1st July to 15th July

INDIA AND THE WORLD

PMs visit to Central Asia
PM Narendra Modi visited the 5 Central Asian Nations - Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and
Turkmenistan in July along with a visit to Ufa city of Russia to attend the 7th BRICS Summit and the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2015.
India-Uzbekistan to intensify security cooperation and exchanges
India and Uzbekistan release a Joint Statement calling for partnership in creating favorable conditions for
investments by Indian companies in Uzbekistan in the framework of Special Economic Zones in Navoi, Angren and
Jizzakh.
India and Kazakhstan launch first drilling at Satyapev oil block
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Massimov jointly launched the first exploratory
drilling of the Satyapev oil block. Also, the two leaders signed 5 bilateral agreements including a contract for
supply of Uranium.
India and Turkmenistan sign 8 agreements
India and Turkmenistan signed 8 Agreements to increase regional cooperation and connectivity including a MoU on
supply of chemical products between Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited and the Turkmenhimiya, a
government owned Chemical company.
India and Tajikistan sign 2 Agreements to strengthen bilateral relations
The two nations agreed to promote International North-South transport Corridor, the ship, rail and road route for
moving freight between India, Russia, Europe and Central Asia.
India abstains from voting on Israel offensive
India abstained from voting in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. Voting was being done on the
resolution that welcomed the UNHRC Report, which found evidences of alleged war crimes committed by both
Israel and Hamas during the latest Gaza conflict in 2014. The resolution was harsh on Israel and asked for
explanations from concerned officials in the offensive.
India and Pakistan become full-time members of SCO
India and Pakistan were accepted as full-time members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). SCO is a
regional grouping including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It was founded as
Shanghai Pact in 1996, with its headquarters in Beijing, China.
India launches eMigrate System for Foreign Employees
India launched an online registration system named eMigrate for foreign employees who want to recruit Indian
workers, including nurses. Under the system, foreign employees will have to register in the eMigrate system.

INTERNATIONAL
Return of Ebola in Liberia
Liberian authorities expressed worries over return of the deadly Ebola virus as a new case of death of a 17-year
old boy due to Ebola was uncovered, months after Liberia was declared Ebola-free by the World Health
Organization (WHO). Liberias neighboring countries, Sierra Leone and Guinea continue to be afflicted by Ebola.
US-Cuba rapprochement after 54 years
USA and Cuba announced the re-opening of embassies in each others capitals after the 1960 snapping of
diplomatic ties by USA after Fidel Castro established a Communist Regime by overthrowing US-backed dictator,
Batista. The plans for restoring ties were announced in December 2014 by the Cuban leader, Raul Castro, who
took over from Fidel Castro in 2008. President Obama of US is now pushing for removal of US arms embargo on
Cuba, which was imposed in 1962.
Emergency declared in Tunisia
The President of Tunisia, Beji Caid Essebsi declared a 30-day Emergency in the Middle East nation after a ISIS
attack which killed 38 foreign tourists in a beach hotel on the Mediterranean Coast.
USA and Brazil issue Joint Statement on Climate Change
In the statement, both countries agreed to increase the share of renewable energy to 20% of their energy mix by
2030.
BP to pay $18.7 bn for 2010 oil spill
British Petroleum (BP) to pay a civil penalty to US government and 5 states as compensation for environmental
damage and human casualties caused by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill caused by the explosion in British
Petroleums Deepwater Horizon oil rig.
Greeks say NO to austerity
The Greeks voted against the historic referendum to reject the bailout offer from creditors, on the condition that
Greece adopts expenditure cuts and economic reforms to save its battered economy from bankruptcy. This is
considered to be a huge blow for the Euro as it may lead to the Eurozone losing its first member.
Jin Liqun to be AIIB Chief
Former Finance Minister of China, Jin Liquns name has been nominated by China to lead the Asian Infrastructure
and Investment Bank (AIIB).
Iran reaches historical Nuclear Deal
Major world powers clinched a historic deal aimed at ensuring Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons, in exchange
for opening up of Irans economy. The deal was reached between P5+1 (USA, Russia, China, France, UK and
Germany) and Iran after 18-days marathon talks in Vienna in Austria. The deal puts strict limits on Irans nuclear
activities for at least a decade and calls for stringent UN oversight. In return, Iran will get relief from economic
sanctions imposed by on it by the western powers on trade and commerce.
Cubas medical achievement
Cuba became the first country in the World to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of Human-Immuno
Deficiency Virus (HIV) and Syphillis.

POLITY/ SC JUDGMENTS
No Compromise on Rape
The Honble SC overturned the recent order by Madras HC, which permitted a compromise between a 15-year old
rape victim and the rapist on the condition of marriage between the two. The SC held that there can be no
compromise in rape cases and the parents of minor victims do not have any rights to make peace with the rapist.
Unwed mother can be sole guardian
The SC in a landmark judgment upheld the right of an unwed mother to apply for sole guardianship over her minor
son without the prior consent of the childs absentee biological father.

