1. Droupadi Murmu elected as the 15th President of India
Tags: Person in news National News
Draupadi Murmu has been elected as the 15th President of India, becoming the first tribal woman to hold the top constitutional post in the world's largest democracy.
Important facts
She will take oath as the 15th President of India on July 25, after the term of her predecessor Ram Nath Kovind ends on July 24.
Murmu, 64, is the first tribal community woman to become president and the second woman after Pratibha Patil to be appointed to the country's top constitutional post.
She is the youngest President of India as well.
Ms Murmu got 64 per cent of the vote and opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha got 36 per cent of the vote.
She got 6,76,803 votes in comparison to his rival Yashwant Sinha's 3,80,177 votes.
Who is Droupadi Murmu?
Early life
She was born in 1958 in Pahardpur village of Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
She was born in the Santhal community.
She was educated at Unit II High School and Rama Devi College (now University) in Bhubaneswar.
She served as a Junior Assistant in the State Irrigation and Power Department from 1979 to 1983.
Then she worked as a teacher at Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre at Rairangpur till 1997.
Political Life
In 1997, she was elected to Rairangpur Corporation and became the Vice-Chairman of the civic body.
In the year 2000, Ms. Murmu won her first assembly election.
She first time became Minister for Transport and Commerce and then for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry.
In 2015, Ms Murmu was appointed as the Governor of Jharkhand.
When there was a BJP government in Jharkhand, the Raghubar Das-led government brought in two Bills to amend the Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act, 1949.
These amendments, allowing the transition of land use from agricultural to commercial purposes in tribal areas, created a major ruckus among tribal groups and civil society.
These Acts were brought for land rights for tribal communities and rights over natural resources.
When the government changed in Jharkhand in 2019, Soren and Ms. Murmu formed a good working relationship.
About Santhal community
The Santhal community is one of the most politically active and prominent tribal communities.
The Santhals are among the major tribes including the Gonds, Mundas, Hos, Oraons, Bhils, Meenas, Khonds and Nagas, who also dominate the tribal landscape in the country.
In the Santhal Rebellion of 1857, under the leadership of the Kanhu Murmu brothers, the Santhals were at the forefront of providing leadership to the Jharkhand movement against colonial rule.
Notable among the Santhals in political life is Shibu Soren, father of the current Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren.
Kindly see 23 June 2022 post also
2. Rajarshi Gupta takes over as Managing Director of ONGC Videsh
Tags: Person in news
Rajarshi Gupta has taken over as the managing director of ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), the foreign investment arm of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Important facts
He will succeed Alok Gupta who retired last month.
Prior to this, he was the Executive Director - Head of Corporate Strategy and Planning at ONGC.
He has over 33 years of experience in supervisory, managerial and strategic planning capabilities in domestic and international operations of ONGC and ONGC Videsh.
A Mechanical Engineer from NIT Rourkela, Gupta is also a Gold Medalist in MBA (International Business) from Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.
He has also worked for management and networking with key stakeholders like the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, Department of Public Enterprises, NITI Aayog.
He led the rollout and implementation of 15 transformational initiatives designed under ONGC Energy Strategy 2040.
As Country Manager and President of the US subsidiary of ONGC Videsh, he established the Geological and Geophysical Centre of Excellence in Houston.
About ONGC Videsh
ONGC Videsh Limited is a Miniratna Schedule "A" Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) of the Government of India under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
It is a wholly owned subsidiary and overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC).
ONGC Videsh Limited's primary business is to explore possibilities for oil and gas production outside India, including exploration, development and production of oil and gas.
3. BSE CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan to head NSE for 5 years
Tags: Person in news
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the appointment of Ashish Kumar Chauhan as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) for a period of five years.
Important facts
Chouhan is currently the CEO of BSE and his term ends in November.
If his appointment is approved by the shareholders, he will be the fourth person to head India's largest stock exchange.
His name was cleared after Vikram Limaye resigned as MD and CEO of NSE.
Four-member internal panel
NSE has constituted a four-member internal panel to look after the responsibilities of MD and CEO till the induction of Ashish Kumar Chauhan.the members are-
Chief Financial Officer of NSE Yatrik Vin
Chief Regulatory Officer Priya Subbaraman
Chief Technology and Operations Officer Shiv Kumar Bhasin
Chief Enterprise Risk Officer K S Somasundaram
National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE)
It is India's largest financial market.
