretary.
Singh will initially serve as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Defense before officially taking over on October 31, 2024. His tenure is extended until October 31, 2026.
Health Ministry Leadership Change: Punya Salila Srivastava
Punya Salila Srivastava, a 1993-batch AGMUT-cadre IAS officer, is appointed as the new Health Secretary.
She will start as Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare until Apurva Chandra's retirement on September 30, 2024.
Other Key Appointments:
Vivek Joshi, a 1989-batch Haryana-cadre IAS officer, becomes the Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training.
K Srinivas, a 1989-batch Gujarat-cadre IAS officer, will take over as Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Manoj Govil is appointed Secretary of the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
Deepti Gaur Mukherjee, a 1993-batch IAS officer, will become the Secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Additional Changes:
Umashankar is appointed as Officer on Special Duty to the President, transitioning to the President’s Secretary role.
Chandra Sekhar Kumar, a 1992-batch Orissa-cadre officer, will be the new Secretary for the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Ashok Kumar Kaluaram Meena, formerly Chairman and Managing Director of the Food Corporation of India, is appointed Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation in the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
3. Govind Mohan Appointed as Next Union Home Secretary
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Govind Mohan has been appointed as the next Union Home Secretary by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on 14th August.
An Overview of the News
He is currently serving as the Secretary in the Ministry of Culture since March 27, 2024.
Mohan will serve as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Ministry of Home Affairs until August 22, 2024, when he will officially succeed Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
Background of Govind Mohan
Service Tenure: A 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Sikkim cadre.
Educational Qualification: Holds an electrical engineering degree from BHU-IIT Varanasi.
Previous Roles: Extensive career in government, including two previous stints in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a brief period as Secretary of the Department of Sports earlier this year.
Immediate Challenges
Jammu and Kashmir Elections: Overseeing security arrangements for the upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Collaboration with Election Commission: Ensuring close collaboration with the Election Commission for the security assessment and the provision of necessary security personnel.
Ensuring Peaceful Execution: Focus on the safety of candidates and the peaceful conduct of the polls in the Union Territory.
About Home Secretary
The Home Secretary is the administrative head of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The position is held by a senior IAS officer, ranked as Secretary to the Government of India.
The current Home Secretary is Govind Mohan.
The Home Secretary oversees Central Forces such as CRPF, CISF, BSF, and other Central Police Organizations.
The Home Secretary ranks 23rd in the Indian Order of Precedence.
The position was established in 1947.
4. Rahul Navin Appointed as Full-Time ED Director for Two-Year Tenure
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Rahul Navin, a 1993-batch IRS officer, was appointed as the full-time Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
An Overview of the News
His appointment is for a fixed tenure of two years, starting from the date of the notification issued on 14th August.
Navin had been holding the additional charge as acting Director of the ED since September last year, following the departure of the previous chief, S K Mishra.
Professional Background and Expertise
Rahul Navin has been with the Enforcement Directorate since 2019.
He is regarded as an expert in international taxation, the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
During his time with the ED, he has been involved in overseeing high-profile investigations.
Prior to becoming the acting chief of the agency, Navin was in charge of vigilance and administration.
He holds BTech and MTech degrees from IIT Kanpur and an MBA from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.
About Enforcement Directorate (ED)
Established: May 1, 1956
Agency Type: Law enforcement and economic intelligence agency
Governing Body: Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Primary Laws Enforced:
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA)
Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA)
Main Responsibilities:
Investigating money laundering cases
Enforcing foreign exchange laws
Attaching and confiscating assets from criminal activities
5. Vinay Mohan Kwatra Takes Charge as Indian Ambassador to the US
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Vinay Mohan Kwatra has officially taken over as the Indian Ambassador to the United States.
An Overview of the News
Kwatra succeeds Taranjit Singh Sandhu, the former envoy and BJP leader.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the appointment in a statement on 19 July.
Kwatra has nearly 32 years of experience in various positions within India's missions abroad and domestically.
Kwatra’s previous roles include:
Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Minister (Commerce) at the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C. (May 2010 - July 2013).
Head of the Policy Planning & Research Division and the Americas Division in the Foreign Ministry.
He served as the 34th Foreign Secretary of India from May 2022 until July 14, 2024.
Kwatra previously held the positions of Ambassador of India to France and Nepal.
The Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
It is a central civil service and diplomatic service of the Government of India.
It operates under the Ministry of External Affairs.
The head of the IFS is the Foreign Secretary.
Vikram Misri is the 35th and current Foreign Secretary.
Formed - 9 October 1946
Headquarters - South Block, New Delhi
6. Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh Appointed SBI Managing Director
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Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh has been appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of State Bank of India (SBI), overseeing the Risk Compliance and Stressed Assets Resolution Group (SARG) departments.
An Overview of the News
The ACC has also authorized Singh’s promotion to MD, with his term set to continue until his retirement on June 30, 2027.
About Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh
He has 30 years of experience with expertise in Retail Banking, Credit, Human Resources, and International Banking, having held various positions across different locations in the Bank.