POLICIES/ BILLS/ ACTS/ SCHEMES

Deadline fixed to declare assets abroad
Government of India (GoI) set Sept 30, 2015 as the last date for anyone to declare undisclosed assets located
outside India. This decision is to implements the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and
Imposition of Tax Act, 2015. GoI declared December 31 as the last date to pay taxes and penalty on the
undisclosed assets stashed abroad.
FTII Strike: Team formed to talk to the Ministry
A 10-member team led by Girish Kasaravalli, eminent Kannada Film-maker and Resul Pookutty, the Oscar winning
sound engineer, will hold talks with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on behalf of the protesting students
of Film and Technology Institute of India (FTII). It will seek to resolve the row over the appointment of Gajendra
Chauhan as the Chairman of FTII council. The students are protesting over the dubious credentials and political
nature of the appointment of Chauhan.
CBI to probe Vyapam scam
Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh agreed with opposition demand for a CBI probe into
Vyapam scam and related deaths. Chauhan wrote to the MP High Court requesting a CBI probe into around 50
killings related to the scam.
Union Government launches National Mission for Skill Development
This mission aims to develop the institutional capacity to train a minimum of 300 million people by the year 2022.

AWARDS AND HONORS

G.D. Birla Award for Sanjeev Galande
Professor Sanjeev Galande of IISER (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research), Pune has been chosen
by the K.K. Birla Foundation for the prestigious G.D. Birla Award for Scientific Research in 2014. The Awards is
given annually to recognize research by Indian scientists aged below 50 years and living and working in India. It
carries a cash prize of Rs. 2.5 lakhs.
Budhha in a Traffic Jam wins at Madrid Film Festival
Buddha in a Traffic Jam is an unreleased Bollywood film directed by Vivek Agnihotri and stars Anupam Kher,
Pallavi Joshi, Arunoday Singh, Vivek Vaswani, Aanchal Dwivedi and Mahi Gill.

ECONOMY AND BANKING

Digital India Week
Digital India Week was launched by the PM in New Delhi. It is being organized by the Department of Electronics
and IT (DeitY) which is also responsible for implementing the governments ambitious Digital India Programme.
Top corporates pledged to invest Rs. 4.5 lakh crore for initiatives under Digital India Programme, which is
expected to generate up to 18 lakh jobs in the country.
World Bank Loan for Eastern Freight Corridor
The World Bank approved an additional loan of $650 million for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, which is
aimed at faster delivery of goods between northern and eastern regions of India. This is in addition to two
previous loans by the World Bank. The Eastern DFC (Dedicated Freight Corridor) will have its terminus stations at
Ludhiana, Punjab and Dankuni, West Bengal. It will also pass through Dhari, Haryana, which is also the point of
origin of Western DFC between Dhari, Haryana and Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai.
India is now a $2-trillion economy
Indias GDP crossed the $2-trillion mark in 2014, as per the latest data released by the World Bank. Indias gross
national income per person was $1610 (around Rs. 1 lakh) for 2014, which puts India in the lower middle income
category ($1046-$4125). The Indian Economy was one the fastest growing in the world, registering 7.4% growth
in 2014. However, it has much catching up to do with China, which has a GDP of $10.4 trillion.
AMRUT, Smart City and Housing for All Scheme launched
The Prime Minister launched Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart City Mission
and Housing For All scheme. These projects are aimed at transforming urban infrastructure.

BUSINESS AND CORPORATES

Ratan Tata picks up stake on Ola
Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, has acquired a stake in the popular Taxi hailing service, Ola Cabs in
his personal capacity. Earlier, in October 2014, Ola raised about $200 million from Japans telecom giant,
Softbank.
BSNL launches mobile wallet
BSNL launched a pre-paid card linked mobile wallet service, called Speed Pay, which would allow its customers to
transfer money, pay for services and withdraw cash up to Rs. 1 lakh. Customers will be able to load money even
without a bank account. Further, they can transfer the money to bank accounts and even withdraw money at bank
branches or BSNL outlets.
Airbus and Mahindra JV to make helicopters in India
Airbus Helicopters and Mahindra Defence, a subsidiary of Mahindra signed an Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to form a joint venture to produce helicopters and bid for defense contracts in India under the governments
Make in India programme. The tie-up would help to develop an indigenous industrial ecosystem dedicated to
helicopters.
Lupin Buys ZAO Biocom of Russia
Marking its entry into the Russian Pharmaceutical market, Indian Pharma major, Lupin has acquired 100 percent
equity stake in ZAO Biocom in Russia.
Internet Saathi
Tata Trust has teamed up with Google to launch Internet Saathi aimed at reducing the technologygender divide
in India. It aims at empowering women in rural India by providing training on the usage and benefits of the
internet through specially designed internet cycle-cart that will visit villages to provide easy access to women.
Intel, which has been a long-term partner of Google Indias Helping Women Get Online (HWGO) initiative, will
also support this initiative.
HDFC launches Watch Banking
HDFC Bank became the first bank in India to launch Watch Banking for Apple Watch. It aims to provide all banking
services through all wearable devices across platforms like iOS and Android.
Corporation Bank launches first MUDRA card
The Corporation Bank launched the MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) card, under the
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY). The card facilitates the withdrawal and use of money for working capital
finance by micro entrepreneurs. Under this, three loan schemes are offered to the entrepreneurs based on their
capacity to repay. Shishu scheme provides loans up to Rs. 50,000, while a loan amount up to Rs. 5 lakh will be
lent under Kishore scheme. Under Tarun scheme, loan up to Rs. 10 lakh will be offered.
SBI launches Project Tatkal
SBI launched Project Tatkal to ensure home loan applicants get the loan within 10 days after the receipt of the
loan application form.

