26 July 2023 Current Affairs – The Day’s Top News | GKSERIES

Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 26 July 2023, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.

So, here is the Top News of the Day for 26 July 2023 to help you prepare the Latest Current Affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

Current Affairs for Competitive Exam – 26 July 2023

ISRO to launch PSLV-C56 with six co-passenger satellites

ISRO will launch PSLV-C56 with six co-passenger satellites on July 30th at 6:30 a.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre’s first launch pad in Sriharikota.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

What’s in News?

The Indian Space Research Organisation has announced the launch of PSLV-C56 on July 30th at 6:30 AM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, carrying Singapore’s DS-SAR satellite and six co-passengers satellites.

DS-SAR Satellite

DS-SAR satellite that weighs 3600 kg was developed by DSTA, representing the Singapore’s Government and ST Engineering. The satellite would be launched into a Near Equatorial Orbit (NEO) at 5 degree inclination and 535 km altitude.

The DA-SAR satellite has an Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload. This enables the DS-SAR to provide all-weather day and night coverage while imaging at 1m resolution using complete polarimetry.

Significance:

Once the DA-SAR satellite is deployed and operational, it will support the support the satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the Government of Singapore.

ST Engineering will use the satellite for multi responsive imagery and geospatial services for their commercial customers.

About 6 Co-Passengers

1. VELOX-AM, a technology demonstration microsatellite.
2. Atmospheric Coupling and Dynamics Explorer (ARCADE), an experimental satellite.
3. SCOOB-II, a 3U nanosatellite flying a technology demonstrator payload.
4. NuLIoN by NuSpace, an advanced 3U nanosatellite enabling seamless IoT connectivity in both urban & remote locations.
5. Galassia-2, a 3U nanosatellite that will be orbiting at low earth orbit.
6. ORB-12 STRIDER, a satellite developed under an International collaboration.

CERT-­In cautions against ransomware ‘Akira’ attack

A new Internet ransomware virus called ‘Akira’ has surfaced in cyberspace, designed to steal crucial personal information and encrypt data, thereby coercing individuals into paying ransom money.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

Akira Ransomware: Operating Mechanism and Double Extortion Tactics

• This ransomware targets both Windows and Linux-based systems. Initially, the organisation acquires unauthorised access to victims’ environments, mainly via VPN providers that do not support multi-factor authentication. Once inside, they proceed to steal sensitive information from the victims.
• After extracting the data, the ransomware executes a two-pronged attack. Firstly, it encrypts the victim’s files, effectively blocking their access to their own data and system. To coerce the victim into paying the ransom, the attackers engage in double extortion tactics.
• If the victim refuses to comply with the ransom demands, the attackers resort to public shaming. They publish the stolen data on their dark web blog, exposing the victim’s private information.

Prevention measures against ‘Akira’ Ransomware

Keep current offline backups of critical data to avoid data loss in the case of an infection. Consistently update operating systems and applications to fortify defenses against vulnerabilities and potential cyber threats. Consider employing “virtual patching” to safeguard legacy systems and networks, deterring cyber criminals from exploiting outdated software.

Implement robust password policies and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) to bolster the security of user accounts. Avoid installing updates or patches from unofficial sources to minimize the risk of introducing malware or other security breaches.

About Computer Emergency Response Team

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, or ICERT, is an institution of the Government of India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Its primary responsibility is to address and tackle cyber security threats such as hacking and phishing. By enhancing the security measures within the Indian Internet domain, ICERT plays a crucial role in safeguarding against potential attacks.

Key takeaways for competitive examinations

• Director General of The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team(CERT-In): Sanjay Bahl

Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023: Date, Significance and History

Kargil Vijay Diwas 2023 is observed annually on July 26th across the country to honour the bravery and valour of Indian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country during the Kargil War in 1999. The day commemorates the victory of Operation Vijay, which was a significant military victory over Pakistan during the Kargil War in 1999.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

India will commemorate the Kargil Vijay Diwas for the 24th time in 2023. The day is sometimes referred to as the Kargil War or the Kargil Conflict. On this day in 1999, Indian soldiers fought against invaders from Pakistan who had crossed the Line of Control (LOC) into Indian territory. The Kargil War was fought between India and Pakistan at the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir where the Indian Army recaptured the famous ‘Tiger Hill’ and other important posts around under ‘Operation Vijay’ by evicting the Pakistani troops.

