Title Daily Current Affairs Capsule 29th July 2020 - wifistudy

Title
Daily Current Affairs Capsule
            Title2020
       29th July

International Tigers day: 29 July

International Tiger Day is being celebrated on 29 July 2020. The Day is celebrated across the globe to create
awareness about tiger conservation.

      Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar released All India Tiger Estimation Report-2018.
      India is home to nearly 70 per cent of the global tiger population and it leads the world in showing effective
       conservation of the wild species.
      In 1973 there were only 9 tiger reserves in the country, which has now gone up to 50.
      The Heads of the governments of Tiger range countries had resolved to double the tiger population by the
       year 2022.
      In this regard, Saint Petersburg declaration on tiger conservation was signed by the countries in 2010.

India, Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue held in New Delhi

Defence Ministers’ Dialogue between India and Indonesia was held in New Delhi.

      Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the Indian delegation while the Indonesian delegation was led by their
       Defence Minister General Prabowo Subianto.
      The dignitary is in India for strengthening the ties between the two maritime neighbours.
      Both the Ministers agreed to further enhance the bilateral defence cooperation in mutually agreed areas.

   Potential areas of cooperation in the field of defence industries and defence technology were also
       identified by the two countries.
      Both the Ministers committed themselves to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in these areas and
       take them to the next level of deliverables.

First batch of five Rafale fighter jets arrives at Ambala air base

The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in Ambala.

      The fleet, comprising three single seater and two twin seater aircraft.
      They will be inducted into the IAF as part of its No. 17 Squadron, also known as the ''Golden Arrows'',
       and will be stationed at the Ambala air base.
      The five aircraft are part of 36 planes bought by India from France in a 59,000-crore rupees inter-
       governmental deal in 2016.
      The aircraft is covering a distance of nearly 7,000 km from France to India with mid-air refuelling and a
       single stop at a French airbase in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
      The delivery of all thirty six aircraft will be completed on schedule by the end of 2021.
      The Rafale fighter jets had mid-air refuelling before reaching the Al-Dhafra air base in UAE.
      The fighter jets are capable of carrying a range of highly effective weapons, including the Keter air to air
       missile and scalp cruise missile.

UN says levels of nitrogen dioxide fell by more than 70% in New Delhi during lockdown

A UN policy brief said, Levels of nitrogen dioxide fell by more than 70 per cent during the lockdown in New
Delhi.

      According to the brief, the environmental gains could be temporary if the cities reopen without policies to
       prevent air pollution and promote de-carbonisation.
      The Nitrogen Dioxide levels have fallen down in other countries as well. In China the levels have fallen
       by 40%, in Belgium, it fell by 20%, between 19-40% in the USA.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman attends 5th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors of AIIB

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the 5th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) through a video conference.

      The discussions at the meeting broadly covered official business including election of the President of the
       AIIB and a roundtable discussion on the theme ‘AIIB 2030-Supporting Asia’s Development over the Next
       Decade’.
      The Finance Minister mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative of creating a COVID-19
       Emergency Fund for SAARC Nations.
      She also highlighted India’s efforts in supplying critical medical health kits to tackle the COVID-19
       pandemic and the nation's support towards the global efforts of COVID-19 vaccine trials.

IRCTC, SBI Card launch new Co-branded Contactless Credit Card on RuPay Platform

IRCTC and SBI Card together launched their new Co-branded Contactless Credit Card on RuPay Platform.

      Railway Minister Piyush Goyal dedicated this new card to the Nation.
      The new RuPay credit card is equipped with Near Field Communication, NFC, technology with which
       users can expedite their transactions at the POS machines by just tapping the card on the machines.
      Launch of this card is one of the many “Make In India” activities undertaken by the Railways.

Bombay Flying Club becomes India's 1st DGCA-approved drone training school

The Bombay Flying Club has become the first DGCA-approved drone training school of the country.

      The DGCA approved the club's application "for conducting remote pilot training for remotely piloted
       aircraft systems".
      The ministry has started from June 8 the registration process for non-compliant drones which were not
       registered with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and have not been granted drone
       acknowledgement numbers (DANs).
      On June 5, the ministry had issued draft rules for manufacturing and use of drones in the country wherein
       it has proposed that an authorised drone manufacturer or importer can sell its devices only to an individual
       or entity approved by the DGCA.

Road in Lucknow named after former MP Governor Lalji Tandon

The Lucknow Municipal Corporation named a road and a crossing in the city after former Madhya Pradesh
Governor Lalji Tandon.

      The Chauk Chauraha will now be known as Lalji Tandon Chauraha and the Lucknow-Hardoi Road will
       be known as Tandon Marg.
      The former MP Governor Tandon had started his political career when he became a councillor in
       Lucknow. He breathed his last on July 21, 2020.
      Earlier, the Hazratganj Chauraha in Lucknow was renamed after former Prime Minister Atal Behari
       Vajpayee after his death in 2018.

Govt notifies changes in FDI norms on civil aviation; permits NRIs to own 100% stake of Air India

The government has notified changes in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms on civil aviation.

      It will permit non-resident Indian nationals to own 100 per cent stake of Air India.
      Last month, the government for the third time extended the deadline to bid for Air India.
      The deadline was extended by two months till August 31st.
      The divestment process for the national carrier was initiated on January 27th.

India’s first solar-powered ferry Aditya wins Gustave Trouve Award

Aditya, India’s first solar-powered ferry that commenced operations in 2017 in Kerala’s Vembanad backwaters,
has won the prestigious Gustave Trouve Award for Excellence in Electric Boats and Boating.

      The ferry was adjudged the world’s best electric boat in the category of ferries designed for paid passenger
       service.
      The Aditya, from Navalt Boats, is a sun-powered commuter ferry.
      Every day it makes 22 trips with 75 people on board, that’s 580,000 people a year.
      The awards, handed out for the first time, is the world’s only such honour given to individuals and
       companies building and innovating in state-of-the-art electric boats.

Young Bangladesh pacer handed two-year ban for doping violation

Young Bangladesh pacer Kazi Anik Islam has been handed a two-year ban by the national cricket board for failing
a dope test in 2018.

      Kazi, who was Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker in the 2018 U-19 World Cup, tested positive for
       Methamphetamine, a prohibited substance, during a National Cricket League game in the same year.
      The 21-year-old admitted to the offence.
      His two-year ban began on February 8, 2019.
      Kazi has played four first-class games, taking 15 wickets.

"The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World" authored by Dr. S Jaishankar

The Indian diplomat and current Minister of External Affairs in the Government of India, S Jaishankar, has written
a book titled “The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World”.

      The book has been published by the HarperCollins India publications and is scheduled to be released on
       07 September 2020.
      In this book Mr S Jaishankar analyses the various challenges faced by India on the path to becoming a
       leading power, and also spells out possible policy responses.
      S. Jaishankar Has Been India's Minister of External Affairs Since May 2019.
      He is a Member of the Rajya Sabha Representing Gujarat. He Was India's Foreign Secretary from 2015
       to 2018.