NATS 2.0 Portal Launched

• Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan launched the National Apprenticeship and Training Scheme 2.0 (NATS 2.0) Portal in New Delhi on July 30, 2024.
•  He also distributed ₹100 crore in stipends to apprentices via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
• These apprentices are receiving training in fields such as Information Technology, manufacturing, and automobile sectors.
• This move supports the Government’s goals of enhancing skills and improving youth employability.
• Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that NATS 2.0 aims to make apprenticeships more accessible, close the skills gap, and prepare youth for future challenges.

Sri Lanka to Host 83rd Edition of Madras-Colombo Regatta

• It was announced on July 30, 2024 that Colombo will host the 83rd edition of the historic Madras-Colombo Regatta on August 3.
• This prestigious event is the oldest and longest-running regatta between India and Sri Lanka, symbolizing decades of sportsmanship and friendship.
• Rowers from the Madras Boat Club and the Colombo Rowing Club will compete in 12 events, including 8 Men’s and 4 Women’s Races.
• The overall winners in the Men’s Category will receive the ‘Deepam Trophy’, while the ‘Adyar Trophy’ will be awarded to the Women’s Champions.
• The ‘Boat Race Trophy’ will be given to the victors of the Men’s Senior Fours. In 2023, the regatta was held at the Madras Boat Club in Chennai.

56th International Chemistry Olympiad

• At the 56th International Chemistry Olympiad held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 21 to 30, 2024, the Indian team achieved notable success.
• They secured 1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze medal.
• Devesh Bhaiyya from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, won the Gold medal, while Avanish Bansal from Mumbai and Harshin Posina from Hyderabad each earned Silver medals.
•  Kashyap Khandelwal from Mumbai won the Bronze medal.
• The Indian team was guided by Prof. Gulshanara Shaikh and Dr. Shraddha Tiwari. The competition featured 327 students from 94 countries.

India to Host 2025 Men’s Asia Cup in T20 Format

• The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced on July 30, 2024 that India will host the Men's Asia Cup cricket tournament in 2025.
•  This tournament will be played in the T20 format, aligning with the T20 World Cup scheduled in India for 2026.
• Since 2016, the Asia Cup format has matched the format of the upcoming World Cup, allowing teams to practice in the relevant format.
• The last Asia Cup, held in 2023, was organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
• The 2025 Men’s Asia Cup will feature Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and one non-Test playing ACC member chosen through qualifying events.

Bronze Medal in 10m Air Pistol Mixed team for India at Paris Olympics

• Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh won a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event by defeating South Korea at the Paris Olympics on July 30, 2024.
• Manu Bhaker became the first Indian woman athlete to win two medals in a single Olympics edition.
• India secured its sixth Olympic medal in shooting and its first-ever in a team event.
• Notably, Manu Bhaker became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single Olympic Games.
• Norman Pritchard, with silvers in the men’s zoom and men’s hurdles at Paris 1900, was the first athlete to win 2 medals at one Olympics for India.
• At the National Shooting Center in Chateauroux, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh triumphed over South Korea’s Oh Ye Jin and Wonho Lee with a score of 16-10 in the bronze medal match.

India-Sri Lanka T20 Series 2024

• India completed a 3-0 series sweep by defeating Sri Lanka in the final T20 International at Pallekele on July 30, 2024.
• India, having won the first two matches, posted a total of 137 runs for 9 wickets on a challenging pitch.
•  Sri Lanka, chasing 138, started well but faltered in the final overs, finishing at 137 for 8 and forcing a Super Over.
• In the Super Over, Sri Lanka scored just 2 runs. Suryakumar Yadav secured the victory with a four on the first ball of the Super Over, reaching the target of 3 runs.
• Washington Sundar was named Player of the Match, while Suryakumar Yadav earned the Player of the Series award.
• The teams will next compete in a three-match ODI series in Colombo, led by Rohit Sharma for India.

Masoud Pezeshkian

• Masoud Pezeshkian was officially sworn in as Iran’s President for a four-year term on July 30, 2024.
• The ceremony was held before the Parliament and attended by representatives from 88 countries, including Indian Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.
• Masoud Pezeshkian, a moderate reformist, won the presidential runoff on July 5 with about 54% of the vote, defeating Saeed Jalili, who received over 44%.
• The snap election followed the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May.

Ashwin Ponnappa

• Indian badminton veteran Ashwini Ponnappa emotionally announced her retirement from the Olympic competition during the Paris Games on July 30, 2024.
• This decision came after she and her partner, Tanisha Crasto, experienced their third consecutive defeat in the women's doubles event.
• At 34 years old, Ashwini was competing in her third Olympic Games, reflecting her enduring presence and skill in the sport over many years.
• Her badminton career began with her first national title in 2001, marking the start of a distinguished journey in the sport.
•  A notable chapter in Ashwini's career was her partnership with Jwala Gutta. Their collaboration was a significant one in Indian badminton, lasting until 2017.