How is Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrated?

Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated all across the country. The Prime Minister of India is known to pay tribute to the martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate every year. There is a Kargil War memorial as well in Dras on the foothills of Tololing Hill. It was built by the Indian Army and honours the soldiers who lost their lives during the war. Interestingly, the gateway of the memorial has a poem named ‘Pushp Kii Abhilasha’ inscribed on it and the names of the martyrs are also inscribed on the Memorial Wall there.

History of Kargil War

• According to history, India was successful in evicting Pakistani troops from its territory on July 26, when the war concluded. This momentous day came to be known as Kargil Vijay Diwas. It should be noted that 527 soldiers sacrificed their lives for the country during the war.
• The Kargil War was fought between May-July of 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC) in which India got victory.
• The Kargil war was fought for more than 60 days and ended on 26 July.
• On this date in 1999 Pakistan army took advantage of the melting snow and betraying the bilateral understanding of both the nations (that the post would remain unattended during the winter season) took command of the high outposts of India.
• The Pakistan army denied that its soldiers were involved in the fight, claiming that they were Kashmiri insurgents, although ammunition, identity cards, rations stockpiles, and other evidence show that the Pakistan army was behind this despicable conduct.

Result of the Kargil War

Initially, Pakistan captured several strategic points. But in the second phase of the war, India successfully occupied strategic transportation routes and identified the points of invasion with the help of local shepherds. In the final phase, the Indian army concluded the war in the last week of July with the help of the Indian Air Force. The Indian Army announced victory over Pakistani intruders on July 26, 1999. But the cost of the victory was high.

How Many Died In Kargil War?

The official death count on the Indian side was 527, whereas, on the Pakistani side, the death count was nearly between 357 and 453. India lost one of the brave soldiers, Captain Vikram Batra, during the Kargil war. Kargil Vijay Diwas honors Kargil’s superheroes. After his death, he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest gallantry medal. A film based on Vikram Batra’s life, Shershaah, was also recently released.

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem 2023

The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is observed annually on July 26th. Its purpose is to increase global understanding of the significance of mangrove ecosystems as distinct, precious, and delicate environments. The day also aims to promote sustainable practises for maintaining, protecting, and utilising natural ecosystems. This International Day was formally declared by the UNESCO General Conference in 2015.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

Significance of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

• Mangroves are significant for the wellbeing, food security, and protection of coastal communities across the world.
• They extend support to the rich biodiversity, including fish and crustaceans.
• They act as a deterrent to tsunamis, storm surges, erosion, and rising sea levels.
• They also act as boundaries between sea and land as well as provide protection and food security to several coastal communities.
• Soils of Mangrove ecosystem acts as carbon sinks, and are capable of storing 10 times more carbon as compared to land-based forests.
• Mangroves in India

According to the Forest Survey Report 2021, mangrove cover in India has expanded by 17 square kilometres during the 2019 assessment. It now spread to 4,992 sq km. Three states in which highest increase in mangrove cover was observed include- Odisha (8 sq km), Maharashtra (4 sq km) and Karnataka (3 sq km).

History of International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

UNESCO established the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem on July 26th, 2015, during their General Conference to raise awareness about the crucial importance of mangrove ecosystems. The main objective of this day is to promote the preservation and sustainable development of mangrove forests.

Mangrove forests hold significant ecological importance as their intricate root systems serve as protective nurseries for various organisms, shielding them from predators, extreme heat, and powerful tides. Additionally, these coastal forests are highly effective in removing five times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere compared to terrestrial forests.

Unfortunately, over the past four decades, the extent of mangrove forests has nearly halved due to various threats. The primary threat stems from shrimp farming, which involves clearing enormous areas of forest to create enclosed ponds for shrimp rearing. This practise entails the excessive use of antibiotics and pesticides to prevent disease and increase output, resulting in lasting damage to the forest’s biological balance.