SPORTS
Sweden wins under-21 Euro football championship
Sweden defeated Portugal on penalty shootouts to win its first European under-21 title in the Portuguese capital of
Prague.
Chile wins Copa America Crown after 99 years
Chile defeated Argentina in the finals of Copa America in a dramatic penalty shoot out (4-1), dashing hopes of star
footballer Lionel Messi of his first international title.
India retains South Asian Basketball (SABA) Championship title
India overpowered Sri Lanka 93-44 to retain the SABA Championship title in Sree Kanteerava Stadium indoor
courts in Bengaluru.
US Women win third football World Cup
USA won its third womens football World Cup title by defeating the defending champions Japan 5-2 in Vancouver,
Canada. Cari Lloyd, US striker, became the first woman to score a hat trick in a World Cup final.
Indian Women Clinch Series
India battered New Zealand by nine wickers to win their five-match womens One-day International series 3-2 at
the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Sunil Chhetri, most expensive
Mumbai City got Sunil Chhetri, for Rs. 1.2 crore, spending the most on a single player, at the Hero Indian Super
League 2015 s first player auction.
Wimbledon Results
Mens Singles World No. 1 Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer to win his third Wimbledon Crown
Womens Singles - World no 1 Serena Williams won her 21st singles grand slam by beating Garbine Muguruza
from Spain.
Mixed Doubles Won by Leander Paes and Martina Hingis
Womens Doubles Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis
Sumit Nagpal brought glory for the country by winning the Boys Doubles crown with Nam Hoang Ly of Vietnam.

CSK, RR owners out of IPL for years

The R.M. Lodha Committee on the Indian Premier League (IPL) betting scandal, appointed by the SC, suspended
India Cements Ltd. (ICL) and Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt. Ltd. (JIPL) from the League for 2 years. The ICL owned
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the JIPL owned the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Gurunath Meiyappan, CSK official was
suspended for life for being involved in and type of cricket matches. Also, Raj Kundra, former RR part-owner was
suspended for life from being involved with the BCCI in any type of cricket matches.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Inter-state Mobile number portability launched
Various mobile service providers, including Airtel and Vodafone announced the rollout of nation-wide mobile
number portability (NMNP). It will allow users to keep their existing phone numbers while shifting between states
or across circles either with the same operator or by shifting to a new operator.
PSLV C-28 launched 5 UK satellites
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched its heaviest commercial satellite. ISRO
launched five satellites on its Polar Satellite launch Vehicle (PSLV), weighing 1440 kg for a United Kingdom based
company. PSLV C-28 launched three identical mini satellites of the Disaster monitoring Constellation (DMC),
besides two technology demonstrators CBNT-1 and De-OrbitSail for Surrey Space Technology Limited.
Satellite-based Navigation System launched
India launched the GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system, which will offer seamless navigation
to the aviation industry. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI)
developed GAGAN jointly. India became the fourth country to offer space-based navigation services to the aviation
sector. GAGAN will augment GPS signals over Indian landmass, Bay of Bengal, South East Asia, Middle East and
expanding up to Africa.
Pluto fly-by
New Horizons, an unmanned spacecraft launched by NASA in 2006 flew by Pluto and took photographs of the
dwarf planet, and its moons.
Indias first Earthquake Warning System installed in Uttarakhand
The system was designed and manufactured by Italian Space Dynamics, which has also installed this system in
Japan, Italy and USA.

PERSONS IN NEWS
Ex-CJI Sabharwal passes away
Former Chief Justice of India, Y.K. Sabharwal passes away at the age of 73 years. He was CJI between 2005 and
2007. He delivered important judgments including the verdict in January, 2006 that held the dissolution of Bihar
Assembly as illegal and unconstitutional.
Pope Francis visits South America
Pope Francis, originally from Argentina, visited South America for the first time since being elected as the religious
leader of Catholic Christians.
Lt. Gen. M.M.S. Rai to be the next Vice Chief of Army
Lt. Gen. M.M.S. Rai, Eastern Army Commander, has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of Army Staff. Rai is
from the Corps of Engineers.
MS Vishwanathan passes away
MS Vishwanathan (87), popularly known as Mellisai Mannar (Tamil for The King of Light Music), a famous Tamil,
Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi Music Director and composer passed away.
Pioneer of SMS technology passes away
Matti Makkonnen, the Finnish Technocrat who gave the idea of Short Messaging Services (SMS) passed away in
Finland.
Anisa Rasouli
Anisa Rasouli was nominated as the first female judge in Afghanistan Supreme Court
Darshan Jain
Darshan Jain, an Indian-American teacher named for US Presidential Awards. This award is presented annually to
outstanding K-12 Science and Mathematics teachers in USA. It carries and cash prize of USD 10,000.
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of Bangladesh won the prestigious World Food Prize -2015. The award is given in recognition
of the work in improving quality, quantity, or availability of food in the world. Sir Abed is credited with establishing
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), the largest NGO in the world.
Professor R. Paul Singh
Indian-American Professor R. Paul Singh was awarded GCHERA World Agriculture Prize 2015 in recognition of his
contributions to food engineering research, education, development, consulting and technology transfer.