Rohan Bopanna

• Rohan Bopanna announced his retirement from international tennis following his elimination from the Paris 2024 Olympics on July 30, 2024.
• This marks the end of a distinguished career spanning over two decades.
• Rohan Bopanna's Olympic campaign concluded with a first-round exit in the men’s doubles, where he and partner N. Sriram Balaji lost to the French team of Gael Monfils and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, with a score of 7-5, 6-2.
•  Despite this final result, Bopanna's career has been highlighted by significant achievements. At the 2022 Asian Games, he won a gold medal in mixed doubles with Rutuja Bhosale.
• He also ended his 21-year Davis Cup career with a victory over Morocco in September 2023.
•  Rohan Bopanna became the oldest Grand Slam winner in the Open Era at 43 years and 9 months, securing the men’s doubles title at the Australian Open with Matthew Ebden.

Sanjay Shukla

• Sanjay Shukla officially assumed the role of Managing Director (MD) at the National Housing Bank (NHB) on July 30, 2024.
• A seasoned chartered accountant with over 30 years of experience in housing and retail asset finance, he has a notable record in transforming financial institutions.
•  He started his career in 1991 as an officer at LIC Housing Finance Limited.
• Sanjay Shukla has held significant roles, including business head of consumer assets at ING Vysya Bank, where he expanded the consumer loan segment, and as the first business head for Tata Capital’s retail housing finance division.
• Before joining NHB, he was the founding MD and CEO of Centrum Housing Finance Limited (CHFL), where he led the company to growth and stability.
•  He also served as MD and CEO of Cent Bank Home Finance Ltd (CBHFL), improving the company's asset quality and management significantly.

Global Tech Awards 2024

• The Central Water Commission (CWC) received the GEEF Global WaterTech Award for ‘Water Department of the Year’ at the Global Water Tech Summit - 2024 in New Delhi on July 30, 2024.
• This award honors notable achievements in the water sector, including innovation, technology, and sustainable practices.
•  The GEEF recognized CWC’s essential contributions in hydro-meteorological data collection, flood forecasting, reservoir monitoring, water quality checks, coastal management, and resolving inter-state water disputes.
•  CWC’s new initiatives were acknowledged, such as better collaboration with state water departments, urban hydrology training for officials, development of extended hydrological predictions, and the launch of the ‘Flood Watch India’ mobile app for public flood alerts.

Approval to Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill of Uttar Pradesh

• The Uttar Pradesh Assembly approved the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2024, on July 30, 2024.
• It aims to impose stricter penalties for illegal religious conversions. Previously, the maximum punishment was 10 years in prison and a fine of up to ₹ 50000 .
• The new amendments increase penalties significantly: 3 to 10 years for individual illegal conversions, and 7 to 14 years for mass conversions and those involving foreign funds.
• The bill also introduces severe penalties, from 20 years to life imprisonment, for threats to life or property, forced conversions, or when marriage is used as a means for conversion.
• Additionally, it imposes similar penalties for trafficking minors or women for conversion purposes. Uttar Pradesh first enacted a law against unlawful religious conversion in 2021.

Uttar Pradesh Supplementary Budget 2024 Presented

• UP Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna presented the supplementary budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on July 30, 2024.
• This supplementary budget amounts to ₹ 12209.93 crore, divided into ₹7900 crore for capital expenditure and ₹4200 crore for revenue expenditure, representing 1.66% of the main budget.
• The budget allocates over ₹7500 crore for industrial development, ₹2000 crore for the Energy Department, ₹1000 crore for the Transport Department, ₹600 crore for Urban Development, and ₹200 crore for Skill Development.
• During the session, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed concerns about crimes against women, noting a reduction in dowry and rape cases since 2016 and highlighting the government's efforts, including the induction of 1.5 lakh police personnel under Mission Shakti.

World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2024

• World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, an essential annual event highlighting the fight against human trafficking was observed on July 30, 2024.
• The theme for 2024, “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking,” emphasizes the urgent need to safeguard children, one of the most vulnerable groups.
• The theme focuses on several key areas: ensuring inclusive efforts to protect children, addressing their specific risks and vulnerabilities, building resilience among youth, and strengthening protective measures against child trafficking.
• The emphasis on children is critical, as they represent one-third of all trafficking victims worldwide, underscoring the need for targeted actions and comprehensive strategies to combat child trafficking effectively.