Moreover, the valuable wood from these forests is often exploited and sold for substantial profits, and it is also used in charcoal production, leading to severe deforestation. The construction of roads, buildings, and the diversion of rivers for irrigation purposes further disrupt the mangrove habitat, particularly since most mangrove forests are located on estuaries.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

• UNESCO Headquarters: Paris, France
• UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945, London, United Kingdom
• UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay; (Director-General)

World Aquatics Championships 2023: Schedule, Venue, Results and Medal Tally

The 2023 World Aquatics Championships will be held in Fukuoka, Japan, from July 14 to July 30. The swimming tournament in Fukuoka 2023 will begin with five open water events, followed by eight competition days in the Marine Messe pool. The swimming heats start at 10:30 a.m. local time and the finals continue the action from 8:00 p.m. The full schedule, including the timings of the heats, quarter-finals and semi-finals, can be found here.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

2023 World Aquatics Championships Results

Swimming – Women’s 100m Breaststroke

• Gold: Rūta Meilutytė (Lithuania) – 1:04.62
• Silver: Tatjana Schoenmaker (South Africa) – 1:05.84
• Bronze: Lydia Jacoby (USA) – 1:05.94

Swimming – Men’s 100m Backstroke

• Gold: Ryan Murphy (USA) – 52.55
• Silver: Thomas Ceccon (Italy) – 52.27
• Bronze: Hunter Armstrong (USA) – 52.58

Swimming – Women’s 100m Backstroke

• Gold: Kaylee McKeown (Australia) – 57.53 (Championship record)
• Silver: Regan Smith (USA) – 57.78
• Bronze: Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 58.25

Swimming – Women’s 1,500m Freestyle

• Gold: Katie Ledecky (USA) – 15:26.27
• Silver: Simona Quadarella (Italy) – 15:43.31
• Bronze: Li Bingjie (People’s Republic of China) – 15:45.71

Swimming – Men’s 200m Freestyle

• Gold: Matt Richards (Great Britain) – 1:44.30
• Silver: Tom Dean (Great Britain) – 1:44.32
• Bronze: Hwang Sunwoo (Republic of Korea) – 1:44.42

Swimming – Women’s 200m Individual Medley

• Gold: Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:07.17
• Silver: Alex Walsh (USA) – 2:07.97
• Bronze: Yu Yiting (China) – 2:08.74

Swimming – Men’s 50m Butterfly

• Gold: Thomas Ceccon (Italy) – 22.68
• Silver: Diogo Matos Ribeiro (Portugal) – 22.80
• Bronze: Maxime Grousset (France) – 22.82

Swimming – Women’s 100m Butterfly

• Gold: Zhang Yufei (China) – 56.12
• Silver: Margaret Mac Neil (Canada) – 56.45
• Bronze: Torri Huske (USA) – 56.61

Swimming – Men’s 100m Breaststroke

• Gold: Qin Haiyang (China) – 57.69 (Asian record)
• Silver: Nicolo Martinenghi (Italy) – 58.72
• Silver: Arno Kamminga (Netherlands) – 58.72
• Silver: Nic Fink (USA) – 58.72

Swimming – Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay

• Gold: Australia – 3:10.16
• Silver: Italy – 3:10.49
• Bronze: USA – 3:10.81

Swimming – Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay

• Gold: Australia – 3:27.96 (World record)
• Silver: USA – 3:31.93
• Bronze: People’s Republic of China – 3:32.40 (Asian record)

Swimming – Men’s 400m Individual Medley

• Gold: Léon Marchand (France) – 4:02.50 (World record)
• Silver: Carson Foster (USA) – 4:06.56
• Bronze: Seto Daiya (Japan) – 4:09.41

Swimming – Women’s 400m Freestyle

• Gold: Ariarne Titmus (Australia) – 3:55.38 (World record)
• Silver: Katie Ledecky (USA) – 3:58.73
• Bronze: Erika Fairweather (New Zealand) – 3:59.59

Swimming – Men’s 400m Freestyle

• Gold: Sam Short (Australia) – 3:40.68
• Silver: Ahmed Hafnaoui (Tunisia) – 3:40.70 (African record)
• Bronze: Lukas Martens (Germany) – 3:42.20