AS Daulat and Aditya Sinha

The book, Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years authored by AS Daulat and Aditya Sinha was released. It highlights the
initiative taken by the Vajpayee government between 1998 and 2004 to restore normalcy in Kashmir.
Gennady Padalka
Russian Cosmonaut, Gennady Padalka entered Guinness World records for spending maximum number of days in
space. He surpassed fellow Russian Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalevs record of 804 days aboard the International
Space Station.
Jairam Ramesh
Jairam Ramesh, former Minister of Environment and Forests released his book Green Signals: Ecology, Growth and
Democracy in India. In it, he unveils the story of environmental policy making in India from the perspective of the
government.
Rakesh Sahni
Rakesh Sahni, a retired IAS officer was appointed as the Chairman of Narmada Valley Development Authority.

MISCELLANEOUS
Olympics of Arts come to India
The Youth Delphic games will be held in Goa in February 2016. These games are held every 4 years and are aimed
at participants in the age group of 15 to 25 years. It will include competitions ranging over six categories
musical arts and sounds, performing arts, language arts, visual arts, social arts and architecture.
Big B sings for Pro Kabaddi League
Amitabh Bachhan has lent his voice to Le panga, a promotional sing for Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). The song has
been released in 4 versions.
Maha Godavari Pushkuralu stampede
Maha Godavari Pushkuralu started tragically with 27 people dying in a stampede on its very first day.
Maha Godavari Pushkuralu, the once in 144-year event dedicated to worshipping rivers is set to begin in the two
Telugu speaking states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The pushkuralu, observed once in 12 years, this time
however are considered very auspicious from astronomical point of view as they are MahaPushkuralu which come
once in 144 years.
INS Vikramaditya set to join the Navy
Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya will sail out of the harbor in Karwar after its first short refit and join the Navy.
Vikramaditya, acquired from Russia for $2.3 billion, was commission into the Navy in November 2013 without the
crucial air-defence systems.
Microsoft to set up Digital Village in Maharashtra
Microsoft will be providing technology support for health care services in remote tribal areas. It will be setting up a
pilot project at Melghat village in Amravati District of Maharashtra.
GoI and Facebook launch #100women Initiative
Government of India and Facebook launched the #100Women Initiative to recognize 100 women achievers of
India. The initiative is aimed at recognizing and acknowledging women who are making a difference in their
communities across the country.
Maharashtra derecognizes full-time religious education
Maharashtra government courted controversy as it declared that any student obtaining full time religious
education, either in madrassas or Vedic schools, will be considered uneducated in the State.

16th July to 31st July

INDIA AND THE WORLD

World Bank loan for Andhra Pradesh Disaster Recovery Project
India and World Bank signed a Financing Agreement for assistance of USD 250 million for Andhra Pradesh Disaster
Recovery Project. The loan will be spread over 5 years. The Andhra Pradesh Government will be the implementing
agency of the project.
Indo-Myanmar Joint Statement on Bilateral Cooperation
India and Myanmar issued a joint statement on bilateral cooperation at the conclusion of the first meeting of the
India-Myanmar Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) in New Delhi. The JCC was co-chaired by the External Affairs
Minister, Sushma Swaraj and the Foreign Minister of Myanmar, U Wunna Maung Lwin.
Indo-Singapore agreement on Maritime Co-operation
India and Singapore signed an Agreement on sharing white-shipping information to enhance maritime cooperation
between the two navies. The agreement was signed during the visit of Indias Navy Chief, Admiral R K Dhowan to
Singapore. White shipping refers to commercial shipping information about the movement of cargo ships.
ADB loan for NUHM
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be providing financial assistance in the form of a loan of USD 300 million
for the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). The objective of the NUHM is to improve the health status of the
countrys urban population.
e-Visa facilities extended to China
The e-Tourist Visa scheme was extended to China, Hong Kong and Macau. With the inclusion of these countries/
territories, the total number of countries/territories covered under the e-Tourist Visa scheme will go up from 74 to
77.

INTERNATIONAL
Japan abandons pacifist stance
The Lower House of Japans Parliament (Diet) approved changes in its security and defense policy, followed by
Japan since World War -II. The change paves the way for the Japanese military to fight abroad for the first time
since World War II.
Greek Parliament nod to EU sanctioned Austerity Measures
Parliament of Greece gave its nod to the European Union mandated austerity related legislative measures. This
paves the way for Greece to tap into EU funds critical for bailing out the battered economy.
UNSC gives thumbs up to Iran deal
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted a resolutionthat establishes a monitoring system for
Irans nuclear program.

It will clear the path for removal of all nuclear-related sanctions against Iran. It also

guaranteed that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)would continue to verify Irans compliance with its
nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
WTO strikes major IT trade deal
World Trade Organization (WTO) members struck a significant deal, which adds more than 200 products to the list
of goods covered by zero-tariff and duty-free trade. In value terms, the deal cuts tariffs on USD 1 trillion worth of
information technology (IT) products, which is equal to global trade in iron, steel, textiles and clothing combined.
Nepal to remove secularism from its constitution
Nepals political parties agreed to remove the word secularism from its yet-to-be framed Constitution. The
political parties reached consensus on the controversial issue after a majority of people demanded replacing the
term secularism by either Hindu or religious freedom.
Kazakhstan to be the 162nd member of WTO
The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) approved the membership terms of Kazakhstan, thus
enabling it to join WTO as its 162nd member. In order to formally become a WTO member, the Kazakhi Parliament
will have to ratify the deal by 31 October 2015. It will become a member 30 days after the ratification.
Nepal temple bans animal sacrifice
Gadhimai Temple Trust of Nepal banned animal sacrifice that occurs during the Gadhimai festival, worlds biggest
animal sacrifice event held every five years. The temple authorities have announced the end of the centuries-old
tradition that attracted thousands of worshippers. This decision is a result of years of campaigning and lobbying by
animal-right activists.