It was incorporated in 1992.
Its headquarters is in Mumbai.
NSE has developed into a sophisticated, electronic market and it ranked fourth in the world by equity trading volume.
It was the first exchange in India to provide modern, fully automated electronic trading.
Nifty 50 is the main index of NSE.
4. Singer Bhupinder Singh passes away at 82 in Mumbai
Tags: Person in news
Noted ghazal singer Bhupinder Singh, known for songs like "Naam Gum Jayega '' and "Dil Dhundta Hai '', passed away on 18 July in Mumbai due to complications related to colon cancer and COVID-19.
Important facts
During his decades-long journey in the film industry, he is known for songs like "Do Deewane Shahar Mein", "Ek Akela Shaher Mein", "Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Aasman", "Duniya Choote Yaar Na Choote".
He was admitted to the hospital after a urinary infection, where he was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Born in Amritsar, he is survived by his Indo-Bangladeshi wife and a son.
In his five decade long singing career, Bhupinder Singh worked with the big names of the music industry, from Mohammad Rafi, RD Burman, Madan Mohan, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Gulzar to Bappi Lahiri.
Bhupinder Singh started his career working as a singer and composer at All India Radio, Delhi.
His Bollywood singing debut was with the 1964 Chetan Anand directorial "Haqeeqat", where he sang the Mohan-composed song "Hoke Majboor Mujhe Usne Bulaya Hoga" with Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mehmood and Manna Dey.
He got his first solo track two years later in the feature film "Aakhri Khat" composed by Khayyam with "Rut Jawan Jawan Raat Meherbaan".
He moved away from active playback singing in the 1980 after marrying singer Mithali.
5. Parameswaran Iyer takes over as new Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog
Tags: Person in news
Former drinking water and sanitation secretary Parameswaran Iyer, who led the Centre’s Swachh Bharat Mission, took charge as chief executive officer (CEO) of Niti Aayog on 11 July.
Important facts
His appointment to the post was approved by the Cabinet Appointments Committee on June 24.
Iyer replaces Amitabh Kant, who stepped down on June 30.
A 1980 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, Amitabh Kant was appointed as the CEO of NITI Aayog in 2016 for a tenure of two years.
Kant has been appointed as the new Sherpa of India for the G20.
A 1981-batch officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Iyer will serve as the CEO of NITI Aayog for two years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Iyer has over 25 years of experience in the water and sanitation sector.
Iyer led the implementation of the country's flagship Swachh Bharat Mission, which successfully provided 550 million people access to safe sanitation.
The Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog is appointed by the Prime-minister for a fixed tenure.
About NITI Aayog
It is the premier policy think tank of the Government of India, it provides directional and policy inputs.
It designs strategic and long-term policies.
It also provides relevant technical advice to the Centre, States, and Union Territories.
The Governing Council of NITI Aayog is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes the Chief Ministers of all the States and Union Territories and the Lieutenant Governors of other Union Territories.
It was constituted on January 1, 2015.
NITI stands for National Institution for Transforming India.
The Government of India constituted the NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission, which was set up in 1950.
This step was taken to better meet the needs and aspirations of the people.
Kindly see 23 April 2022 post
6. R. Dinesh elected as President of CII for 2022-23
Tags: Economy/Finance Person in news
R Dinesh, Executive Vice President, TVS Supply Chain Solutions, has been named as the President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for 2022-2023.
Important facts
He previously served as the Chairman of National Committees on Logistics, CII Family Business Network India Chapter Council, CII Tamil Nadu State Council and CII Institute of Logistics Advisory Council.
From 2018 to 2019, he also served as the President of CII Southern Region.
ITC's Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Puri has been elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the financial year 2022-23.
Sanjeev Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director, Bajaj Finserv Limited will continue as the chairman of the organisation for the current financial year.
About Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
CII is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation.
The objective of CII is to achieve a conducive environment for the development of industry and civil society in India.
It was established in 1895.
It has over 8,000 members from both the public and private sectors.
7. OPEC chief Mohammad Barkindo dies in Nigeria at 63
Tags: Person in news International News
Mohamed Barkindo, Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has died in Nigeria at the age of 63.
Important facts
Barkindo was on a visit to his home country of Nigeria to attend the Energy Conference where he passed away.
Born in April 1959 in Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria, Barkindo assumed the position of Secretary General of OPEC in 2016.