Diving – Men’s 10m Platform

• Gold: Cassiel Rousseau (Australia) – 520.85
• Silver: Lian Junjie (China) – 512.35
• Bronze: Yang Hao (China) – 504.00

Diving – Mixed Synchronised 3m Springboard

• Gold: Zhu Zifeng/Lin Shan (China) – 326.10
• Silver: Maddison Keeney/Domonic Bedggood (Australia) – 307.38
• Bronze: Chiara Pellacani/Matteo Santoro (Italy) – 294.12

Artistic Swimming – Mixed Duet Free

• Gold: Cheng Wentao/Shi Haoyu (China) – 225.1020
• Silver: Itzamary Gonzalez Cuellar/Diego Villalobos Carrilo (Mexico) – 192.5500
• Bronze: Dennis Gonzalez Boneu/Mireia Hernandez Luna (Spain) – 183.4207

Artistic Swimming – Team Free

• Gold: People’s Republic of China – 329.1687
• Silver: Japan – 317.8085
• Bronze: Ukraine – 256.2415

Diving – Women’s 3m Springboard

• Gold: Chen Yiwen (China) – 359.50
• Silver: Chang Yani (China) – 341.50
• Bronze: Pamela Ware (Canada) – 332.00

Artistic Swimming – Women Duet Free

• Gold: Anna-Maria Alexandri/Eirini-Marina Alexandri (Austria) – 255.4583
• Silver: Wang Liuyi/Wang Qianyi (China) – 255.2480
• Bronze: Higa Moe/Yasunaga Mashiro (Japan) – 249.5167

Diving – Men’s 3m Springboard

• Gold: Wang Zongyuan (China) – 538.10
• Silver: Osmar Olvera Ibarra (Mexico) – 507.50
• Bronze: Long Daoyi (China) – 499.75

Open Water – Mixed 4x1500m

• Gold: Italy – 1:10:31.20
• Silver: Hungary – 1:10:35.30
• Bronze: Austria – 1:11:26.70

Artistic Swimming – Women’s Solo Free

• Gold: Inui Yukiko (Japan) – 254.6062
• Silver: Vasiliki Alexandri (Austria) – 229.3251
• Bronze: Kate Shortman (Great Britain) – 219.9542

Diving – Women’s 10m Platform

• Gold: Chen Yuxi (China) – 457.85
• Silver: Quan Hongchan (China) – 445.60
• Bronze: Caeli McKay (Canada) – 340.25

Artistic Swimming – Men’s Solo Free

• Gold: Dennis Gonzalez Boneu (Spain) – 193.0334
• Silver: Gustavo Sanchez (Colombia) – 189.9625
• Bronze: Kenneth Gaudet (USA) – 179.5562

Artistic Swimming – Team Technical

• Gold: Spain – 281.6893
• Silver: Italy – 274.5155
• Bronze: USA – 273.7396

Diving – Mixed 3m & 10m Team

• Gold: Bai Yuming/Zhang Minjie/Zheng Jiuyuan/Si Yaji (China) – 489.65
• Silver: Gabriela Agundez Garcia/Jahir Ocampo Marroquin/Randal Willars Valdez/Aranza Vazquez Montano (Mexico) – 455.35
• Bronze: Christian Wassen/Moritz Wesemann/Lena Hentschel/Timo Barthel (Germany) – 432.15

Marathon Swimming – Men’s 5km

• Gold: Florian Wellbrock (Germany) – 53:58.00
• Silver: Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy) – 54:02.50
• Bronze: Domenico Acerenza (Italy) – 54:04.20

Marathon Swimming – Women’s 5km

• Gold: Leonie Beck (Germany) – 59:31.70
• Silver: Sharon van Rouwendaal (Netherlands) – 59:32.70
• Bronze: Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil) – 59:35.60

Artistic Swimming – Acrobatic

• Gold: People’s Republic of China – 238.0033
• Silver: USA – 232.4033
• Bronze: Japan – 220.5867