Previous Key Positions:
Deputy Managing Director (HR) & Corporate Development Officer at Corporate Centre
Chief General Manager at Chandigarh Circle
Chief Executive Officer, State Bank of India, Frankfurt Branch, Germany
Education and Certifications:
Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers
MBA (PGEMP) from S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai
Leadership Development Programme at Harvard Business School and Indian School of Business, Hyderabad
Other Appointments
Gajendra Singh Rana, former Chief General Manager of the Mumbai circle,has been appointed as the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) for Retail and Real Estate at SBI, succeeding Singh.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved CS Settyas the new SBI Chairman for a three-year term, effective after the current chairman Dinesh Khara's term ends on August 28.
About State Bank of India:
Origin: Began as the Bank of Calcutta in 1806, renamed Bank of Bengal in 1809. Followed by the Bank of Bombay (1840) and the Bank of Madras (1843).
1921: Merged to form the Imperial Bank of India.
1955: Nationalized and renamed State Bank of India (SBI) following the Gorwala Committee's recommendation.
Current Status: SBI is the largest commercial bank in India.
Chairman: Challa Sreenivasulu Setty
Managing Director: Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh
Headquarters: Mumbai
Tagline: "The Banker To Every Indian"
7. T.V. Somanathan Appointed as India's New Cabinet Secretary
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T.V. Somanathan, a 1987-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the Cabinet Secretary of India by the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet.
An Overview of the News
Somanathan will replace Rajiv Gauba, who is the country's longest-serving Cabinet Secretary and had received a one-year extension last year.
Somanathan will assume office on August 30 and serve a two-year tenure. He will first discharge duties as Officer on Special Duty in the Cabinet Secretariat until he formally takes over as Cabinet Secretary.
Current and Previous Roles
Somanathan is currently serving as the Finance Secretary of India.
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (2010-2011).
Joint Secretary/Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister (2015-2017).
Contributions in Tamil Nadu
Held senior positions like Deputy Secretary (Budget) and Secretary to the Chief Minister.
Founding MD of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), led the Rs. 14,600 crore Chennai Metro Rail Project.
World Bank Tenure
Joined World Bank in 1996 as Financial Economist.
Became one of the World Bank’s youngest Sector Managers in 2000.
Served as World Bank Director (2011-2015).
8. Om Prakash Mathur Sworn in as 18th Governor of Sikkim
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Om Prakash Mathur was sworn in as the 18th Governor of Sikkim on 31st July at Raj Bhavan, Gangtok.
An Overview of the News
Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court, Justice Biswanath Somadder, administered the oath of office and secrecy.
The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, Cabinet Ministers, and other dignitaries.
Ceremonial Events
The Governor was given a ceremonial guard of honour by the Sikkim Armed Police.
The event was attended by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, DGP, former legislators, Chairpersons, Heads of Departments, and officials from the Army and Central Government agencies.
Plantation Drive
After the swearing-in, the Governor and Chief Minister participated in a plantation drive at the Raj Bhavan premises.
Under the "Ek Ped Maa Ki Naam" (Plant for Mother) initiative, they planted Rhododendron saplings.
About Sikkim
It is a state in northeast India.
Bordered by Bhutan, Tibet, and Nepal.
Founded - 16 May 1975
Capital - Gangtok
Governor - Om Prakash Mathur
Chief minister - Prem Singh Tamang (SKM)
9. Former West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Passes Away at 80
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Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former Chief Minister of West Bengal and veteran Communist Party leader, passed away at the age of 80 in Ballygunge, Kolkata.
An Overview of the News
Bhattacharjee was born on March 1, 1944, in Kolkata and served as a significant figure in West Bengal's political landscape.
Political Career
He served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal in three terms: from 2000 to 2001, 2001 to 2006, and 2006 to 2011.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) as a primary member in 1966. He was elected to the CPI(M) state committee in 1972 and became a full-time member of CPI(M) in 1985.
In 1996, he was appointed the Home Minister of West Bengal, and in 1999, he was named the Deputy Chief Minister of West Bengal.
He first assumed office as the Chief Minister of West Bengal in November 2000, succeeding Jyoti Basu.
In the 2011 assembly elections, he was defeated by Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.
Later Years and Awards
Bhattacharjee resigned from the CPI(M) politburo and central committee in 2015, and in 2018, he gave up his membership in the party's state secretariat.
The Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan for Public Affairs in 2022, but he refused to accept the award.
10. Vinesh Phogat Announces Retirement After Disqualification at Paris Olympics
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Vinesh Phogat, an Indian wrestler, announced her retirement from wrestling following her experience at the Paris Olympics.
An Overview of the News
Vinesh was disqualified from the Paris Olympics after failing to make weight during the second weigh-in on the day of the final.
She had reached the final, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to do so, but lost her assured medal due to the disqualification.
Career Achievements
Vinesh is a two-time Olympian with several major achievements:
Commonwealth Games: Three gold medals.
World Championships: Two bronze medals.
Asian Games: One gold medal.
Asian Champion: Crowned in 2021.