His term was to end in July.
About OPEC
It is a permanent, intergovernmental organisation that was established in 1960 at the Baghdad Conference by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
The purpose of this organisation is to coordinate and integrate the petroleum policies of its member countries and to ensure the stabilisation of oil markets to ensure efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to the consumer.
Headquarters - Vienna (Austria)
OPEC has 14 member states (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Angola, Ecuador and Venezuela).
OPEC plus
It is a coalition of OPEC members and the world's 10 major non-OPEC oil exporting countries.
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan and Sudan.
8. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee 121st Birth Anniversary
Tags: Person in news
The 121st birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who served as the first Industry Minister of independent India, was observed on 6th July.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and PM Modi have paid tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary.
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee
Syama Prasad Mookerjee was born on July 6, 1901 in Calcutta in a Bengali Hindu family.
The name of his father was Ashutosh Mookerjee who was a judge of the High Court of Calcutta.
His father was also Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta.
He graduated in English in 1921 from Presidency College.
In 1923, he also completed his MA in Bengali.
Youngest Vice-Chancellor
In 1934, he became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University.
Rabindranath Tagore gave the convocation address in Bengali during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor.
This marked the beginning of the end of English dominance over Bengali and other Indian languages.
Political career
He began his political career in 1929 when he entered the Bengal Legislative Council as a candidate of the Indian National Congress.
However, the INC chose to boycott the legislature the following year and he resigned.
Thereafter, he contested as an independent candidate and was elected.
In 1941–1942, he served as Bengal Province’s Finance Minister for A K Fazlul Haq’s Progressive Coalition government, which was formed as a result of the resignations of the Congress government.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee joined the Hindu Mahasabha in Bengal in 1939 and became its acting president.
He opposed India's policy of autonomy of Jammu & Kashmir.
He was arrested during Jana Sangh’s agitation against Kashmir policy and died during detention.
His efforts resulted in the formal formation of the All India Bharatiya Jana Sangh in October 1950.
He died on 23 June 1953.
9. Yair Lapid Officially Becomes New Prime Minister Of Israel
Tags: Person in news International News
Yer Lapid, the leader of the Yesh Atid party, has been officially elected as the 14th Prime Minister of Israel.
Lapid's term could be shortened as he is made the head of the caretaker government ahead of the November 1 election.
Lapid replaces outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Lapid is an Israeli politician and a former journalist.
He has also previously served as the alternate Prime Minister of Israel and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2021 to 2022.
Before joining politics in 2012, Lapid was a writer, TV presenter and news anchor.
About Israel
Israel is a country located in Southwest Asia. It is located at the eastern end of the Southeast Mediterranean Sea.
The modern nation of Israel was established in 1948.
Parliament is elected on the basis of universal suffrage by proportional representation method every four years.
Israel is considered the most advanced country in Southwest Asia and the Middle East in economic and industrial development.
Capital- Jerusalem
President- Isaac Herzog
Currency- Israeli new shekel
10. BJP’s Rahul Narvekar elected Maharashtra Assembly Speaker
Tags: Person in news State News
After the formation of the new government, BJP candidate Rahul Narvekar won the election for the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly during a two-day special session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
Rahul Narvekar (164 votes) defeated Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress joint candidate Rajan Salvi (107 votes).
He is an MLA from the Colaba Assembly seat of Maharashtra.
In the assembly elections held in 2019, Rahul became an MLA for the first time.
Rahul Narvekar is the youngest Speaker of the entire country.
In the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, the post of the Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was vacant since February 2021 after the resignation of Congress leader Nana Patole.
About Maharashtra State
This state was created on May 1, 1960, on the demand of Marathi speaking people.
Maharashtra is the top sugar producing state of India.
Its capital is Mumbai which is also known as the largest city of India and the economic capital of the country.
The only salt water lake formed by the collision of meteorites is Lunar Lake which is in Maharashtra itself.
Asia's first train started on 16 April 1853 between Mumbai and Thane.
Godavari and Krishna are the major rivers of the state.
The highest peak of Maharashtra is Kalsubai Peak.
Governor- Bhagat Singh Koshyari
Chief Minister- Eknath Shinde
Deputy Chief Minister- Devendra Fadnavis
Legislative Council Member - 78
Member of Legislative Assembly - 288