Diving – Men’s 10m Synchronized

• Gold: Lian Junjie/Yang Hao (China) – 477.75
• Silver: Oleksii Sereda/Kirill Boliukh (Ukraine) – 439.32
• Bronze: Kevin Berlin Reyes/Randal Willars Valdez (Mexico) – 434.16

Diving – Women’s 3m Synchronized

• Gold: Chang Yani/Chen Yiwen (China) – 341.94
• Silver: Scarlett Mew Jensen/Yasmin Harper (Great Britain) – 296.58
• Bronze: Chiara Pellacani/Elena Bertocchi (Italy) – 285.99

Artistic Swimming – Men’s Solo Technical

• Gold: Fernando Diaz del Rio Soto (Spain) – 224.5550
• Silver: Kenneth Gaudet (USA) – 216.8000
• Bronze: Eduard Kim (Kazakhstan) – 216.0000

Artistic Swimming – Women’s Duet Technical

• Gold: Higa Moe/Yasunaga Mashiro (Japan) – 273.9500
• Silver: Linda Cerruti/Lucrezia Ruggiero (Italy) – 263.0334
• Bronze: Alisa Ozhogina Ozhogin/Iris Tio Casas (Spain) – 257.8368

Diving – Women’s 10m Synchronized

• Gold: Chen Yuxi/Quan Hongchan (China) – 369.84
• Silver: Andrea Spendolini-Siriex/Lois Toulson (Great Britain) – 311.75
• Bronze: Delaney Schnell/Jessica Parratto (USA) – 294.42

Artistic Swimming – Mixed Duet Technical

• Gold: Sato Tomoka/Sato Yotaro (Japan) – 255.5066
• Silver: Emma Garcia/Dennis Gonzalez Boneu (Spain) – 248.0499
• Bronze: Cheng Wentao/Shi Haoyu (China) – 247.3033

Diving – Men’s 1m Springboard

• Gold: Peng Jianfeng (China) – 440.45
• Silver: Osmar Olvera Ibarra (Mexico) – 428.85
• Bronze: Zheng Jiuyuan (China) – 418.30

Marathon Swimming – Men’s 10km

• Gold: Florian Wellbrock (Germany) – 1:50:40.30
• Silver: Kristof Rasovszky (Hungary) – 1:50:59.00
• Bronze: Oliver Klemet (Germany) – 1:51:00.80

Artistic Swimming – Women Solo Technical

• Gold: Inui Yukiko (Japan) – 276.5717
• Silver: Vasiliki Alexandri (Austria) – 264.4200
• Bronze: Iris Tio Casas (Spain) – 254.2100

Diving – Men 3m Synchronized

• Gold: Wang Zongyuan/Long Daoyi (China) – 456.33
• Silver: Jack Laugher/Anthony Harding (Great Britain) – 424.62
• Bronze: Jules Bouyer/Alexis Jandard (France) – 389.10

Diving – Women 1m Springboard

• Gold: Lin Shan (China) – 318.60
• Silver: Li Yajie (China) – 306.35
• Bronze: Aranza Vazquez Montano (Mexico) – 285.05

Diving – Mixed 10m Synchronized

• Gold: Wang Feilong/Zhang Jiaqi (China) – 339.54
• Silver: Jose Balleza Isaias/Viviana del Angel Peniche (Mexico) – 313.44
• Bronze: Ito Hiroki/Itahashi Minami (Japan) – 305.34

Marathon Swimming – Women’s 10km

• Gold: Leonie Beck (Germany) – 2:02:34.00
• Silver: Chelsea Gubecka (Australia) – 2:02:38.10
• Bronze: Katie Grimes (USA) – 2:02:42.30

2023 World Aquatics Championships – Complete swimming schedule

The swimming events will be held at the Marine Messe Fukuoka, while the open water swimming events will be held at the Maizuru Bay.

World Aquatics Championships 2023: Medal Table

China is currently leading the medal table with 15 gold medals. Australia is in second place with 5 gold medals, followed by the United States with 4 gold medals. The swimming events have concluded, and the remaining events are diving, artistic swimming, and water polo. It will be interesting to see how the medal table changes as the competition progresses.

Ladli Behna Yojana: Benefits and Registration Started

Why Ladli Bahna Yojana in news?