POLITY/ SC JUDGMENTS/ COMMITTEES

A K Bhargava Committee Report on Net Neutrality
The report of the Committee on Net Neutrality, led by A K Bhargava was released by the Department of
Telecommunications (DoT). The six-member committee was appointed in January 2015. The Committee
recommended adherence to the core principles of Net Neutrality, but it also suggested a few exceptions in the
interest of national security and businesses.
Arvind Panagriya Committee to classify Census-2011 data
The Union Cabinet decided to form a committee under Arvind Panagriya, Chairman, NITI Aayog, to classify the
Caste names returned in the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC), 2011. The Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment and Ministry of Tribal Welfare will provide support to the committee.
SC rejects GoI plea on Jat Reservation
The Supreme Court of India rejected the pleas of Union Government and Jat organizations asking the court to
review its verdict, which scrapped the March 2014 notification to include Jats in the central list of the Other
Background Classes (OBC) category in nine states.
SC rejects Yakub Menons plea
SC rejected Mumbai Serial blasts accused Yakub Menons Curative Petition after the SC, upholding his death
sentence, rejected his review petition. A curative petition is meant to ensure natural justice and to prevent abuse
of process. Menon was later executed by hanging on 31st July.

AWARDS AND HONORS

Sayed Haider Raza conferred the highest French civilian honour
Modern Indian artist Sayed Haider Raza was conferred with the highest French civilian honour, the Commandeur
de la Legion d Honneur (the Legion of Honour).
Indo-American woman honored in USA
The White House of United States (US) honored Sunita Viswanath as a Champion of Change. She was among 12
other faith leadersto be awarded for their efforts in protecting the environment and communities from the effects
of climate change.
Indian-origin Doctor honored in UK
Indian-origin doctor Shiv Pande received an honorary fellowship from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN)
in the UK for his contribution to the community as a general practitioner and medical educator.
Kerala Tourism's Muziris Heritage Project bags PATA Award
Kerala Tourism's Muziris Heritage Project (MHP) bagged the 2015 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) award in
the Heritage & Culture category. Muziris heritage project was awarded for its conservational aspect, uniqueness,
and impact on local community.
Benoy Behl wins at Madrid International Film Festival
Indian filmmaker Benoy Behl won the Best Documentary Producer award at the Madrid International Film Festival.
He was awarded for his documentary film, Indian Roots of Tibetan Buddhism.
Pamarthy Shankar wins the Grand Prix World Press Cartoon 2014 Award
Pamarthy Shankar, a cartoonist working with a Telugu Daily newspaper Sakshi, won the Grand Prix World Press
Cartoon 2014 Award for his sketch on Nelson Mandela. The Director of World Press Cartoon presented him the
award in Cascais, Portugal.
Honor for Peter Higgs
Nobel Prize winner Dr. Peter Higgs was awarded the worlds oldest scientific prize, Copley Medal by the Royal
Society of London. He was awarded the medal for his contribution to particle physics and his pioneering work on
the theory of the Higgs boson or God Particle that explains the origin of mass in elementary particles. The
presence of Higgs boson was confirmed by the experiments at Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2012.
Pagdi: The Honor made tax free in Haryana
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced that the film Pagdi: The Honour will be tax-free. He also
announced a discretionary grant of 10 lakh for the film.

Pagdi: The Honour is the first Haryanvi film to win two national awards. It bagged the title of best Haryanavi film
and its actress Baljinder Kaur won best supporting actor (female) awardat the 62nd National Film Awards.
Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize for RamaChandra Guha
Historian Ramachandra Guha was chosen for the prestigious Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize 2015 in the Academic
Category. The Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize was established in 1990 by the Japanese city of Fukuoaka. It
recognizes outstanding achievements by individuals or groups in preserving the unique and diverse cultures of
Asia. It is given in three categories, The Grand prize, Academics and Arts and Culture.
First-ever Nelson Mandela Prize winners announced
Helena Ndume of Namibia and Jorge Sampaio of Portugal were awarded the first-ever Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
Prize, to be given by the United Nations (UN). Ndume, an ophthalmologist, was awarded for treating blindness and
eye-related illnesses in Namibia and the other developing countries. Sampaio is a former president of Portugal. He
was awarded for his contribution to his countrys struggle for the restoration of democracy.
Talvar to be showcased in Toronto Film Festival
Talvar, an upcoming Bollywood mystery thriller film directed by Meghna Gulzar, will premier at Toronto
International Film Festival (TIFF). Vishal Bhardwaj, famous Bollywood director, has written Talvar. It revolves
around the sensational murder case of 14-year-old Aarushi Talvarin Noida, India.
Honour for Tamil film
Tamil thriller 'Visaaranai' will have its world premiere in the competition section of the upcoming 72nd Venice
International Film Festival. Visaaranai will be the first Tamil film to premiere at the Venice International Film
Festival.

