Daily Current Affairs 20th July 2024, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

DoT’s NTIPRIT, NICF And WMTDC Merged Into Single Entity

Three training institutes of DoT– National Telecommunications Institute for Policy Research, Innovation and Training (NTIPRIT), the National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF) and Wireless Monitoring Training & Development Centre (WMTDC) have been merged into a single administrative entity, named ‘National Communications Academy’ (NCA) with immediate effect. The Minister of Communications (MoC) approved the merger of these entities on the recommendation of the Committee for Organisational Reforms.

International News

Ivory Coast Joins UN Water Convention as 10th African Nation

Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) has recently become the 53rd Party to the 1992 UN Water Convention, officially known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. This accession marks Ivory Coast as the 10th African nation to join the treaty. The move highlights a growing trend among African nations to enhance cooperative water management amidst increasing water stress and climate change impacts.

State News

Madhya Pradesh Tops in PM SVANidhi Scheme as Best Performing State

Madhya Pradesh has been recognized as the ‘Best Performing State’ under the Prime Minister SVANidhi scheme, which supports urban street vendors with collateral-free loans up to ₹50,000. The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry announced this accolade, with Assam securing the second position in the ‘Best Performing States – Innovation and Best Practices Award’ category.

Appointments News

Vinay Kwatra Appointed as India’s New Ambassador to the U.S.

Former Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to the United States, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Kwatra will assume his new role shortly, filling the position that has been vacant since Taranjit Sandhu’s retirement in January 2024.

Awards News

Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum Receives Prestigious Gandhi Mandela Award 2020

Rigoberta Menchú Tum, the renowned Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Guatemalan human rights activist, has been honored with the Gandhi Mandela Award 2020. This prestigious accolade recognizes her lifelong commitment to advocating for Indigenous rights and promoting peace and social justice.

RRR Star Ram Charan to be Honoured at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2024

Ram Charan, the superstar known for his stellar performance in the global blockbuster “RRR”, is set to be the guest of honor at the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2024. This recognition comes as a testament to his significant contributions to Indian cinema and his rising international profile.

AIFF awards 2024, Chhangte, Indumathi Win Top Male and Female Awards

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) recently held its annual awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding achievements in Indian football for the 2023-24 season. The top honours went to Lallianzuala Chhangte and Indumathi Kathiresan, who were named the male and female Players of the Year respectively.

CBDT Awards Taxnet 2.0 Project to Bharti Airtel

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has awarded the Taxnet 2.0 project to Bharti Airtel Ltd. This project aims to provide advanced network connectivity, facility management services, and video conferencing services to the Income Tax Department (ITD). Bharti Airtel was chosen through an open tender process for this critical project, which marks a significant advancement over the current Taxnet 1.0 project. The new system aims to enhance the digital infrastructure of the ITD by providing secure, reliable, and seamless connectivity services.

Science and Technology News

What is Blue Screen of Death?

Mostly Windows 10 users around the world are facing massive outages owing to a new Crowdstrike update, which is leading to PCs getting stuck on the recovery screen. Reports suggest that the latest issue on Windows has led to massive outages across Airports, companies, banks and government offices across the world.

Important Days

International Chess Day 2024: A Global Celebration of Strategy and Intellect

International Chess Day, celebrated annually on July 20th, is a worldwide commemoration that honours the ancient game of chess and its profound impact on global culture, education, and intellectual development. Recognized by UNESCO since 1966, this day serves as a platform to promote chess as a powerful tool for education, the cultivation of logical thinking, and cultural exchange across nations. As we approach International Chess Day 2024, it’s an opportune moment to explore the rich history, significance, and global celebrations surrounding this revered game.

International Moon Day 2024, Celebrating Lunar Exploration and Peaceful Space Cooperation

International Moon Day, observed annually on July 20th, is a United Nations-designated international day that commemorates humanity’s achievements in lunar exploration. This day marks the anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission and serves to raise awareness about sustainable Moon exploration and utilization.