The application procedure for the second phase of the Ladli Bahna Yojana, an ambitious programme of the state government, began on July 25th. This scheme, which was launched this year, aims to financially empower women. Eligible women can now apply from five different locations, and in order to extend its benefits to more women and daughters, the eligibility criteria have been relaxed this time. This Madhya Pradesh government scheme ensures that eligible members receive a monthly transfer of Rs. 1,000 to their bank accounts on the 10th of each month, further enhancing their financial stability and independence. Apply now to avail the benefits of this empowering program!

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

Application for second phase of Ladli Bahna Yojana starts from today

The Madhya Pradesh government began the Ladli Bahna Yojana on March 15, 2023, with the noble goal of economically empowering daughters and women. So far, 1.25 crore qualified members have received financial aid through the initiative, with payments made twice.Now, the applications for the second phase have commenced on July 25th, aiming to include those women who were previously unable to avail the scheme’s benefits. Additionally, women who own a tractor will also be eligible to take advantage of this program. Don’t miss this opportunity to secure financial strength for yourself or your loved ones! Apply now and reap the benefits of the Ladli Bahna Yojana.

Benefits of Ladli Bahna Yojana

Our sisters whose age is 21 to 23 years and such sisters who also have tractors, all of them are being linked to Ladli Bahna Yojana. They will now profit from the scheme as well. Let us remind you that individuals who owned a tractor during the first phase of the application were barred from participating.

Application rules and eligibility conditions for Ladli Bahna Yojana have been simplified. To get the benefits of the scheme, general category, other backward castes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, minorities, women, abandoned women, widows are eligible to apply. Women must be natives of Madhya Pradesh. The age range for application is 21 to 60 years; formerly, the age range was 23 years.

Apply for Ladli Bahna Yojana from these 5 places.

• Forms of Ladli Bahna Yojana are being filled offline. The government has made the forms of the scheme available at 5 places-
• From panchayat center
• Through accountant
• Through Panchayat Secretary
• Through principal
• From special camp office

T V Narendran re-appointed as Tata Steel CEO and Managing Director

Tata Steel confirmed re-appointed of TV Narendran as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Company for 5 years. 

He has over 35 years of experience in the mining and metals industry.  He was appointed as Managing Director of Tata Steel for India and South East Asia in 2013.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

There is no order passed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India or any other such authority that debars him from holding the office of Director.

Narendran oversaw the acquisitions of Bhushan Steel Limited (later known as Tata Steel BSL Limited) and its consequent amalgamation into the Company, the Steel business of Usha Martin Limited, Neelanchal Ispat Nigam Limited and Rohit Ferro-Tech Limited, the company said.

Central Gov appointed Justice Dhiraj Thakur as Chief Justice of High Court

The Central government has appointed justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur as Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal tweeted the development on Monday.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

In 1989, he became a registered advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi, and later with the Bar Council of Jammu & Kashmir (JK).

He become a Senior Advocate in 2011, and in 2013, he was appointed as a permanent judge of the High Court of JK. The Andhra Pradesh High Court which has a sanctioned strength of 37 judges is currently functioning with 30 judges.

RBI caps deposit withdrawal from ailing National Co-operative Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed business restrictions on  The National Co-operative Bank Ltd and capped deposit withdrawal at Rs 50,000 per account in July 2023.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

The bank shall not grant or renew any loans and advances, make any investment, incur any liability including borrower of funds and acceptance of fresh deposits, disburse or agree to disburse any payment whether in discharge of its liabilities and obligations or otherwise, enter into any compromise or arrangement and sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets, RBI said in its directions. 

According to the RBI, the bank is not allowed to issue fresh loans or accept fresh deposits without prior approval from the central bank. Depositors will be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount up to Rs 5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation.

“The bank will continue to undertake banking business with restrictions till its financial position improves. The Reserve Bank may consider modifications of these Directions depending upon circumstances,” RBI said.