ECONOMY AND BANKING

RBI constitutes panel on Financial Inclusion
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) constituted a committee under RBI Executive Director Deepak Mohanty to
formulate a medium-term action plan for financial inclusion for the next 5 years. The Committee will work to
spread the reach of financial services to unbanked population.
RBI permits Cooperative Banks to issue ATM cards
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed Cooperative Banks with Core Banking Solution (CBS) to issue ATM-cum-debit
cardsin partnership with a sponsor bank. This move is aimed to move towards a cash-less economy.
RBI gives target for Farmer loans
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed banks to ensure that their overall direct lending to farmers does not fall
below the average of the last three years. This is after the government expressed concern over adverse impact of
any reduction in direct credit, given the adverse weather conditions.
Swiss Challenge for the Railways
The Union Cabinet gave its approval for adopting the Swiss Challenge method for the redevelopment of 400
railway stations in India. Under this method, a Private Sector Entity may submit a proposal and draft contract
principles for undertaking a project, which has not already been initiated by the Government. The concerned
Government Agency or the Local Authority will then invite competitive counter proposals.
RBI signs Currency Swap Agreement with Sri Lanka
The Reserve Bank of India signed a Special Currency Swap Agreement with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Under
this, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka can draw up to USD 1.1 billion for a maximum period of six months. This
special arrangement is in addition to the existing Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC member
countries.
India ranked 12th in Nuclear Power Generation
India is ranked 12th in the world in terms of power generation from nuclear sources with total power generation
from nuclear reactors at 5308 MWe. Further, in terms of number of nuclear reactors in operation, India was
ranked at the 7th position with 21 reactors.
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund to be set up
Union Cabinet approved the setting up of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) to finance new
and stressed projects. The fund will have an initial corpus of Rs. 20,000 crore, which can be leveraged by
infrastructure companies. NIIF is proposed to be set up as a Trust, and would raise debt to invest in the equity of
infrastructure finance companies such as Indian Rail Finance Corporation (IRFC) and National Housing Bank (NHB).

BUSINESS AND CORPORATES

Glenmark launches the affordable anti-diabetic drug
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited launched the affordable third-generation oral anti-diabetic drug Teneligliptin for
the treatment of Type-2 Diabetes mellitus. The company introduced Teneligliptin under the brand names Zita and
Zita Plus.
CCI fines state-run insurance companies
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a penalty of Rs 671.05 crore on four Public Sector Insurance
Companies, namely National Insurance, New India Assurance, Oriental Insurance and United India Insurance.
The penalty was imposed for manipulating the bidding process initiated by Government of Kerala for selecting
insurance service provider for Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna for the years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13.
7 Indian Companies in Fortune 500 list of 2015
7 Indian companies find mention in the 61st Fortune 500 companies list. Amongst the Indian companies, the list is
topped by Indian Oil at 119th rank with revenues of USD 74 billion and is followed by Reliance Industries, Tata
Motors, State Bank of India, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum, and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
(ONGC).
In 2015, Fortune 500 companies account for USD 12.5 trillion in revenue, USD 945 billion in profit and USD 17
trillion in market value. They employ around 26.8 million people worldwide. The overall list has been topped by the
retail giant Walmart and is followed by petroleum refining giants Exxon Mobil and Chevron at 2nd and 3rd place,
respectively. Warren Buffets Berkshire Hathaway comes at the 4th place, followed by Apple Inc at the 5th place.
EU bans Indian Pharma Products
The European Union (EU) banned the around 700 generic medicines manufactured by India's pharmaceutical
company GVK Biosciences. This is the largest suspension imposed on the sales and distribution of generic drugs by
the EU.
CSC and HCL form a JV
The Computer Science Corporation (CSC) and Hindustan Computer Limited (HCL) signed an agreement to form a
Joint Venture to provide technology services and solutions to the banking industry. It will invest in platform
modernization and product functionality enhancement.
Indian gold jewelry major acquires worlds largest gold refining company
Indian gold jewelry major Rajesh Exports Limited (REL) announced the acquisition of Switzerland-based worlds
largest gold refining company, Valcambi. It acquired European Gold Refineries, the 100% per cent holding
company of Valcambi in an all cash deal of USD 400 million US dollars.
Bharti and Eros Group to develop housing projects
Bharti Realty, a Bharti Enterprises' real estate firm, tied up with Eros Group to develop a housing project at
Surajkund. As per the tie-up, Bharti Land, the new development arm of Bharti Realty, will develop a smart
residential project in Surajkund, Haryana.
CCI penalizes Hyundai
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a penalty of Rs. 420 crore on Hyundai Motors India Ltd.
Hyundai is one the three auto companies found guilty of adopting anti-competitive practices in violation of the
Competition Act, 2002. The other two companies were Mahindra Reva Electric Car Company (P) Ltd and Premier
Ltd.