Canara Bank was top lender to public sector cos in FY23

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Parliament that during the fiscal year 2022-23, Public Sector Banks (PSBs) extended loans amounting to ₹4.12 trillion to state-backed corporations and public sector undertakings.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

Responding to questions by member of parliament, Velusamy P, Sitharaman informed the Lok Sabha that Canara Bank led the lending during 2022-23 to government backed entities at ₹187,813 crore during the recently concluded fiscal year, followed by Punjab National Bank ( ₹70,142.5 crore), State Bank of India ( ₹66,523.2 crore), Bank of India ( ₹25,147 crore), Bank of Baroda ( ₹15,706.8 crore), Union Bank of India ( ₹12,584.8 crore), Bank of Maharashtra ( ₹10,822.7 crore), Indian Bank ( ₹9,021 crore), Indian Overseas Bank ( ₹7,490 crore), Central Bank of India ( ₹3,949 crore), UCO Bank ( ₹2,939.4 crore), Punjab and Sind Bank ( ₹87.7 crore).

The top five PSBs – Canara Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank and Union Bank of India.

Meanwhile, the finance minister informed the Lok Sabha that public sector banks (PSBs) will have to take steps to adopt a focused approach on ease of service delivery and customer protection, follow regulatory norms, adopt robust risk management practices, focus on increasing rural, agriculture and sectoral credit to meet the Priority Sector Lending targets.

PhonePe launches income tax payment feature

PhonePe, today announced the launch of the ‘Income Tax Payment’ feature on its app.

Aim: To allow taxpayers to pay self-assessment and advance tax directly from the app using UPI or credit card payments. This eliminates the need to log in to the tax portal, creating a seamless and efficient experience for taxpayers.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

To enable this feature, the company has partnered with PayMate, a B2B payments and service provider. Users can get a 45-day interest-free period and earn reward points on their tax payments, depending on their bank. The challan for the tax payment will be available within two working days.

Commenting on the announcement, Niharika Saigal, Head of Bill Payments and Recharge Business at PhonePe said, “At PhonePe, we are committed to continuously enhancing our offerings to meet the evolving needs of our users. We are thrilled to announce the launch of our latest feature, the convenience of paying income taxes on the PhonePe app itself. Paying taxes can often be a complex and time-consuming task, and PhonePe is now offering its users a hassle-free and secure way to fulfill their tax obligations. We believe that this will transform the way our users pay taxes as we have now made the process both simple and easy.”

Capacity building Scheme for North Eastern Region

The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSD&E) implemented the Capacity Building Scheme for the North Eastern Region, which is carried out by the Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) located in Guwahati, Assam

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

IIE has organized numerous capacity development initiatives in Assam as part of the Pradhan Mantri Vandhan Yojana (PMVDY) scheme.

In the Sonitpur district, a total of 6 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras Clusters have been approved under the PMVDY scheme.

Kamaljeet bagged two golds in Junior Shooting World Championships 2023

Indian player Kamaljeet won two gold medals in the 50-meter free pistol event in the Junior World Championship 2023 in Changwon, Korea. The junior shooting world championships, in its third edition, saw 90 Indian shooters vie for medals in pistol, rifle and shotgun competitions in the under-21 age category. In this championship, India was second on the medals table with six gold, six silver, and five bronze medals. 

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

China stayed on top with 12 gold, nine silver, and seven bronze medals. In the women’s free pistol, Tiyana Phogat won the silver, one point behind Khanna Aliyeva of Azerbaijan.

Abhinav Shaw (10m air rifle men’s and mixed team) and Kamaljeet (50m pistol men and men’s team) won two golds each. Sainyam won three medals — gold in 10m air pistol women, and a bronze each in the 10m air pistol mixed team and women’s team events.

India, with 43 medals including 17 golds, had topped the medals tally at the last junior world championships held in Lima, Peru, two years back.

Banks write off bad loans worth Rs 2.09 lakh crore in 2022-23: RBI

According to the RBI’s data during the financial year 2022-23, banks wrote off bad loans amounting to over Rs 2.09 lakh crore, contributing to a total loan write-off of Rs 10.57 lakh crore by the banking sector over the past five years.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: July 2023

This loan write-off to bring down gross non-performing assets or defaulted loans to a 10-year low of 3.9 percent of advances by March 2023

According to RBI, banks have written off a total of Rs 15,31,453 crore since FY2012-13.