SPORTS
Bangladesh defeat South Africa 2-1 in home series
Bangladesh won the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against South Africa 2-1 played in
Bangladesh. This was Bangladeshs fourth straight ODI series win at home.
Champions League T20 scrapped
The Governing Council (GC) of the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) decided to scrap the CLT20 competition
due to its limited public following. The GC consists of representatives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI), Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Cricket Australia (CA).
BCCI constitutes committee to study Lodha Committee Report
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) constituted a working group to study the verdict of the Supreme Court
appointed RM Lodha Committee on the IPL 2013 scandal. The four-member group includes IPL chairman Rajiv
Shukla, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, BCCI treasurer Anirudh Choudhury and former India captain Sourav
Ganguly.
All India Council of Sports established
The Government of India announced the formation of All India Council of Sports as an advisory body for the Union
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Council will have recommendatory powers and the advice rendered by it
will not be binding on the ministry or the government.
Chris Froome of Britain wins the 102nd Tour de France
Chris Froome from Team Sky of Britain won the 102nd Tour de France in a three-week long race around the
Champs Elysees, Paris. With this, Froome became the first Briton to win the Tour de France twice.
Sebastian Vettel wins the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix
Ferrari teams Sebastian Vettel of Germany won the Hungarian Formula OneGrand Prix in Budapest. This was
Vettels second win of the season. Also, this was Vettels 41st overall win, putting him level with the late triple
champion Ayrton Senna on the all-time list.
Beijing to host 2022 Winter Olympics
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympics and
Paralympics. The Chinese capital was chosen ahead of Almaty, Kazakshtan.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
GoI launches 4 Schemes for Skill Development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched four schemes - National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
2015, National Skill Development Mission (NSDM), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Skill Loan
scheme-aimed at achieving the vision of the umbrella scheme, Skill India. They were launched on the occasion of
the first-ever World Youth Skills Day in New Delhi. The four initiatives are aimed at making India as a hub of
worlds human resource capital.
Soil Health Card Portal launched
Union Agriculture Minister, Radha Mohan launched the Soil Health Card Portal. The portal has been developed for
registration of soil samples, recording test results of soil samples and generation of Soil Health Cards (SHC),
including fertilizer recommendations.
Fertilizer Quality Control System Portal (FQCS) launched
FQCS is a web based application developed by NIC (National Informatics Centre) for processing sample collection,
testing and generation of analysis reports of fertilizers. The system will lead to automation of most of the manual
activities and help in online tracking the status of the sample.
Participatory Guarantee System launched by Agriculture Ministry
Participatory Guarantee System was launched to ensure certifications for organic products, which guarantees
agriculture production in accordance with the standards laid down for organic products.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana launched
The PM launched the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana in New Delhi. This program aims to impart skill training
to 24 lakh youth during 2015-16 with focus in first time entrants to the labor market and class10 and 12-dropouts.
National Career Counseling Portal launched
Union Government launched the National Career Counseling Portal to modernize all government-run employment
exchanges. The portal was launched as part of the National Career Service (NCS) project of Union Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship.
Surakshit Khadya Abhiyaan
Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan launched the Surakshit
Khadya Abhiyan. It is a countrywide program aimed at creating mass awareness and capacity building for safe and
hygienic food.
Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) launched
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi launched Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) in Patna. This
scheme is aimed at electrification of villages and improvement of power transmission infrastructure in the rural
areas. The Scheme has an outlay of Rs. 76,000 crore for implementation of the projects under which Union
Government shall provide a grant of Rs. 63,000 crore.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

INS Astravahini retired
INS Astravahini, indigenously built Torpedo launch and recovery vessel (TLRV), was decommissioned after 31
years of service. The vessel had immensely contributed in the trials of indigenous torpedoes developed by Naval
Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL).
Microsofts White-Fi technology to boost Digital India Project
Microsoft announced plans to introduce White-Fi technology or TV White Space Technology in India to provide last
mile connectivity and give a boost to the Digital India initiative. This technology can provide free Wi-Fi connectivity
to the roughly one billion Indians who don't have any net access. White-Fi technology uses the unused spectrum
in frequencies utilized for broadcasting of television signals. The 200-300 MHz spectrum, which the White-Fi uses,
has a range of up to 10 km. Wi-Fi technology has a range of only about 100 meters.
US scientists create mini heart
Scientists belonging to the University of California of the USA developed mini heart (Cardiac Micro physiological
System) on a microchip using human stem cells. Indian-origin scientist Anurag Mathur led the study. The Cardiac
Micro physiological System, which is less than the width of a human hair, is expected to replace non-human
animal models that are used in drug discovery and development process.
Indias first indigenously designed and developed High Thrust cryogenic rocket engine tested
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested Indias first indigenously designed and
manufactured High Thrust Cryogenic rocket engine generating a nominal thrust of 19 tonnes at ISRO Propulsion
Complex, Mahendragiri.
DRISHTI
An indigenously designed and developed Visibility Measuring System, DRISHTI was installed at the Indira Gandhi
International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi. The IGI Airport became the first Airport in the country to have 10
indigenous systems operating in all its three runways. The system will be used for reporting runway visual range,
a critical parameter for safe landing and take-off in poor visibility conditions.
Two new plant species discovered in Kerala
A team of researchers discovered two new plant species christened as Vellithumpa (silver flower) and
Eriocaulonmanoharanii. These plants were discovered from the Pooyamkutty-Adamalayar and Neriamangalam
forest regions of Western Ghats in Kerala.
New species of fish discovered in Kerala
A new species of cyprinid fish, Puntius Dolichopterus was discovered from a small water stream in Alappuzha
districts Kayamkulam city of Kerala.
Worlds first Malaria Vaccine get EU nod
The worlds first malaria vaccine called RTS,S or Mosquirix got approval from European Medicines Agency (EMA).
The vaccine was licensed for use on babies aged between 6 weeks and 17 months in Africa, who are at highest risk

of the mosquito-borne disease. British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline, in partnership with the PATH Malaria Vaccine
Initiative has developed the vaccine. Research on the vaccine was part-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation. It has been in development since 1987.
Kepler 452b
The Kepler Mission has discovered an Earth-like exoplanet Kepler 452b. Its discovery was announced during a
NASA press conference in July 2015. It resides in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star in the constellation of
Cygnus located some 1400 light-years away. It has a revolution period almost equal to that of the earth.
SALt
A company in the Philippines has developed a lamp named SALt (Sustainable Alternative Lighting) that runs on a
glass of water and two tablespoons of salt. The lamp can burn for eight hours and will be able to generate enough
energy to charge a smart-phone through a USB cable.

PERSONS IN NEWS
Prashant Patrabhe
Prashant Patrabhe was appointed as the interim Director of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia
Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia, the Uruguayan soccer legend, died following a heart attack. Ghiggiawas instrumental in
Uruguay winning its second World Cup title in the Maracanazo match against Brazil.
Dr. Bisheshar Pradeep
Noted Urdu fiction writer Dr. Bisheshar Pradeep died in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He was 80. He was a prolific
writer who penned more than a dozen fiction books in Urdu and was best known for his book 'Afsana Nigari', the
fiction writing form in Urdu. He was awarded with 'Urdu Hindi Sahitya Akademi Award' in 1996 and also won a
national level award for his children's book 'Surkh Gulab'.
Swati Maliwal
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Swati Maliwal took over as the new Chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women
(DCW). Maliwal, an RTI Activist, has succeeded Barkha Shukla.
Pankaj Munjal
Pankaj Munjal was appointed as the CMD of Hero Motors Group. Hero Motors is a former moped and scooter
manufacturer based in Delhi, India. It is a part of multinational company Hero Group, which currently owns Hero
Motocorp and Hero Cycles.
Khagesh Dev Burman
Khagesh Dev Barman released his book titled R.D. Burman: The Prince of Music on the 76th birth anniversary of
eminent music director of Bollywood, Rahul Dev Burman.
Maurice Obstfeld
White House economic advisor Maurice Obstfeld was appointed as the Chief Economist of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF). He will succeed outgoing Olivier Blanchard.
Ananth Narayanan
Former McKinsey director Ananth Narayanan was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Flipkartowned fashion store Myntra. He will take over from Myntras co-founder Mukesh Bansal, who is presently serving
as the head of Flipkart's commerce platform
Ajay Mathur
Ajay Mathur has been appointed as the Director-General (DG) of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). He
succeeds RK Pachauri, who was removed from his position due to sexual harassment charges.

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam

Former Indian President Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen (APJ) Abdul Kalam passed away following a massive cardiac
arrest during a lecture in the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong. He was 83. He was also known as the
Missile Man of India. Considered as the People's President, Dr. Kalam became the 11th President of the country
and occupied the post between 2002 and 2007 in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee led NDA government.
Ram Sevak Sharma
Ram Sevak Sharma was appointed as the Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), apex telecom
regulator in India. He is an IAS officer of 1978 batch, Jharkhand Cadre. Sharma is currently the Secretary for
Department of Electronics and Information Technology, and will take over from Rahul Khullar, who retired in May
2015.
Ashish Bahuguna
Ashish Bahuguna was appointed as the Chairman of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). He will
take over from K Chandramouli, whose tenure ended in January 2015. Since then the position was lying vacant
and the Health Secretary Bhanu Pratap Sharma was given the interim charge of chairman of FSSAI.
Dr. Suniti Solomon
Dr. Suniti Solomon, the pioneer of HIV/AIDS research in India died at her residence in Chennai on 28 July 2015.
She was 76. Dr. Solomon documented the Indias first HIV/AIDS case in 1986 and later set up Y R Gaitonde
Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE) the first voluntary testing and counseling center for the
disease.
Roelant Oltmans
Roelant Oltmans of the Netherlands was appointed as the coach of mens national team. He has been associated
with the Indian hockey team as High Performance Director and will replace Dutchman Paul van Ass, who was
unceremoniously sacked by Hockey India.

MISCELLANEOUS
Remains of Indias oldest port discovered in Goa
A team of scientists from Goa basedNational Institute of Oceanography (NIO) discovered the remains of a
historically important port on Goas Zuari River. The Port is supposed to have existed during 1000 to 3500 AD,
making it one of the oldest ports in India.
Kutchi New Year celebrated
Kutchi New Year of Kutchi community in Gujarat was observed on 18 July 2015. The Kutchi community celebrates
the New Year on the second day of shukla paksha or waning phase of moon in Ashada month Ashadhi Beej or
Dwitiya.
This day is associated with beginning of rains in Kutch.
French film to showcase Super 30
The Super 30 program of mathematician Anand Kumar will now feature in a 90-minute film The Big Day made by
French director, Pascal Plisson. The Super 30 program helps students of deprived section to crack the prestigious
IIT entrance examination and has achieved phenomenal success since its inception.
National Broadcasting Day
National Broadcasting Day was observed on 23 July 2015 across the country. It is on this day in 1927, the Indian
Broadcasting Company started radio broadcasting from Bombay station.
RBI to issue Rs. 10 coins to commemorate Yoga Day
The Reserve Bank of India decided to put into circulation special Rs. 10 coins to commemorate the International
Day of Yoga. The Government of India has minted the commemorative coins.
Special Habitat for Gharials in Punjab
Punjab Government will develop Beas Belt, near Harike Patan as a habitat of Gharials (Gavialisgangeticus).
Nelson Mandela International Day
Nelson Mandela International Day was observed across the world on 18th July 2015 to honor the former South
African President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela (1918-2013).
Conakry named as the World Book Capital for 2017 by UNESCO
United Nations Organization Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) named Conakry, the capital of the Republic
of Guinea, as the World Book Capital for 2017.